City of Westchester

How to Become a City

Under the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Act, communities must successfully navigate rigorous analysis and approvals. Here is the path to independence.

1

Initiation

Requires a petition signed by at least 25% of registered voters or landowners within the proposed boundaries.

2

LAFCO Review Phase

Rigorous environmental review (CEQA) and a Comprehensive Fiscal Analysis (CFA) to prove the new city is economically viable.

3

Revenue Neutrality

An agreement is negotiated to ensure that Los Angeles County is not financially harmed by the incorporation.

4

Commission Approval

LAFCO holds public hearings to review the merits, finalize boundaries, and officially approve the proposal.

5

The Election

The proposal is placed on the ballot. It requires a dual-majority vote by residents to officially incorporate the city.

Note: Failure at any stage halts the incorporation effort. This process is overseen by the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to ensure orderly formation and economic sustainability.