Policies and Standards
LAFCO's are charged with establishing policies and exercising their powers ""...In a manner that encourages and provides planned, well-ordered, efficient urban development patterns with appropriate consideration of preserving open-space lands within those patters"" and with ""...the discouragement of urban sprawl and the encouragement of the orderly formation and development of local agencies based upon local conditions and circumstances."" (Government Code Sections 56300 and 56301) In carrying out its responsibilities, each LAFCO must conduct various studies and review and make determinations on changes of organization, reorganizations and spheres of influence. The following policies and standards have been adopted by the Santa Barbara LAFCO to assist in the review of proposals and the preparation of studies as necessary.
Commissioner Handbook Final_2023.pdf
The following policies and standards have been adopted by the Santa Barbara LAFCO to assist in the review of proposals and the preparation of studies as necessary.
POLICIES ENCOURAGING ORDERLY FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AGENCIES.pdfSPHERE OF INFLUENCE POLICIES.pdfPOLICIES ENCOURAGING CONSISTENCY WITH SPHERES OF INFLUENCE.pdfPOLICIES ENCOURAGING ORDERLY URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE.pdfPOLICIES ENCOURAGING CONSERVATION OF PRIME AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND OPEN SPACE AREAS.pdfSTANDARDS FOR ANNEXATIONS TO CITIES.pdfSTANDARDS FOR CITY INCORPORATION.pdfSTANDARDS FOR DISTRICT FORMATION.pdfSTANDARDS FOR OUT-OF-AGENCY SERVICE AGREEMENTS.pdfRECONSIDERATION OF LAFCO DECISIONS.pdfSTATE REVIEW OF COMPREHENSIVE FISCAL ANALYSIS (CFA).pdfEXTENDING URBAN UTILITY SERVICES TO AGRICULTURAL PARCELS.pdf