CHAPTER 2. Definitions [56010. - 56081.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 2.
in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56010. Section 56010.

Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, the definitions contained in this chapter govern the construction of this division. The definition of a word applies to any of that word’s variants.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56011. Section 56011.

“Affected city” means any city that contains or would contain, or whose sphere of influence contains or would contain, territory for which a change of organization is proposed or ordered, either singularly or as part of a reorganization.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56012. Section 56012.

“Affected county” means any county that contains, or would contain, any territory for which a change of organization is proposed or ordered either singularly or as part of a reorganization or that contains all or any part of a district for which a change of organization or reorganization is proposed with respect to territory outside that county.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56013. Section 56013.

“Affected district” means any special district, as defined by Section 56036, that contains or would contain, or whose sphere of influence contains or would contain, any territory for which a change of organization is proposed or ordered either singularly or as part of a reorganization.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56014. Section 56014.

“Affected local agency” means any local agency that contains, or would contain, or whose sphere of influence contains or would contain, any territory for which a change of organization is proposed or ordered, either singularly or as part of a reorganization or for which a study is to be reviewed by the commission.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56015. Section 56015.

“Affected territory” means any territory for which a change of organization, reorganization, or sphere of influence change is proposed or ordered, or any territory to which services are proposed to be provided pursuant to Sections 56133, 56133.5, or 56134.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56016. Section 56016.

“Agricultural lands” means land currently used for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity for commercial purposes, land left fallow under a crop rotational program, or land enrolled in an agricultural subsidy or set-aside program.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56017.2. Section 56017.2.

“Application” means any of the following: (a) A resolution of application or petition initiating a change of organization or reorganization with supporting documentation as required by the commission or executive officer. (b) A request for a sphere of influence amendment or update pursuant to Section 56425. (c) A request by a city or district for commission approval of an extension of services outside the agency’s jurisdictional boundaries pursuant to Section 56133. (d) A request by a public agency for commission approval of an extension of services outside the agency’s jurisdictional boundaries pursuant to Section 56134.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56020.5. Section 56020.5.

“Certificate of completion” means the document prepared by the executive officer and recorded with the county recorder that confirms the final successful completion of a change of organization or reorganization.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56020.6. Section 56020.6.

“Certificate of filing” means the document issued by the executive officer that confirms an application for a change of organization or reorganization has met submission requirements and is accepted for filing.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56020.7. Section 56020.7.

“Certificate of termination” or “certificate of termination of proceedings” means the document prepared by the executive officer and retained by the commission that indicates that a proposal for a change of organization or reorganization was terminated because of a majority written protest, rejection by voters in an election, or the expiration of time prior to completion of proceedings pursuant to Section 57001 or a court order.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56021. Section 56021.

“Change of organization” means any of the following: (a) A city incorporation. (b) A district formation. (c) An annexation to a city. (d) An annexation to a district. (e) A detachment from a city. (f) A detachment from a district. (g) A disincorporation of a city. (h) A district dissolution. (i) A consolidation of cities. (j) A consolidation of special districts. (k) A merger of a city and a district. (l) Establishment of a subsidiary district. (m) The exercise of new or different functions or classes of services, or divestiture of the power to provide particular functions or classes of services, within all or part of the jurisdictional boundaries of a special district as provided in Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 56824.10) of Chapter 5 of Part 3 of this division.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56023. Section 56023.

“City” means any incorporated chartered or general law city, including any city the name of which includes the word “town.”

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56026. Section 56026.

“Clerk” means the clerk or secretary of a commission, county, city, or district, or the clerk or secretary of the legislative body of a county, city, or district. Where the office of county clerk is separate from the office of the clerk of the board of supervisors, “clerk” means the clerk of the board of supervisors. Where the office of county clerk is separate from the office of the registrar of voters, “clerk” means the registrar of voters with respect to all duties pertaining to the conduct of elections and the county clerk with respect to all other duties.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56028. Section 56028.

“Commission proceedings” means proceedings which are taken by a commission pursuant to Part 3 (commencing with Section 56650).

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56029. Section 56029.

“Conducting authority” means the commission of the principal county, or the commission’s executive officer when authorized by the commission, when exercising its responsibility to conduct protest proceedings following approval by the commission of a change of organization or reorganization.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56030. Section 56030.

“Consolidation” means the uniting or joining of two or more cities located in the same county into a single new successor city or two or more districts into a single new successor district.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56031. Section 56031.

(a) “Contiguous” means territory that abuts or shares a common boundary with territory within a local agency. (b) Territory is not contiguous if the only contiguity is based upon a strip of land more than 300 feet long and less than 200 feet wide at its narrowest width, that width to be exclusive of highways.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56032.5. Section 56032.5.

“Dependent special district” or “dependent district” includes any special district that has a legislative body that consists, in whole or part, of ex officio members who are officers of a county or another local agency, or who are appointees of those officers, and who are not appointed to fixed terms. “Dependent special district” or “dependent district” does not include any district excluded from the definition of district contained in Sections 56036 and 56036.6.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56033. Section 56033.

“Detachment” means the exclusion, deletion, or removal from a city or district of any portion of the territory of that city or district.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56033.5. Section 56033.5.

“Disadvantaged unincorporated community” means inhabited territory, as defined by Section 56046, or as determined by commission policy, that constitutes all or a portion of a “disadvantaged community” as defined by Section 79505.5 of the Water Code.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56034. Section 56034.

“Disincorporation” means the dissolution, extinguishment, or termination of the existence of a city and the cessation of its corporate powers, except for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the city.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56035. Section 56035.

“Dissolution” means the disincorporation, extinguishment, or termination of the existence of a district and the cessation of all its corporate powers, except as the commission may otherwise provide pursuant to Section 56886 or for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the district.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56036. Section 56036.

(a) “District” or “special district” are synonymous and mean an agency of the state, formed pursuant to general law or special act, for the local performance of governmental or proprietary functions within limited boundaries and in areas outside district boundaries when authorized by the commission pursuant to Section 56133. (b) “District” or “special district” includes a county service area, but excludes all of the following: (1) The state. (2) A county. (3) A city. (4) A school district or a community college district. (5) An assessment district or special assessment district. (6) An improvement district. (7) A community facilities district formed pursuant to the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 (Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 53311) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5). (8) A permanent road division formed pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 1160) of Chapter 4 of Division 2 of the Streets and Highways Code. (9) An air pollution control district or an air quality maintenance district. (10) A zone of any special district.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56036.5. Section 56036.5.

(a) For the purposes of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 57000) to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 57176), inclusive, of Part 4 or Part 5 (commencing with Section 57300), for each of the following entities proceedings for a change of organization shall be conducted pursuant to the principal act authorizing the establishment of that district: (1) A unified or union high school library district. (2) A bridge and highway district. (3) A joint highway district. (4) A transit or rapid transit district. (5) A metropolitan water district. (6) A separation of grade district. (b) For other districts, where the principal act provides, the procedures in the principal act shall supersede the procedures set forth in this division.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56036.6. Section 56036.6.

(a) For the purposes of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 57000) to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 57176), inclusive, of Part 4 or Part 5 (commencing with Section 57300), none of the following entities is a “district” or “special district” if the commission of the principal county determines, in accordance with Sections 56127 and 56128, that the entity is not a “district” or “special district”: (1) A flood control district. (2) A flood control and floodwater conservation district. (3) A flood control and water conservation district. (4) A conservation district. (5) A water conservation district. (6) A water replenishment district. (7) The Orange County Water District. (8) A California water storage district. (9) A water agency. (10) A county water authority or a water authority. (b) If the commission determines that an entity described in this section is not a “district” or “special district,” any proceedings pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with Section 57000) for a change of organization involving the entity shall be conducted pursuant to the principal act authorizing the establishment of that entity.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56037.2. Section 56037.2.

“Divestiture of power” means the termination of the power and authority to provide particular functions or classes of services within all or part of the jurisdictional boundaries of a special district.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56038.5. Section 56038.5.

“Feasible” means capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, legal, social, and technological factors.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56040. Section 56040.

“Function” means any power granted by law to a local agency to provide designated governmental or proprietary services or facilities for the use, benefit, or protection of persons or property.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56041. Section 56041.

“Improvement district” means an area or zone formed for the sole purpose of designating an area which is to bear a special tax or assessment for an improvement benefiting that area.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56042. Section 56042.

“Inactive district” means a special district that meets all of the following: (a) The special district is as defined in Section 56036. (b) The special district has had no financial transactions in the previous fiscal year. (c) The special district has no assets and liabilities. (d) The special district has no outstanding debts, judgments, litigation, contracts, liens, or claims.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56043. Section 56043.

“Incorporation” means the creation or establishment of a city. Any area proposed for incorporation as a city shall have at least 500 registered voters residing within the affected territory at the time the proposal is initiated.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56044. Section 56044.

“Independent district” or “independent special district” includes any special district having a legislative body all of whose members are elected by registered voters or landowners within the district, or whose members are appointed to fixed terms, and excludes any special district having a legislative body consisting, in whole or in part, of ex officio members who are officers of a county or another local agency or who are appointees of those officers other than those who are appointed to fixed terms. “Independent special district” does not include any district excluded from the definition of district contained in Sections 56036 and 56036.6.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56045. Section 56045.

“Independent special district officer” means the presiding officer or a member of the legislative body of an independent special district.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56046. Section 56046.

“Inhabited territory” means territory within which there reside 12 or more registered voters. The number of registered voters, as determined by the elections officer, shall be established as of the date a certificate of filing is issued by the executive officer.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56047.7. Section 56047.7.

“Joint powers agency” or “joint powers authority” means an agency or entity formed pursuant to the Joint Exercise of Powers Act (Article 1 (commencing with Section 6500) of Chapter 5 of Division 7 of Title 1) that is formed for the local performance of governmental functions that includes the provision of municipal services.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56048. Section 56048.

“Landowner” or “owner of land” means any of the following: (a) A person or persons shown as the owner of land on the last equalized assessment roll prepared by the county at the time the determination is required to be made pursuant to the requirements of this division. Where that person or persons are no longer the owner, the landowner or owner of land is any person or persons entitled to be shown as the owner of land on the next equalized assessment roll. (b) Where land is subject to a recorded written agreement of sale, any person shown in the agreement as the purchaser. (c) Any public agency owning land other than highways, rights-of-way, easements, waterways, or canals.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56049. Section 56049.

“Landowner-voter” means any person entitled to vote in a landowner-voter district, or the legal representative of that person or, in the case of an election, the proxy of that person if authorized by the principal act.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56050. Section 56050.

“Landowner-voter district” means a district whose principal act provides that owners of land within the district are entitled to vote upon the election of district officers, the incurring of bonded indebtedness, or any other district matter.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56050.5. Section 56050.5.

“Latent service or power” means those services, facilities, functions, or powers authorized by the principal act under which the district is formed, but that are not being exercised, as determined by the commission pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 56425.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56051. Section 56051.

“Last equalized assessment roll” means the listing in use by a county, city, or district for the purpose of the annual levy and collection of any taxes or assessments. This section does not require the use of the supplemental roll prepared pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 75) of Part 0.5 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56052. Section 56052.

“Legal representative” means an officer of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company duly authorized to sign for, and on behalf of, the entity. Legal representative also includes a guardian, conservator, executor, administrator, trustee, or other person holding property in a trust capacity under appointment of a court, when authorized by an order of the court.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56055. Section 56055.

“Member district” means any district which is included, in whole or in part, within another district, a metropolitan water district, or any of the entities enumerated in Section 56036.6, all or any part of the first-mentioned district being entitled, under the provisions of the principal act of the second-mentioned district or entity, to receive or be furnished with any governmental or proprietary service or commodity by the second-mentioned district or entity.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56056. Section 56056.

“Merger” means the termination of the existence of a district when the responsibility for the functions, services, assets, and liabilities of that district are assumed by a city as a result of proceedings taken pursuant to this division.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56057. Section 56057.

“Next equalized assessment roll” means the listing to be equalized and used by a city, county, or district for the purpose of the annual levy and collection of any taxes or assessments imposed by the city, county, or district.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56059. Section 56059.

“Open space” means any parcel or area of land or water which is substantially unimproved and devoted to an open-space use, as defined in Section 65560.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56061. Section 56061.

“Overlap” or “overlapping territory” means territory which is included within the boundaries of two or more districts or within one or more districts and a city or cities.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56062. Section 56062.

“Parent district” means any district, a metropolitan water district, or any of the entities enumerated in Section 56036.6, which includes all or any part of another district, the first-mentioned district or entity being obligated, under the provisions of the principal act of the first-mentioned district or entity, to provide and furnish any governmental or proprietary service or commodity to the second-mentioned district.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56064. Section 56064.

“Prime agricultural land” means an area of land, whether a single parcel or contiguous parcels, that has not been developed for a use other than an agricultural use and that meets any of the following qualifications: (a) Land that qualifies, if irrigated, for rating as class I or class II in the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service land use capability classification, whether or not land is actually irrigated, provided that irrigation is feasible. (b) Land that qualifies for rating 80 through 100 Storie Index Rating. (c) Land that supports livestock used for the production of food and fiber and that has an annual carrying capacity equivalent to at least one animal unit per acre as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture in the National Range and Pasture Handbook, Revision 1, December 2003. (d) Land planted with fruit or nut-bearing trees, vines, bushes, or crops that have a nonbearing period of less than five years and that will return during the commercial bearing period on an annual basis from the production of unprocessed agricultural plant production not less than four hundred dollars ($400) per acre. (e) Land that has returned from the production of unprocessed agricultural plant products an annual gross value of not less than four hundred dollars ($400) per acre for three of the previous five calendar years.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56065. Section 56065.

“Principal act” means, in the case of a district, the law under which the district was formed and, in the case of a city, the general laws or the city charter.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56066. Section 56066.

“Principal county” means the county having the greater portion of the entire assessed value, as shown on the last equalized assessment roll of the county or counties, of all taxable property within a district or districts for which a change of organization, reorganization, or determination of a sphere of influence is proposed.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56067. Section 56067.

“Proceeding,” “proceeding for a change of organization,” or “proceeding for a reorganization” means proceedings taken by the commission for a proposed change of organization or reorganization pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with Section 57000).

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56069. Section 56069.

“Proposal” means a desired change of organization or reorganization initiated by a petition or by resolution of application of a legislative body or school district for which a certificate of filing has been issued.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56069.5. Section 56069.5.

“Protest proceedings” means proceedings taken by a commission, or its executive officer when authorized by the commission, as the conducting authority pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 57000), Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 57025), Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 57050), or Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 57075) of Part 4 of this division.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56070. Section 56070.

“Public agency” means the state or any state agency, board, or commission, any city, county, city and county, special district, or any agency, board, or commission of the city, county, city and county, special district, joint powers authority, or other political subdivision.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56072. Section 56072.

“Registered-voter district” means a district whose principal act provides that registered voters residing within the district are entitled to vote for the election of district officers, incurring of bonded indebtedness, or any other district matter.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56073.1. Section 56073.1.

“Resolution of application” means the document adopted by a local agency or school district initiating a change of organization or reorganization pursuant to Section 56654 or the document adopted by a commission pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 56375 or by subdivision (c) of Section 56879.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56074.5. Section 56074.5.

“Service review” means an analysis conducted by the commission documenting and analyzing the services in a particular geographic region or jurisdictional area pursuant to the requirements of Section 56430.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56075. Section 56075.

“Special assessment district” or “assessment district” means an area fixed, established, and formed by a city, county, district, or the state, pursuant to general law, special act, or charter, that is specially benefited by, and assessed, or to be assessed, to pay the costs and expenses of, acquiring any lands or rights-of-way, acquiring or constructing any public improvements, maintaining or operating any public improvement, or lighting any public street, highway, or place.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56075.5. Section 56075.5.

“Special reorganization” means a reorganization that includes the detachment of territory from a city or city and county and the incorporation of that entire detached territory as a city.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56076. Section 56076.

“Sphere of influence” means a plan for the probable physical boundaries and service area of a local agency, as determined by the commission.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56077. Section 56077.

“Subject agency” means each district or city for which a change of organization or reorganization is proposed or provided in a plan of reorganization.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56078. Section 56078.

“Subsidiary district” means a district in which a city council is designated as, and empowered to act as, the ex officio board of directors of the district.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56079.5. Section 56079.5.

“Uninhabited territory” means territory within which there reside fewer than 12 registered voters. The number of registered voters, as determined by the elections officer, shall be established as of the date a certificate of filing is issued by the executive officer.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 56080. Section 56080.

“Urban service area” means developed, undeveloped, or agricultural land, either incorporated or unincorporated, within the sphere of influence of a city, which is served by urban facilities, utilities, and services or which are proposed to be served by urban facilities, utilities, and services during the first five years of an adopted capital improvement program of the city if the city adopts that type of program for those facilities, utilities, and services. The boundary around an urban area shall be called the “urban service area boundary” and shall be developed in cooperation with a city and adopted by a commission pursuant to policies adopted by the commission in accordance with Sections 56300, 56301, and 56425.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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