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HomeHarbors and Navigation CodeDiv. 8Pt. 3Ch. 1Art. 2§ 6020 Petition Hearing And Verification

§ 6020 Petition Hearing And Verification

Harbors and Navigation Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 6020 Petition Hearing And Verification

This law tells the board of supervisors how to run a hearing about a petition, limits the hearing to 90 days, and says certain certificates count as proof that petition signers own land or are registered voters in the area.

Key Takeaways

  • •The board must hold the hearing at the time and place named in the notice and can extend it, but never longer than 90 days.
  • •A certificate from the county assessor proving a signer’s name is on the land assessment roll is enough to show the signer owns land in the proposed district.
  • •A certificate from the county elections official proving a signer is a registered, uncanceled voter in the district is enough to show the signer can vote there.

Example

A neighborhood group wants to create a new fire protection district and files a petition with the county.

The board sets a hearing date and can keep the hearing going, but only for up to 90 days. When the hearing happens, the county assessor’s certificate showing each signer’s name on the land tax list is taken as proof they own land there, and the elections official’s certificate showing each signer is a registered voter in that area is taken as proof they can vote there.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 6020 Petition Hearing And Verification

At the time and place specified in the notice, the board of supervisors shall consider the petition and may continue the hearing from time to time, not exceeding a period of 90 days. At the hearing by the board of supervisors a certificate issued by the assessor of the county and filed with the clerk of the board of supervisors in the proceedings stating that the name of any signer of the petition appears upon the last equalized assessment roll of the county for land assessed to that signer and located within the boundaries of the proposed district, is prima facie evidence that the signer is a freeholder within the proposed district. A certificate signed by the county elections official that the name of any signer of the petition is a registered and uncanceled voter of the county, residing within the boundaries of the proposed district, is prima facie evidence that the signer is a registered voter within the boundaries of the proposed district. (Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 221, Sec. 57. Effective January 1, 2003.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

board of supervisorspetitionfreeholderregistered voterprima facie evidence

Related Statutes

  • § 5831 Petition Signer Verification
  • § 5830 Petition Hearing Continuation
  • § 5839 Harbor Improvement Petition Approval
  • § 6013 Petition Signer Requirements
  • § 6024 Harbor District Formation Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Harbors and Navigation Code. Section 6020.
View Official Source