Overview

Mission Statement

"LAFCO serves the citizens of Orange County by facilitating constructive changes in governmental structure and boundaries through special studies, programs, and actions that resolve intergovernmental issues, by fostering orderly development and governance, and by promoting the efficient delivery of services. LAFCO also serves as a resource for local governments and citizens by providing a structure for sharing information among stakeholders in Orange County."

- OC LAFCO Commission

A Brief History of All LAFCOs

After World War II, California experienced dramatic growth in population and economic development. This population boom increased the demand for housing, jobs and public services. In order to compensate for the demand, the state approved the formation of local government agencies through the State Boundary Commission. The approvals of these new agencies gave little or no thought to the ultimate governance structure of any given regions. This led to a multitude of overlapping, inadequate jurisdictional and service boundaries, and the premature conversion of open space and agricultural land.

In 1959, Governor Edmund G. Brown Sr. appointed the Commission of Metropolitan Area Problems whose charge was to study and make recommendations on the misuse of land resources and the growing complexity of local governmental jurisdiction. The commissions' recommendations were introduced in the Legislature in 1963 and resulted in the creation of Local Agency Formation Commissions or LAFCOs operating in each county within the State of California.

The Orange County LAFCO Process for Jurisdictional Changes

The OC LAFCO process is fairly straight forward. Click on the "Forms" link located on all the pages within this website and you will find the application, petitions, and resolutions for initiating jurisdictional changes. If you are an individual landowner, live in a municipality or special district, there are differences in the requirements.

All relevant details are outlined specifically in our handbook, also available online via this website. If at anytime the process is unclear please contact our office and the staff at OC LAFCO will gladly assist you in understanding the process.

 

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