Abstract: Given the importance of housing as one of the basic necessities for a good life and at the same time the adverse consequences that poor urban housing exerts due to accelerated unplanned urbansation in most African cities (including Bamenda city), the impact has been manifested on its occupants. This study aims to diagnose the state of urban housing in Bamenda city and explore strategic planning orientations for sustainable housing development. The data were collected through a blend of published material and field work that was conducted in two phases over a period of 9 weeks through reconnaissance surveys and questionnaires administration using the de jure approach to house owners and tenants. Also, formal interviews were granted with authorities of the Northwest Regional Delegation of MINDUH (Ministry of Urban Development and Housing) and the department of urban development (including housing) of the Bamenda City Council (BBC). The data were processed and presented using descriptive techniques. The study reveals that the existing state of urban housing in Bamenda city is deplorable and sub-standard, characterised by inadequacy, poorly designed and haphazardly built residential buildings, lack of basic social amenities and adequate privacy, non-segregated of residential areas and unkempt/unsafe/unhealthy environments. The key factors responsible for this were the poorly understood patterns and trends of housing demand, an unauthorized housing supply which largely remains in the hands of private individuals with difficult access to land for construction and costly existing housing production process/procedure, rampant discrimination in the award of housing credits by Credit Foncier du Cameroun (CFC) and the lack of a coherent, consistent and realistic rules/regulations and housing standards. An efficient urban planning is the most fundamental process for sustainable housing development in cities and towns. This study advances strategic planning orientation for sustainable housing development in the city of Bamenda through social housing, segregation of residential areas, resettlement schemes in case of redevelopment, urban land reform for housing, efficient urban housing process and procedures and urban upgrading and renewal. These are more likely to constitute sustainable database for developers and planners in the domain of urban sustainable housing development and city planning in Bamenda.