CHAPTER 4. Effect of Incorporation [57375. - 57385.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 4.

in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 57375. Section 57375.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, on and after the effective date of an incorporation, the territory incorporated, all inhabitants within the territory, and all persons entitled to vote within the newly incorporated city by reason of residing in the city are subject to the jurisdiction of the city and shall have the rights and duties conferred on them as inhabitants and voters of the incorporated city.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 57376. Section 57376.

(a) If the newly incorporated city comprises territory formerly unincorporated, the city council shall, immediately following its organization and prior to performing any other official act, adopt an ordinance providing that all county ordinances previously applicable shall remain in full force and effect as city ordinances for a period of 120 days after incorporation, or until the city council has enacted ordinances superseding the county ordinances, whichever occurs first. However, if the Board of Supervisors of the County of Orange has adopted an ordinance or resolution, or both, pursuant to Section 50029 or 66484. 3 prior to the effective date of an incorporation of a city within that county, that ordinance or resolution shall not be repealed or superseded by the city until the county ordinance or resolution has been repealed or superseded by the board of supervisors of that county. If the county ordinance or resolution is repealed or superseded, then within 30 days of the effective date of the ordinance or resolution repealing or superseding the county ordinance or resolution, the city council shall enact a new ordinance or resolution conforming in all respects to the action taken by the county. The ordinance enacted by the city council immediately following its organization also shall provide that no city ordinance enacted within that 120-day period of time be deemed to supersede any county ordinance unless the city ordinance specifically refers to the county ordinance, and states an intention to supersede it. Enforcement of the continuing county ordinances in the incorporated area shall be by the city, except insofar as enforcement services are furnished in accordance with Section 57384. (b) In the event that the County of Orange and any city within that county have entered into a joint powers agreement for the purpose of constructing the bridges and major thoroughfares referred to in Sections 50029 and 66484.3, and if a newly incorporated city within that county comprises territory formerly unincorporated but within an area of benefit established pursuant to Section 66484.3, then the city shall comply in all respects with the agreement, including any subsequent modifications thereof, as if the city were a party thereto.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 57377. Section 57377.

Officers, except members of the city council, shall hold office until the first succeeding general municipal election held in the city and until their successors are elected and qualified. Of the five elected members of the city council, the two receiving the lowest number of votes shall hold office until the first succeeding general municipal election held in the city and until their successors are elected and qualified, and the three receiving the highest number of votes shall hold office until the second succeeding general municipal election held in the city and until their successors are elected and qualified. If two or more members of the city council are elected by the same number of votes, the terms of each shall be determined by lot. The members of the city council elected to succeed the members elected at the incorporation election shall hold office for four years from the Tuesday succeeding their election, and until their successors are elected and qualified.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 57378. Section 57378.

If the voters in the incorporation election determine that future city council members shall be elected “by districts,” or “from districts,” the provisions of Article 2 (commencing with Section 34870) of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of Division 2 shall apply to those elections.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 57379. Section 57379.

If the first general municipal election following an incorporation election will occur less than one year after the effective date of incorporation, or occurred on or after November 1, 1987, and less than one year after the incorporation election, of the five elected members of the city council, the two receiving the lowest number of votes shall hold office until the second general municipal election following the incorporation election and until their successors are elected and qualified, and the three receiving the highest number of votes shall hold office until the third general municipal election following the incorporation election and until their successors are elected and qualified. The first general municipal election following the incorporation election shall not be held unless either a proposition is to be voted upon or offices other than city council member offices are to be filled. In the event that, pursuant to Section 56724, the first election for city council members was held after the election on the incorporation proposal, the term “incorporation election” in this section means the first election for city council members.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 57380. Section 57380.

Courts shall take judicial notice of the organization and existence of cities incorporated pursuant to this division.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 57381. Section 57381.

Immediately upon qualification of the elected officers, all persons in possession of the offices of the city shall surrender the possession of the offices, though the terms of the offices for which they were elected or appointed have not expired.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 57382. Section 57382.

All officers, boards, and persons holding any property in trust for any city use shall convey that property to the city or officer entitled to the property.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 57384. Section 57384.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), whenever a city has been incorporated from territory formerly unincorporated, the board of supervisors shall continue to furnish, without additional charge, to the area incorporated all services furnished to the area prior to the incorporation. Those services shall be furnished for the remainder of the fiscal year during which the incorporation became effective or until the city council requests discontinuance of the services, whichever occurs first. (b) This subdivision applies only to incorporations for which the petition or resolution of application for incorporation is filed with the commission on or after January 1, 1987. Prior to the commission adopting a resolution making determinations, the board of supervisors may request that the city reimburse the county for the net cost of services provided pursuant to subdivision (a). The commission shall impose this requirement as a term and condition of its resolution. The city shall be obligated to reimburse the county within five years of the effective date of the incorporation or for a period in excess of five years, if the board of supervisors agrees to a longer period. As used in this subdivision, “net cost of services” means the total direct and indirect expense to the county of providing services, as determined pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 56810, adjusted by any subsequent change in the California Consumer Price Index, less any revenues which the county retains that were generated from the formerly unincorporated territory during the period of time the services are furnished pursuant to subdivision (a). This subdivision applies only to those services which are to be assumed by the city. (c) At the request of the city council, the board of supervisors, by resolution, may determine to furnish, without charge, to the area incorporated all or a portion of services furnished to the area prior to the incorporation for an additional period of time after the end of the fiscal year during which the incorporation became effective. The additional period of time after the end of the fiscal year during which the incorporation became effective for which the board of supervisors determines to provide services, without charge, and the specific services to be provided shall be specifically stated in the resolution adopted by the board of supervisors.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 57385. Section 57385.

(a) If unincorporated territory was, or hereafter becomes, incorporated, all roads and highways or portions of a road or highway in the territory which had been accepted into the county road system pursuant to Section 941 of the Streets and Highways Code are, or shall become, as the case may be, city streets on the effective date of the incorporation. (b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a road or highway which had been accepted into the county road system pursuant to Section 941 of the Streets and Highways Code after the date of the first signature on a petition for annexation or incorporation, the adoption of a resolution of application by an affected local agency, or a date mutually agreed upon by the city and the county. (c) Nothing in subdivision (a) requires a city to improve the affected road or highway to city standards.

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