HISTORY OF THE LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION (LAFCO)

After World War II California experienced dramatic population and economic development growth. Due to this growth, new local governments were formed, often with competing interests and overlapping boundaries. LAFCo’s were formed in 1963 by the California State Legislature to help organize boundaries of cities and special districts to provide a more orderly and efficient delivery of services. This was first attempted with the creation of several statutory laws and three enabling acts: the Knox-Nisbit Act, the Municipal Organization Act and the District Reorganization Act.

In 1997, the State Legislature formed the Commission on Local Governance in the 21st Century. After month of studies, the Commission made several recommendations which they stated in their report “Growth Within Bounds.” This report became the basis for Cortese Knox Hertzberg Local Government Act of 2000 ((CKH). 

LAFCo’s objective is summarized in Government Code Section 56301 of the CKH.  This statute reads:

“Among the purposes of the commission are discouraging urban sprawl, preserving open space and prime agricultural lands, efficiently providing governmental services, and encouraging the orderly formation and development of local agencies based upon local conditions.  One of the objects of the commission is to make studies and furnish information to contribute to the logical and reasonable development of local agencies in each county and to shape the development of local agencies so as to advantageously provide for the present and future needs of each county and its communities.”

Based on the recommendations of the Commission on Local Governance in the 21st Century and the adoption of CKH there are LAFCo’s in each of the 58 counties in California with each being independent from each other and each having their own Commission.

LAFCO decisions are quasi-judicial and therefore are not subject to an outside appeal process.