The following information is designed to help you move your project through the various stages of the LAFCO process. State law and El Dorado LAFCO Policies and Guidelines require a series of steps and approvals for each project. There are legal deadlines for many of these steps.  If the deadline is missed, the project terminates. Work closely with the Executive Officer, related County departments, and the agencies whose boundaries may change as a result of your project.  This guide is a partial summary and supplements the pre-application conference.

Application Instructions and Information

Project Process Flowchart

Important Tips:

• Landowner or Voter petitions must designate the “chief petitioner” and submit “Intent to File Petition”
• Landowners may designate an agent, but the agent may not sign the petition on behalf of landowners.
• All signatures must be collected within 6 months from the date of the first signature.
• All petitions must be filed with LAFCO at the same time, within 60 days of date of the last signature.
• If more than one owner owns a parcel, all owners must sign on a landowner petition.
• Landowner petitions are verified by the Assessor’s Office and Registered voter petitions are checked by the Elections department. There may be additional fees for this verification.
• Landowners who are registered voters in El Dorado County should also provide the address of registration for signature verification purposes. Those registered to vote outside of El Dorado County must provide a notarized signature with their application.
• Signature requirements vary. Most petitions require 25% of the voters or landowners in the project area.
• Resolutions of application by agencies must include certain required elements (§56800).
• If your proposal area contains Williamson Act lands, special provisions apply.
• Your map and legal description must meet the requirements of the State Board of Equalization, but you may file a preliminary map to start your project.
• All parties/ participants complete FPPC disclosure of gifts/contributions to LAFCO Commissioners and Alternates.
• Information about planned services must be completed (Service Plan).

Property Tax Redistribution (AB-8 Agreements) 

• LAFCO notifies Assessor when a preliminary submittal is received.
• Assessor provides assessed valuation to the County Auditor.
• Tax information on the parcels in the project area prepared by the Auditor and sent to all the affected agencies. This starts a 60-day deadline.
• County CAO’s Office uses Auditor’s information to prepare and send a redistribution proposal to the affected agencies for negotiations, if needed, among the agencies.
• LAFCO does not participate in the redistribution process or any negotiations, which may occur. Applicants work with the County Administration staff and the affected agencies to ensure that an agreement is reached in a timely manner.
• With the 60-day clock running, the Board of Supervisors and certain agencies must formally approve the tax agreement with a resolution. IF THESE RESOLUTIONS ARE NOT COMPLETED WITHIN 60 DAYS, UNDER STATE LAW, YOUR PROJECT IS TERMINATED.
• During the negotiations, LAFCO circulates information regarding your project and requests comments from various agencies and departments. A Preliminary Informational Hearing before LAFCO may be required and is held when the property tax resolutions are adopted. The final LAFCO hearing on your proposal is not until 60 days after the Informational Hearing.

  LAFCO and CEQA 

• All LAFCO actions are subject to CEQA. If your LAFCO proposal is part of a larger project, such as a subdivision, you may already have completed an environmental review, which could be adequate for LAFCO. Environmental determinations by another agency must be submitted with your application. Additional copies of these documents may be required for distribution to the

• LAFCO Commission 
  If LAFCO will be the Lead Agency for your project, please see staff for further instruction. Additional fees for environmental review are listed in the fee schedule.

Completing the Application 

• You will receive a letter requesting completion of your application and information requirements.
• If your application is not completed within 6 months, your project will be terminated.
• Submit your map and legal description to the County Surveyor’s Office for review; changes may be required to meet the State Board of Equalization requirements.
• All remaining fees for the project must be paid.
• Any deficiencies or omissions in previously submitted material must be corrected.

Hearing and Decision 

• The Executive Officer will issue a “Certificate of Filing” as soon as the application requirements are completed. Staff assigns a tentative hearing date within 90 days.
• The project analysis and Executive Officer’s report and recommendation are prepared and will be mailed to you at least 5 days before the hearing.
• You will receive agenda notice about 2 weeks before the hearing.
• The Commission holds a public hearing, receives public comment and may either continue its hearing to a later date or make determinations to approve, modify, add conditions or deny your request.

After Approval–Protest  

• After LAFCO makes determinations and adopts a resolution approving your project, a protest hearing may be required (approximately 35 days after the approval). The Executive Officer serves as hearing officer. In some cases this hearing may be waived.
• Only those residing in the proposal area may file valid protests. Certain landowners or voters who are eligible to protest the action are notified and have an opportunity to object to the boundary change. If enough valid protests (usually more than 25%) are received by the conducting authority, an election is required. If more than 50% of those eligible to protest do so, or vote in the election against the proposal, then the project is terminated.

Completion and Recording  

The final steps for recording and filing the project are largely ministerial. All conditions included in your approval must be completed before recording. You will receive copies of the documents and filings to retain for your permanent records.