ARTICLE 1. Qualifications and Tenure [34700. - 34713.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 1.

in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 34700. Section 34700.

Each director shall be one of the following: (a) A holder of title to land within the district. (b) The legal representative of a holder of title to land within the district in accordance with Section 34030. (c) A representative designated by a holder of title to land within the district, if the holder has filed with the district written evidence of that designation.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 34701. Section 34701.

Officers take office as soon as they qualify except that officers elected or appointed pursuant to the Uniform District Election Law shall take office at noon on the first Friday in December next following the general district election.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 34705. Section 34705.

The term of office of each elective officer subsequent to the officers elected at the formation election is four years or until his successor qualifies and takes office.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 34707. Section 34707.

If any office becomes vacant from any cause it shall be filled by appointment by the board.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 34707.5. Section 34707.5.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vacancy in the office of board member who was elected to office shall be filled pursuant to Section 1780 of the Government Code.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 34708. Section 34708.

At any time after four years from the date of the formation of a district, and from time to time thereafter, but not less than 120 days before a general district election, the board may, by resolution, increase the number of directors to serve thereon to 7, 9 or 11, and may designate the first additional members to serve on said enlarged board. The board shall determine the term of office of each of the new directors so appointed, but in no event shall such term designated by the board be for more than four years. The terms of office thus created shall be determined in such a manner as to keep as nearly equal as practicable the number of directors to be elected at each subsequent general district election. Upon the expiration of such term so designated by the board said directorship shall be filled at the next general district election and general district elections held thereafter for the election of officers of the district. The term of office of each director elected at a general district election is four years or until his successor qualifies and takes office.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 34708.5. Section 34708.5.

At any time after the adoption of a resolution pursuant to Section 34708, such resolution may be repealed by a unanimous vote of the members of the board. Immediately upon the effective date of the repeal of the resolution, the offices created thereby shall be deemed vacated and abolished.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 34709. Section 34709.

Notwithstanding Section 34900, any elective officer other than a director may appoint so many deputies as the board shall have authorized for whose acts he and his bondsmen are responsible.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 34710. Section 34710.

Deputies shall hold office at the pleasure of the appointing officer and shall receive such compensation as may be provided by the board.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 34711. Section 34711.

The treasurer shall be appointed by the board and serve at its pleasure. At least 90 days before the date of a general district election wherein the offices of assessor and tax collector will be subject to election, the board may determine that these officers shall henceforth be appointed by the board to serve at its pleasure, or, if a board has adopted the alternative provisions of Part 7.5 (commencing with Section 37200) of this division, it may by resolution eliminate these district offices. A person appointed pursuant to this section need not be a resident or elector of the district. Any person holding an elective office affected by this section may serve the remainder of the current term of office. The offices of treasurer, assessor and tax collector, or any combination thereof, may be held by the same person.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 34712. Section 34712.

At least 90 days before the date of a general district election, the board may determine that the offices of assessor and tax collector, or either of them, which are currently appointive shall be filled by election at the next succeeding district election.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 34713. Section 34713.

A person elected on the basis of one man-one vote to the board of directors of a California water district, which district has been authorized by the Legislature to convert on a phased basis from a landowner voting basis to a one man-one vote basis, may serve out the remainder of the elected term after being elected, for the first time, to the office of director of a municipal water district which encompasses, in whole or in part, the California water district.

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