1. A legal description and map exhibit of the property that is being annexed to a particular city or district and an accompanying map must be prepared and submitted to the County of Orange Geomatics/Land Information Systems Division (G.L.I.S.)/Boundary Unit.
2. Once the legal description has been submitted and the appropriate fees have been paid, the documents are checked for accuracy and compliance with government codes and regulations.
   
   Note: The parcel needs to be immediately adjacent or contiguous* to the principal city/district.
   
   
3. G.L.I.S. sends a letter to the Surveyor/Engineer of record for the project, indicating changes that need to be made, if any, to make the legal description and map compliant. It is incumbent upon the Surveyor/Engineer to revise the project and submit back to Geomatics in a timely fashion.
4. Once the legal description and map are acceptable, a formal application must be made with LAFCo. LAFCo assigns a permanent file number to the project which is noted on the original copies of the legal description, map and all corresponThe County Surveyor will then approve the legal description and map, forward copies to LAFCo and the Surveyor/Engineer, and LAFco then calendars the project for Commission approval.
5. After LAFCo approves, they will forward the project to the State Board of Equalization for acceptance.
6. Once accepted, LAFCo notifies G.L.I.S., which then notifies the appropriate agencies and updates records with the change.

   It is recommended that legal descriptions be prepared on lined, numbered paper and maps be drawn on 8 1/2" x 11 (small areas maps) to 11" x 17" (large area maps) sheets. More than one sheet is acceptable for large or complicated maps.*There are very few cases where there is an exception to this rule. LAFCo is the deciding agency in this matter.

For a more detailed description of this process, view the Annexation Procedures Manual (1.6 Mb PDF)

$2,016.00 (Deposit)

Fees for map preparation to be determined on a case by case basis

Most Annexations need to be approved by the Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCo. LAFCo can be reached at (714)834-2556, Website: www.oclafco.ca.gov

List of cities/districts under the jurisdiction of LAFCo:

- All cities in Orange County	- Orange County Flood Control District
- Capistrano Beach County Water District	- Orange County Library District
- Coastal Municipal Water District	- Orange County Vector Control District
- Community Service Area #s 4, 13, 20, 22, 25, 26	- Orange County Water District
- County Municipal Water District	- Rossmoor Community Services District
- Costa Mesa Park and Recreation District	- Santa Ana Gardens Sanitary District
- Costa Mesa Sanitary District	- Santa Margarita Water District
- Cypress Recreation and Park District	- Santiago County Water District
- Dana Point Sanitary District	- Silverado-Modjeska Recreation and Park District
- East Orange County Water District	- South Coast County Water District
- Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District	- Stanton County Water District
- El Toro Water District	- Sunset Beach Sanitary District
- Emerald Bay Community Services District	- Surfside Colony Community Service District
- Garden Grove Subsidiary Sanitary District	- Surfside Colony Storm Water Protection District
- Irvine Ranch Water District	- Three Arch Bay Community Service District
- Laguna Beach County Water District	- Trabuco Canyon County Water District
- Los Alamitos County Water District	- Tri-Cities Municipal Water District
- Mesa Consolidated Water District	- Waterworks District #4
- Moulton-Niguel Water District	- Western Municipal Water District
- Orange County Cemetery District	- Yorba Linda County Water District

Districts NOT under the jurisdiction of LAFCo:

- School Districts	- North Tustin Lighting District
- Community College Districts	- Soil Conservation Districts
- Sewer Maintenance Districts

Hints:

• Have the legal description typed on line number paper
• Make sure the Surveyor/Engineer signs and stamps/seals both the legal description and the map
• The legal description and map should agree in all areas
• Use existing bounday of city/district for control, where applicable (click here for more info!)
• Prepare the map at a scale that is reasonable for microfilming & reproduction purposes
• Check with the Boundary Unit for current research on existing boundaries
• Newly created city/district boundary lines need to have bearings and distances described in the legal description and on the map

Sanitary and Sanitation Districts:

Sanitary Districts acquire, maintain and operate garbage dump sites, garbage collection and disposal systems; sewers, drains, septic tanks and sewerage collection and disposal systems, outfall treatment works and other sanitary disposal systems; storm water drains and storm water collection, outfall and disposal systems and water reclamation and distribution systems.

Sanitation Districts have the power to acquire construct, complete and operate sewage collection, treatment and disposal works.

California, County, Municipal and Metropolitan Water Districts

California Water Districts have the power to acquire and operate the facilities for the production, storage, transmission and distribution of water for irrigation, domestic, industrial and municipal purposes and and drainage or reclamation works connected with such undertakings. The district may also acquire and operate facilities and services for the collection, treatment and disposal of sewage, waste and storm waters.

County Water Districts furnish sufficient water in the district for any present or future beneficial use. To accomplish this purpose, the district has the power for storage conservation of water and water rights and the operation of waterworks. Also, the district generates and sells electric power in connection with water conservation projects; acquires, constructs and operates facilities for the collection, treatment and disposal of sewage, waste and storm water; drains and reclaims lands within the district; provides fire protection; acquires, constructs, maintains and operates facilities appropriate or ancillary to the recreational use of water.

Municipal Water Districts supply water for beneficial purposes; construct, improve and operate public recreational facilities appurtenant to any water reservoir operated or contracted to be operated by the district; acquire, construct and operate facilities for the collection, treatment and disposal of sewage and storm waters; acquire, construct and operate facilities for providing fire protection; acquire waterworks or a waterworks system, waters or water rights, acquire, construct and operate sanitation facilities.

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a regional water agency that imports water from Northern California and the Colorado River, and delivers it on a wholesale basis to the coastal plain of Southern California. Through its 27 member public agencies, the district provides almost 60 percent of the water used by nearly 16 million people living in portions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties.