LAFCOs establish, amend, and update spheres of influence for all cities, towns, and most special districts in California to designate the territory it independently believes represents the appropriate and probable future service areas and jurisdictional boundaries of the affected agencies. Importantly, all jurisdictional changes, such as annexations and detachments, must be consistent with the spheres of the affected local agencies with limited exceptions.  Further, an increasingly important role involving sphere determinations relate to their use by regional councils of governments as planning areas in allocating housing need assignments for counties, cities, and towns.  LAFCOs must review and update all local agencies’ spheres every five years beginning in 2008.   In making sphere determinations, LAFCOs are required to prepare written statements addressing five specific planning factors listed under Government Code Section 56425.    These mandatory factors range from evaluating current and future land uses to the existence of pertinent communities of interest.    The intent in preparing the written statements is to orient LAFCOs in addressing the core principles underlying the sensible development of local agencies consistent with the anticipated needs of the affected communities.  

Updated Study Schedule | FY2024-2028

Fiscal Years 2019 to 2023 Study Cycle

Poway Region SOI Updates (2021)

• City of Poway

Resource Conservation Districts SOI Updates (2021)

• Mission RCD
• RCD of Greater San Diego County
• Upper San Luis Rey RCD

Valley Center Region SOI Updates (2020)

• Valley Center Community Services District
• Valley Center Fire Protection District
• Valley Center Municipal Water District

San Diego County SD SOI Updates (2019)

• Alpine-Lakeside Service Area
• Campo Service Area
• East Otay Mesa Service Area
• Julian Service Area
• Pine Valley Service Area
• Spring Valley Service Area
• Winter Gardens Service Area 

Julian Region SOI Updates (2019)

• Cuyamaca Water District
• Julian Community Services District
• Lake Cuyamaca Recreation and Park District
• Majestic Pines Community Services District
• Wynola Water District 

Fiscal Years 2013 to 2018 Study Cycle

Health Care District MSR & SOI Updates (2015)

• Main Document (1.9 MB)
• Associated Maps (39.0 MB)

North County Coastal-San Dieguito MSR & SOI Updates: Water/Wastewater Agencies (2013)

• Main Document (14.9 MB)

Ramona MWD MSR & SOI Updates (2013)

• Main Document (2.0 MB)

Earlier Study Cycles

County Sanitation District MSR & SOI Updates (2010/2007)

• Updated Report - 2010 (0.4 MB)
• Associated Maps - 2010 (71.7 MB)
• Main Document - 2007 (1.3 MB)
• Associated Maps - 2007 (114.9 MB)

Cemetery District MSR & SOI Updates (2007)

• Main Document (1.9 MB)

Borrego Valley MSR & SOI Updates (2007)

• Updated Report: October 2007 (20.2 MB)
• Referral Letter (0.2 MB)
• Main Document (0.2 MB)
• Associated Maps (18.5 MB)

Upper San Diego River MSR & SOI Updates (2006)

• Main Document (5.7 MB)

Draft: San Luis Rey River Watershed: Bonsall and Pala Subareas MSR & SOI Updates (2006)

• Main Document (6.9 MB)

Draft North Central San Diego County MSR & SOI Updates (2005)

• LAFCO Executive Summary (4.3 MB)
• Main Document (15.9 MB)
• Associated Maps (7.2 MB)
• Negative Declaration (5.8 MB)
• Negative Declaration Maps (7.1 MB)

Tijuana Watershed & Tia Juana Valley CWD MSR & SOI Updates (2004)

• Main Document (1.7 MB)
• Associated Maps (3.3 MB)

Southern San Diego County Water and Sewer MSR (2004)

• Main Document (3.3 MB)

North County Inland MSR & SOI Updates (2003)

• Main Document (2.2 MB)
• Notice of Availability (0.1 MB)
• Jurisdiction Maps (2.3 MB)
• Agency Responses (1.5 MB)

Fire Related MSRs & SOI Updates:

Micro Report: Reorganization of Structural Fire Protection & EMS (2007)

• Transmittal Memo (2.3 MB)
• Micro Report (2.5 MB)
• Associated Maps (8.4 MB)
• Attachment 1: County Plan (4.0 MB)
• Attachment 2: Background Study (0.2 MB)
• Attachment 3: Workshop Transcripts:
  • February 27, 2007 (0.1 MB)
  • March 1, 2007 (0.1 MB)
  • March 7, 2007 (0.2 MB)
• Attachment 4: Public Comments (9.4 MB)
• May 7, 2007 LAFCO Meeting Transcript (0.2 MB)
• August 2007 Update Memo (0.9 MB)
• December 3, 2007 LAFCO Meeting: Fire Reorg Transcript (0.1 MB)

Macro Report: Options for Providing Structural Fire Protection & EMS (2005)

• Main Document (1.1 MB)
• Associated Maps (5.6 MB)

Fire Protection & EMS MSR (2005)

• Main Document (1.1 MB)
• Associated Maps (6.2 MB)

Fire Funding Study (2003)

• Main Document (0.9) MB)