The Legislature hereby finds and declares that there exists throughout the State large unincorporated areas which are particularly suited to and used for recreation resort purposes, and which are held and used by residents of this State but which are inhabited only seasonally. The Legislature further finds and declares that these resort areas are not suited to full urban development without destroying the very nature of the areas; but the seasonal residents of these areas are, nevertheless, in need of extended governmental services; and that the extension of governmental services and the construction and financing of public improvements in these resort areas is complicated by the facts that: (a) many of the services are needed only seasonally, and (b) most of the landowners whose property is benefited by the public improvements, because they are technically nonresidents, are without voice in the direction or method of financing of the necessary services and improvements. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this division to provide an alternative method for the furnishing of extended governmental services, including the construction and financing of public improvements, within recreation resort areas adequate to meet the needs of such areas; and to provide for the levy of taxes within such areas in an amount sufficient to pay for extended services provided, additional extended services to be provided, and for public improvements installed or constructed.
Chapter 1General Provisions
Section § 13000
This law explains that in California, there are large unincorporated areas used as vacation resorts. These places aren't meant for full urban development because that would ruin their nature. However, they still need some government services, especially since many homes are occupied only during certain seasons. The law aims to provide a different way to offer necessary services and improvements in these areas. It also allows for taxes to be levied on properties within these resort areas to pay for these services and improvements.
unincorporated areas recreation resort areas seasonal residency extended governmental services public improvements seasonal services tax levy resort development financing public services property owner rights nonresident landowners alternative service provision governmental services extension public improvements funding resort area taxation
Section § 13001
This section establishes the official name of a set of rules as the "Resort Improvement District Law," which is a set of laws concerning certain districts.
This division shall be known and may be cited as the “Resort Improvement District Law.”
Resort Improvement District law citation district rules naming statute division name official name legal reference district laws improvement districts special district laws
Section § 13002
This law allows the creation of a resort improvement district in areas that are not part of a city within a single county, as long as at least 80% of the land's assessed value is owned by people who don't live there.
A resort improvement district consisting of unincorporated territory in one county may be established pursuant to this division, provided that 80 percent or more of the assessed valuation of the land in the district as shown on the last equalized county assessment roll is in nonresident ownership.
resort improvement district unincorporated territory one county nonresident ownership assessed valuation county assessment roll district establishment land ownership land valuation property assessment local government community development property tax valuation threshold county territory
Section § 13003
No new districts can be formed under this law after September 17, 1965, except for those in the Fallen Leaf Lake area within the Lake Tahoe watershed. Also, certain regulations from Section 13075 don't apply to this area.
No additional districts shall be created or organized under this division after September 17, 1965, except in the Fallen Leaf Lake watershed within the Lake Tahoe watershed. The provisions of Section 13075 shall not apply in the Fallen Leaf Lake watershed within the Lake Tahoe watershed.
Fallen Leaf Lake Lake Tahoe watershed district formation exception clause post-1965 restrictions Section 13075 exemption watershed district creation limitation district organization specific geographical area lake watershed governance Tahoe region local governance exceptions district establishment restriction environmental legislation scope
