What is a special district?
California special districts are local government agencies that provide essential services to millions of Californians. Formed originally under the Wright Act in 1887, local residents form special districts — such as the Bear Valley Water District — when they want their community to have new or better services and infrastructure. The Legislature has continued to develop new types of special districts as tools to help residents come together to solve community problems.
Special districts are unique local service agencies that provide vital services including water and energy, fire protection and public safety, treatment of wastewater, garbage removal, and much more. To learn more, read the California Special Districts Association's (CSDA) “About Special Districts Guide” and visit districtsmakethedifference.org.
The statewide mapping project
The California Special Districts Association (CSDA), in partnership with California CAD Solutions, provides the most comprehensive, interactive map of independent special districts in California. CSDA's goal is to have every special district headquarters and boundary line represented on the map. The Special District Mapping Project is supported in part by contributions from the California Special Districts Alliance — a collaborative partnership between CSDA, the CSDA Finance Corporation and the Special District Risk Management Authority (SDRMA).
View the CSDA Special District Mapping Project →
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