AERIAL VIEW of Huntington Beach housing (Shutterstock).

There’s always something more to do.

Back in June, the Huntington Beach City Council apparently concluded its long-running dispute with the State of California by approving a housing element to the city’s general plan to zone for – but not necessarily build – over 13,000 new residences.

But the California Department of Housing and Community Development has rejected the housing plan, claiming that the city had missed one crucial step – to actually change the zoning to meet the revisions in the general plan.

In a ruling last week, a San Diego Superior Court judge said that because of what she considered to be non-compliance with the law, Surf City could face $160,000 in penalties, plus $50,000 more in fines each month until the changes are made.

The city council has resisted making the changes, relying on the theory that – as a charter city – Huntington Beach didn’t have to comply with certain state laws.

However, the courts have not agreed and a final appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was not heard.