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HomeHealth and Safety CodeDiv. 12Pt. 2.7Ch. 1§ 13803 Fire District Organization Authority

§ 13803 Fire District Organization Authority

Health and Safety Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 13803 Fire District Organization Authority

Key Takeaways

  • •This law sets up the rules for how fire protection districts are organized and what they can do.
  • •Fire protection districts that existed before January 1, 1988, can keep operating as they were, even if the old rules changed.
  • •If a fire district was being reorganized before January 1, 1988, the old rules still apply to finish that process.
  • •Special fire zones from before 1988 are now called service zones but work the same way.

Example

A town had a fire protection district set up in 1980. The district had its own rules for how many people were on the board and how they were chosen.

Even though the law changed in 1988, this town’s fire district can keep following its old rules for the board. They don’t have to change just because the law updated.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 13803 Fire District Organization Authority

(a)  This part provides the authority for the organization and powers of fire protection districts. This part succeeds the Fire Protection District Law of 1961 and all of its statutory predecessors. Any fire protection district organized or reorganized pursuant to the Fire Protection District Law of 1961 or any of its statutory predecessors which was in existence on January 1, 1988, shall remain in existence as if it had been organized pursuant to this part, except that when the district board is a county board of supervisors the number and method of selection of its board of directors shall continue to be governed by the provisions of Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 13831) of the Fire Protection District Law of 1961 in effect on December 31, 1987, as if that chapter had not been repealed. Any special fire protection zone formed pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 13991) of the Fire Protection District Law of 1961 or any of its statutory predecessors which was in existence on January 1, 1988, shall remain in existence as a service zone as if it has been formed pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 13950). (b)  This part does not apply to any reorganization which was filed pursuant to the Fire Protection District Law of 1961 and which is pending on January 1, 1988. Those pending reorganizations may be continued and completed under, and in accordance with, the Fire Protection District Law of 1961. The repeals, amendments, and additions made by the act enacting this part shall not apply to any of those pending reorganizations, and the laws existing prior to January 1, 1988, shall continue in full force and effect as applied to those pending reorganizations. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1013, Sec. 11.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

protectionexistencedirectorfireauthorityorganizationselectionaccordance

Related Statutes

  • § 13009.5 Inmate Firefighting Labor Costs
  • § 13103 Fire Marshal Appointment Authority
  • § 13104.5 State Fire Hazard Abatement
  • § 13159.4 Fire Training Program Oversight
  • § 9003 Public Cemetery District Authority

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 13803.
View Official Source