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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 1Ch. 3Art. 3§ 23332 County Formation Requirements

§ 23332 County Formation Requirements

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 23332 County Formation Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •When a new county is created, the state makes sure the old county and the new county fairly share any debts.
  • •The state checks if the new county can afford to run itself and if it will hurt the old county's money.
  • •The new county must be split into 5 equal parts by population for fair representation.
  • •The new county can't be completely surrounded by the old county.

Example

Imagine a big county wants to split into two. One part wants to become a new county called 'Sunny County'.

The state will check if Sunny County can pay its bills, if the split is fair for both counties, and make sure Sunny County isn't totally surrounded by the old county. They'll also split Sunny County into 5 areas with almost the same number of people in each.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 23332 County Formation Requirements

The commission shall determine all of the following: (a) A fair, just, and equitable distribution, as between each affected county and the proposed county, of the indebtedness of each affected county. (b) The fiscal impact of the proposed county creation on each affected county. (c) The economic viability of the proposed county. (d) The final boundaries of the proposed county, pursuant to Sections 23337, 23337.5, and 23338. (e) A procedure for the orderly and timely transition of service functions and responsibilities from the affected county or counties to the proposed county. (f) The division of the proposed county into five supervisorial districts. The boundaries of the districts shall be established in a manner which results in a population in each district which is as equal as possible to the population in each of the other districts within the county. (g) The division of the proposed county into a convenient and necessary number of road and school districts, the territory of which shall be defined. To the extent possible, existing road and school districts located within the territory of the proposed county shall be maintained. (h) Which county offices shall be filled by election at the subsequent election of officials for an approved county conducted pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 23374.1), and which of the offices shall be filled by appointments made by the board of supervisors of the approved county. At a minimum, the county offices to be filled by election shall be those which by law, are required to be filled by election. (i) That the boundaries of the proposed county do not create a territory completely surrounded by any affected county. (j) The location of the county seat of the proposed county. (k) The appropriations limit for the proposed county in accordance with Section 4 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution. The commission shall not be required to make any other determinations. (Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 470, Sec. 26. (AB 1529) Effective January 1, 2013.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

electionroadfineschoolterminationcommissionpopulationcalifornia constitution

Related Statutes

  • § 56749 Farmland Security Zone Annexation
  • § 23535 County Consolidation Requirements
  • § 23249 County Boundary Change Rules
  • § 20325 Part-Time Employee Retirement Election
  • § 23334 County Debt Distribution Rules

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 23332.
View Official Source