Every eight years, state housing regulators give cities and counties across California an especially dreaded homework assignment: Make a plan for a bunch of new homes. State housing regulators told the city of Irvine in Orange County, for example, to plan for 8,671 market-rate units by 2030. “Cities cannot require developers to develop and cities don’t build housing,” said Jason Rhine, a lobbyist with the League of California Cities. Foote directed some of the blame at state housing regulators for failing to compel cities to adopt more development-friendly policies. Some are in the power of local and state governments, like zoning and building codes, permitting timelines and fees.