ARTICLE 1. Petition for Formation [23600. - 23608.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 1.

in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 23600. Section 23600.

Land which need not be contiguous may be formed into an improvement district for one or more of the following: (a) Irrigation or domestic water service by a system of pumps or conduits or both. (b) Drainage or flood control. (c) Acquisition of existing works incidental to a water distribution system separate from or supplemental to the works of the district. (d) Change or improvement of the water distribution system of the district. (e) Maintenance of irrigation works of the district and works for water supply or drainage or both in or for the improvement district. (f) Control of weeds in or along conduits.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 23601. Section 23601.

As used in connection with improvement districts: (a) “Improvement” includes acquisition of existing works, construction of new works, and change of existing works and excludes operation, maintenance, and weed control. (b) “Construction” includes change of existing works. (c) Both “operation” and “maintenance” include weed control.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 23602. Section 23602.

The formation of an improvement district may be proposed and the petition therefor shall be signed by two-thirds or more in number of the holders of title to the land in the proposed improvement district.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 23603. Section 23603.

A petition for the formation of an improvement district shall contain all of the following: (a) Statement of the plans of the proposed improvement. (b) Description of the land in the proposed improvement district. (c) Names of the owners of all land within the proposed improvement district with their last known addresses. (d) Description of the land owned in the proposed improvement district by each owner, which shall be according to the next preceding equalized assessment book of the district. District owned land in the proposed improvement district shall be described whether or not it appears on the next preceding assessment book of the district. (e) Signatures of the petitioners.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 23604. Section 23604.

The petition, all proceedings in reference to it, the improvement district, and the land in it shall be designated by a number.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 23605. Section 23605.

The petition may consist of any number of separate instruments, which shall be duplicates except as to signatures.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 23606. Section 23606.

A petition to form an improvement district shall be filed with the secretary in the office of the district and may be inspected by all persons interested.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 23607. Section 23607.

Notwithstanding Section 23602, or any other provision of law to the contrary, in the Palmdale Irrigation District the formation of an improvement district may be proposed by the board of the district. In such event no petition shall be required for the formation of the improvement district, but the board shall give notice of and hold a hearing on the proposal as nearly as practicable in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. If the board finds that it would be for the best interests of the district and the proposed improvement district to form the improvement district, it shall proceed with the formation of the improvement district as nearly as practicable in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, except that it shall not enter a final order forming the improvement district unless the formation of the improvement district as proposed by the board is approved by the voters of the proposed improvement district at an election held within the proposed improvement district at which a majority of the voters voting on the proposition approve the formation of the improvement district as proposed by the board. Such election may be consolidated with any other election held within the district. At the time of the hearing on the proposed improvement district, the board of directors may also determine that it is in the best interests of the district and of the improvement district that bonds be sold to finance the acquisition of any existing improvements within the improvement district and the construction of other improvements therein. An election shall then be called to submit to the voters the proposal of whether or not bonds in the amount determined by the board should be authorized, and the election shall be called and held pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 21925) of Part 4 of this division. In that event the bond election shall be consolidated with the election for the formation of the improvement district and the improvement district shall not be formed unless two-thirds of the votes cast are in favor of both the formation of the district and the issuance of the bonds.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 23608. Section 23608.

Notwithstanding Section 23602, or any other provision of law to the contrary, in the Littlerock Creek Irrigation District the formation of an improvement district may be proposed by the board of the district. In such event no petition shall be required for the formation of the improvement district, but the board shall give notice of and hold a hearing on the proposal as nearly as practicable in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. If the board finds that it would be for the best interests of the district and the proposed improvement district to form the improvement district, it shall proceed with the formation of the improvement district as nearly as practicable in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, except that it shall not enter a final order forming the improvement district unless the formation of the improvement district as proposed by the board is approved by the voters of the proposed improvement district at an election held within the proposed improvement district at which a majority of the voters voting on the proposition approve the formation of the improvement district as proposed by the board. Such election may be consolidated with any other election held within the district. At the time of the hearing on the proposed improvement district, the board of directors may also determine that it is in the best interests of the district and of the improvement district that bonds be sold to finance the acquisition of any existing improvements within the improvement district and the construction of other improvements therein. An election shall then be called to submit to the voters the proposal of whether or not bonds in the amount determined by the board should be authorized, and the election shall be called and held pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 21925) of Part 4 of this division. In that event the bond election shall be consolidated with the election for the formation of the improvement district and the improvement district shall not be formed unless two-thirds of the votes cast are in favor of both the formation of the district and the issuance of the bonds.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026