In 1972, LAFCOs were given the power to determine *Spheres of Influence for all local government agencies. A “Sphere of Influence” is a planning boundary outside of an agency’s legal boundary (such as the city limit line). This is defined as the physical boundary and service area that designates the agency’s probable future boundary and service area that is expected to serve. Factors considered in a Sphere of Influence Review focus on the current and future land use, the current and future need and capacity for service, and any relevant communities of interest.  Establishment of this boundary is necessary to determine which governmental agencies can provide services in the most efficient way to the people and property in any given area. With the passage of the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg (CKH) Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 (Government Code §§ 56000 et seq), spheres are reviewed every five years.

Properly, established, the Sphere of Influence line discourages competition among agencies for developable land; it promotes orderly land use and service planning, and provides direction to landowners.

The Sphere of Influence requirement also works to ensure the provision of efficient services while discouraging urban sprawl and the premature conversion of agricultural and open space lands by preventing overlapping jurisdictions and duplication of services.

Commissions cannot tell agencies, counties or cities what their planning goals should be. Rather, on a regional level, LAFCOs coordinate the orderly development of a community by reconciling differences between agency, county and city plans so the most efficient urban service arrangements are created for the benefit of area residents and property owners.

State law requires the Commission to consider the following factors in determining a Sphere of Influence boundary

1.  The present and planned land uses in the area, including agricultural and open-space lands.

2.  The present and probable need for public facilities and services in the area.

3.  The present capactiy of public facilities and adequacy of public services that the agency provides or is authorized to provide.

4.  The existence of any social or economic communities of interest in the area if the commission determines that they are relevant to the agency. 

*Existing State law (Government Code §§ 56430 et seq.), now states that in order to prepare and update a Sphere of Influence (SOI), LAFCOs are required to first conduct a Municipal Service Review under the Authority of LAFCO Section of the municipal services  provided in the county or other appropriate designated area.  State law requires the Commission to review all city and district Spheres of Influence at least once every five years.