Guides and Resources
Start here
These introductory materials explain what LAFCOs are, why they were created, and how their decisions affect local government boundaries and public services.
What is LAFCO? Brochure (PDF)
Citizen's guides
These guides provide helpful background on LAFCOs, their history, legal authority, and role in California local government. The Citizen’s Guide was published in 2003, and 50 Years of LAFCO was published in 2013. They remain useful historical overviews but should not be treated as current legal guidance.
- It's Time to Draw the Line: A Citizen's Guide to LAFCOs (2003) (PDF)
- 50 Years of LAFCO (2013): A Guide to LAFCOs (PDF)
LAFco law and background
History of LAFCO law (PDF)
What are LAFCOs? Explainer (PDF)
Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 (PDF)
Discussion of Legislative Intent (PDF)
TRAINING RESOURCES
2026 CSDA Presentation: Navigating LAFCO with Confidence (PDF)
Training slides: Introduction to Local Agency Formation Commissions. Last updated October 2019. (PDF)
