As used in this division the following terms have the meanings attributed to them in this article, unless the context otherwise requires.
General ProvisionsDefinitions
Section § 9015
This law section establishes that specific terms within this division have particular meanings as defined in this article, but these definitions might change if the context demands it.
term definitions context dependency meaning alteration
Section § 9016
In this section, the term "Commission" specifically refers to the State Resource Conservation Commission.
“Commission” means the State Resource Conservation Commission.
State Resource Conservation Commission Commission definition resource conservation
Section § 9017
This section defines "Department" as the Department of Conservation.
“Department” means the Department of Conservation.
Department of Conservation definition of department California Department of Conservation
Section § 9018
In this section, the term 'Director' refers specifically to the Director of Conservation.
“Director” means the Director of Conservation.
Director of Conservation terminology definition
Section § 9019
In this law section, the term 'Division' specifically refers to the Division of Resource Conservation within the department.
“Division” means the Division of Resource Conservation of the department.
Division of Resource Conservation Resource Conservation department division
Section § 9020
In this section, "Chief" refers to the person in charge of the Division of Resource Conservation.
“Chief” means the Chief of the Division of Resource Conservation.
Chief Division of Resource Conservation resource conservation leadership
Section § 9021
This section clarifies that when the terms "district" or "soil conservation district" are mentioned, they specifically refer to a resource conservation district.
“District” or “soil conservation district” means a resource conservation district.
district soil conservation district resource conservation district
Section § 9022
This law section defines a 'public district' in California as any district created under state law, except for resource conservation districts.
“Public district” means a district established under the law of this state, other than a resource conservation district.
public district definition district establishment state law district
Section § 9023
This law defines 'directors' as the board of directors of a district. When the law gives powers or duties to the directors, they must act together as a group, not individually.
“Directors” means the board of directors of a district, and when powers are conferred or duties are imposed upon directors in this division the powers shall be exercised and the duties performed by the directors acting as a body and not as individuals.
board of directors group decision-making collective action
Section § 9024
This law section defines the term "Board" to mean the county board of supervisors.
“Board” means the county board of supervisors.
county board of supervisors Board definition public resources code
Section § 9025
The term "principal county" refers to the county where the majority of a district's privately owned land is located. This designation doesn't change even if the district's boundaries shift. For districts that have merged, the principal county is still determined by the location of the largest portion of privately owned land within the new district.
“Principal county” means the county in which all or the greatest portion of privately owned land of a district is situated. The principal county remains the same regardless of any change in boundaries. The principal county of a consolidated district is that county in which all or the greatest portion of the privately owned area in the consolidated district is located.
principal county privately owned land district boundaries
Section § 9026
This law defines the 'principal district' as the district that covers the larger land area when two districts are being combined.
“Principal district” means the district which has the greater land area of two districts proposed to be consolidated.
principal district district consolidation greater land area
Section § 9027
This law defines who qualifies as a 'landowner' or 'owner of land' in California for the purpose of property-related matters. The term includes not only those with official title documents but also those who hold land rights from the U.S. or state by entry or purchase. Additionally, individuals like guardians or executors managing property under court appointment are considered owners and can act on the property with court approval.
If land is listed under unknown or fictitious names on tax assessment rolls, it is treated as having a single owner alongside any real names specified. Those who have an undivided interest in a property are considered owners, with their shares counted as separate interests. For legal purposes, land value and ownership are set by the most recent property tax records.
“Landowner” or “owner of land” includes a holder of evidence of title and, also, a holder of land under a possessory right acquired by entry or purchase from the United States or the State of California. A guardian, executor, administrator, or other person holding property in a trust capacity under an appointment of court is the “owner” of such property for the purposes of this division and as such may do and perform any act provided for herein when authorized by an order of court which order may be made without notice.
If any land is assessed on the assessment roll to unknown or fictitiously named owners, or to unnamed owners in addition to any owner or owners named thereon, the land has, for the purposes of this division, but one owner in addition to any owner or owners whose true name or names may be purported to be given on the assessment book.
The holder of title to an undivided interest in any land is an owner as to his interest for the purposes of this division, and such undivided interests shall be counted and valued as though they were separate interests. If the assessment roll fails to indicate the extent of any undivided interest, the holders of title whose undivided interests are not specifically defined are owners for the purposes of this division, of equal shares therein.
The value of any land and the owners of any land are conclusively determined, for the purposes of this division, by the last equalized assessment roll.
landowner definition possession rights court-appointed guardians
Section § 9028
This section explains who is considered a 'land occupant' in a district. It includes anyone who has possession of the land, whether they own it, lease it, or rent it. Even if someone isn't physically on the land but has the legal right to it, they are still considered an occupant. Conversely, someone physically on the land is also an occupant, even if they don't have the legal right to be there.
“Land occupant” or “occupant of land” means a person in possession of land within a district whether as owner, lessee, tenant, or otherwise. A person legally entitled to possession of land is a land occupant as to that land whether in actual possession or not. A person in actual possession of land is a land occupant regardless of his right of possession.
land occupant definition possession of land legal entitlement to land
Section § 9029
This section defines a 'voter' as someone who is legally registered to vote according to the specified chapters in the Elections Code and lives in the district where they would cast their vote.
“Voter” means an elector who is registered to vote pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 2100) of Division 2 of the Elections Code, and residing within the district.
registered voter elector voting district
Section § 9030
This section defines what a 'proxy' is in the context of signing petitions related to landownership. A proxy is essentially a written permission allowing someone else to sign a petition on a landowner's behalf. Individual landowners can have someone else sign for them, but they need to acknowledge the proxy themselves. The person holding the proxy must be at least 18 years old or could be a legal entity like a corporation or partnership. If a corporation owns the land, it can only use a proxy to sign a petition, and a corporate officer must verify that the proxy is authorized.
“Proxy” means a written authorization to sign a petition. Landowners may sign petitions under this division by proxy. The proxy of an individual landowner shall be acknowledged by him. The holder of a proxy of an individual landowner shall be an individual 18 years of age or over or a corporation, partnership, or other legal entity. The proxy of a corporation shall contain a statement by the secretary or manager of the corporation that the proxy was authorized by the corporation. A corporation owning land may sign a petition only by proxy.
proxy authorization landowner petition corporation proxy
Section § 9031
This law defines the term "person" to include individuals, associations, and corporations. This means when the law refers to a "person," it could be talking about any of these three types of entities.
“Person” includes person, association, or corporation.
definition of person individuals associations
Section § 9032
The term "assessment roll" refers to the complete list of property assessments used to determine the taxes owed on real estate for county purposes.
“Assessment roll” means the entire assessment roll upon the basis of which real property is taxed for county purposes.
assessment roll property taxes county taxation
Section § 9033
This law section defines "assessment records" as including all documents related to assessing, levying, and collecting taxes. This includes the assessment roll, maps, and other records, no matter who holds them.
“Assessment records” includes the assessment roll and all maps and other records relating to the assessment, levy, and collection of taxes, whether in the custody of the assessor or not.
assessment records assessment roll tax maps
