LAFCO Authority

Boundary Changes

LAFCOs regulate, through approval or denial, the boundary changes proposed by other public agencies or individuals. LAFCOs do not have the power to initiate boundary changes on their own.

Typical applicants might include:

• Individual home owners requesting annexation to a sewer district due to a failing septic tank. Developers seeking annexation to cities in order to obtain more favorable development and urban services extended to new housing. Cities wishing to annex pockets or "islands" of unincorporated land located within their borders in order to avoid duplication of services with the county.
  
• Special districts or cities seeking to consolidate two or more governmental agencies into one, there by streamlining their service program.

Factors LAFCO Must Consider:

• Land area and land use.
  
• Topography, natural boundaries, and drainage basins.
  
• Population, population density, proximity to other populated areas, per capita assessed valuation.
  
• The likelihood of significant growth in the area, and in adjacent incorporated and unincorporated areas, during the next ten years.
  
• The effect of the proposed action and of alternative actions, on adjacent areas, on mutual social and economic interests, and on the local governmental structure of the County.
  
• The need for organized community service.
  
• The present cost and adequacy of governmental services and controls in the area, and probable future needs for such services and controls.
  
• The probable effects of the proposal and of alternatives on the cost and adequacy of services and controls in the area and adjacent areas. (As used, “services” refers to governmental services, including necessary public facilities, whether or not the services would be provided by local agencies under LAFCO’s jurisdiction, i.e., educational services.)
  
• Conformity with appropriate city or county general and specific plans.
  
• The “sphere of influence” of any local agency which may be applicable to the proposal being reviewed.
  
• The effect of the proposal on maintaining the physical and economic integrity of agricultural lands.
  
• The definiteness and certainty of the boundaries of the territory, the non-conformance of proposed boundaries with lines of assessment or ownership, the creation of islands or corridors of unincorporated territory and other similar matters affecting the proposed boundary.
  
• The conformity of the proposal and its anticipated effects with adopted Commission policies on providing planned, orderly, efficient patterns of urban development.
  
• The ability of the newly formed or annexing agency to provide the services which are identified in the application, and consideration of whether the revenues for those services will be sufficient.
  
• The timely availability of water supplies adequate for projected needs.
  
• The extent to which the proposal will assist the receiving entity in achieving its fair share of the regional housing needs as determined by the appropriate council of governments.
  
• Any information or comments from the landowner or owners, and residents of the study area.
  
• Special districts or cities seeking to consolidate two or more governmental agencies into one, there by streamlining their service program.

Sphere of Influence Studies

One of the most important charges given LAFCO was the adoption of "Spheres of Influence" for local governments (1972).

A "Sphere of Influence" is the physical boundary and service area that a local governmental agency is expected to serve, as determined by LAFCO. Establishment of this boundary is necessary to determine which governmental agencies can provide services in the most efficient way to the people and property in any given area. The Sphere of Influence requirement also works to discourage urban sprawl by preventing overlapping of jurisdictions and duplication of services.

Commissions cannot tell counties or cities what their planning goals should be. Rather, LAFCOs coordinate the orderly development of a community through reconciling differences between city and county plans in such a way that the most efficient urban service arrangements are created for the benefit of area residents and property owners.

Special Studies

Through special studies, LAFCOs encourage governments to evaluate their current operations and options for reorganization. Local agencies often overlap one another and have the potential of duplicating services. LAFCOs conduct service studies and also consolidation feasibility studies. These studies provide general information about local governments and present alternatives for improving services and reducing operational costs.