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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 2Pt. 2Ch. 5Art. 8§ 25538 County Property Sale Procedures

§ 25538 County Property Sale Procedures

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 25538 County Property Sale Procedures

Key Takeaways

  • •Big counties (with 1 million+ people) can sell cheap county land (worth $25,000 or less) in a simpler way.
  • •The county must announce the sale publicly, including the minimum price and sale date, at least 7 days before selling.
  • •The highest bid wins, but the county can reject all bids if they think it's best. Oral bids must be at least 5% higher than the highest written bid.
  • •If no good bids come in, the county can negotiate a sale for up to a year or rent the land for up to 12 months without asking the board each time.

Example

A county wants to sell an old, empty lot worth $20,000.

The county announces the sale in the newspaper, sets a minimum price of $18,000, and holds a bidding event. If the highest written bid is $20,000, someone can offer $21,000 orally to win. If no one bids at least $18,000, the county can try to sell it privately for a year or rent it out for up to 12 months.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 25538 County Property Sale Procedures

(a) In counties having a population of 1,000,000 or more, based on the most recent estimate by the demographic research unit of the Department of Finance, the board of supervisors may prescribe by ordinance a procedure alternative to that required by Sections 25520 to 25535, inclusive. The ordinance may designate a county officer or department head to sell any real property of an estimated value of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or less belonging to the county. (b) Any alternative procedure shall require that the board of supervisors adopt and cause to be published pursuant to Section 6061.3, a resolution of its intention to sell the property. The resolution shall describe the property to be sold in an identifiable manner; specify the minimum price and the terms upon which it will be sold; the date on which it will be sold, which shall be not less than seven days following the completion of publication; fix the place at which sealed proposals to purchase will be received; and fix the time and place where the proposals will be opened and declared and oral bids received. In addition, the board may purchase advertising space and may advertise the proposed sale or lease of the property in any newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals to publicize the sale or lease to those persons most likely to bid for, purchase, or lease the property. (c) At the time and place fixed for the opening of bids the county officer or department head may accept the highest bid, written or oral, or, if he or she deems the action to be for the best public interest, he or she may reject any and all bids, either written or oral, and withdraw the property from sale. No oral bid shall be accepted unless it is made by a responsible person and exceeds by at least 5 percent the highest written proposal made by a responsible person. (d) The alternative procedure may provide that in the event that no written or oral proposal is made which is equal to or greater than the minimum price fixed in the resolution, then for a period of one year following the date of the resolution, or until the board of supervisors revokes its authority, the county officer or department head shall have the authority to negotiate a sale, subject to final acceptance by the board of supervisors, of the real property to any person for not less than the minimum price fixed by the resolution. The alternative procedure may also provide that until the final acceptance occurs, the county officer or department head may lease the real property by direct negotiation on behalf of the county on a month-to-month tenancy, but in no event for more than 12 months, without first obtaining the approval of the board of supervisors. (Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 939, Sec. 6. Effective September 28, 1994. Operative January 1, 1995, by Sec. 29 of Ch. 939.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

resolutionordinancepropertyleasepopulationintentioncompletionpublication

Related Statutes

  • § 25526 County Property Sale Approval
  • § 25526.7 County Property Sale Exemption
  • § 25530 Bid Opening And Acceptance
  • § 25538.5 County Sale Of Forfeited Property
  • § 25350.51 County Property Lease Authority

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 25538.
View Official Source