LAFCO Of Kings County

Home Agenda/Minutes Commissioners Staff  Procedures Documents 

WHAT IS LAFCO?

LAFCO is an acronym for Local Agency Formation Commission. LAFCO's were created in 1963 by the Knox – Nesbit Act and amended by the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000. LAFCO's are responsible for coordinating logical and timely changes in local governmental boundaries such as annexations to cities.

The Commission in Kings County is comprised of two City Council members from the four incorporated cities, two Board of Supervisors members and a public member chosen by the four city and county commissioners. The objectives of LAFCO are to encourage the orderly formation of local government agencies, preserve agricultural land resources, discourage urban sprawl, and provide a sphere of influence for each city and special district in the county.

Property owners who wish to annex or detach to a city or special district have two methods of application. First, the applicant may approach the city or special district and have the council or board adopt a resolution of application. This is the preferred method since the jurisdiction will have input into the proposal. However, the property owner may also petition LAFCO directly for annexation or detachment.

The Kings County LAFCO is scheduled to meet the fourth Wednesday of each month at 3:00 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1400 W. Lacey Blvd. in Hanford. However, the Commission meets only when an application for reorganization has been received. The petition, policies and other information is available at this web site under Procedures.