Special Districts List

Independent Districts

Community Service Districts

A community services district (CSD) may be formed to provide water, sewer or garbage services, fire protection, public recreation, street lighting, mosquito abatement, police services, library services, street improvements, conversion of overhead electric and communication facilities to underground locations, ambulance services, airport facilities, and transportation services. A district may consist of unincorporated territory in one or more counties. The board of directors may consist of three or five members elected at large or may be the board of supervisors.
After a CSD has been formed, the boundaries of the district may be altered and contiguous or noncontiguous unincorporated territory may be annexed to the district. Incorporated territory that is contiguous to the district may be annexed to the district with the consent of the affected city.

Fire Protection Districts

A fire protection district may provide fire protection services including ambulance services, rescue and first aid services, clearing of land, adoption of fire prevention ordinances, issuance of burning permits and dissemination of fire prevention information. A district may establish special fire protection zones when improvements are made which benefit only a portion of the district or for similar purposes. A district may consist of any incorporated and unincorporated territories which have not been declared the responsibility of the state for fire protection. The board of directors may be composed of one of the following alternatives:

The supervising authority (If the district includes only incorporated territory, this would be the city council; if more than one city is included, it would be the city council of the city with the largest population; if any unincorporated territory is included, the supervising authority is the board of supervisors.)
Five members appointed by the supervising authority
Five or eleven members appointed by and from the board of supervisors and by and from the city councils of the cities included within the district
Three or five members to be elected, generally, under the provisions of the Uniform District Election Law

Public Utility Districts

A Public Utility District may provide facilities and services for light, water, power, heat, transportation, telephone/telecommunication service, wastewater and solid waste disposal, fire protection, recreation, public parks and other public buildings, streets, and street drainage.
Public utility districts are governed by a three or five-member board of directors, although a larger board may be instituted by LAFCo in the course of a consolidation proceeding.
The jurisdiction of a PUD may consist only of unincorporated territory. The boundaries of a public utility district may be altered by the annexation of unincorporated, contiguous territory, or the annexation of non-contiguous territory of at least 10 privately owned acres lying within three miles of the closest district boundary.

Sanitary Districts

A sanitary district may acquire, construct and operate works for the collection, treatment and disposal of garbage, storm water and sewage.

Water Districts

A water district may furnish water, provide sewer services, operate recreational facilities, provide for waste collection and disposal, operate fire protection facilities and reclaim land. It may establish various improvement districts to finance acquisition or construction facilities. A district may include both incorporated and unincorporated territory.

Marin Healthcare District

The Marin Healthcare District is responsible for promoting the health and welfare of the residents of Marin County by maintaining county-wide access to care through the Marin Healthcare District Health Centers and ensuring that the hospital is in seismic compliance and ready to meet the needs of residents in the event of a natural disaster.

Conservation District

The Marin Resource Conservation District offers a variety of programs to facilitate the implementation of conservation projects in Marin County. We partake in innovative projects that explore alternative land stewardship practices relying on local history to guide our decisions about the future.

Recreation District

Strawberry Recreation District creates and maintains activities, facilities and parks that enhance the quality of life in the Strawberry community. SRD is an independent District of Marin providing services and leadership through a publicly elected Board of Directors.

Some of these districts provide more than one service or service area:

Dependent Districts

County Service Areas

In unincorporated areas, basic services like water, sewer, police and fire protection are provided by the county. Because counties often consist of large and diverse geographical areas, providing a consistent and adequate service level across all areas can be difficult. Residents of urban communities may want more services than those residing in rural areas. The County Service Area Law (Government Code §25210.1 et seq.) was created in the 1950’s to provide a means of providing expanded service levels in areas where residents are willing to pay for the extra service.

CSAs allow small communities in unincorporated areas to pay for and receive specific services from the county. If residents are willing to pay, they can receive the types of services and improvements not available in other areas of the county. There is no cost to residents of other areas of the county who do not wish to receive the additional services.

Dependent Sanitation Districts

A dependent sanitary or sanitation district may acquire, construct and operate sewage collection, treatment and disposal works within or outside district boundaries. It may also provide water services.
A district may include incorporated or unincorporated territory. The governing body of a sanitation district within unincorporated territory is the board of supervisors. The governing board of a sanitary district within incorporated territory is the city/town council.

Corte Madera Sanitary District No. 2
San Rafael Sanitation District
San Quentin Village Sewer Maintenance District
Murray Park Sewer Maintenance District

Parks and Open Space District

The Marin County Parks and Open Space District manages and maintains a variety of parks, open spaces, and public lands in Marin County, California. Its jurisdiction encompasses over 16,000 acres of parklands, including forests, wetlands, and grasslands. The district is responsible for preserving natural resources, providing recreational opportunities, and protecting the county's natural beauty for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.

Marin County Parks Open Space District

Flood Control District

The Flood Control District consists of 8 different zones throughout the County that are identified as being at a higher risk for flooding. The mission of the Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District) is to reduce the risk of flooding for the protection of life and property while utilizing sustainable practices. The District aims to meet this mission through effective, transparent, and responsive planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities such as stormwater pump stations, detention basins, bypass drains, creeks, ditches, and levees.

Flood Control District