(a) Territory, whether contiguous or noncontiguous, in the unincorporated area of a single county may be included in a county service area.

(b) A county service area that includes the entire unincorporated area of a county may be formed to provide any or all of the services and facilities authorized by this chapter if the county does not provide those services and facilities to the same extent to the entire area of the county.

(c) All or any part of a city may be included in a county service area only if the city council gives its consent, as provided in this chapter. The executive officer of a local agency formation commission shall not issue a certificate of filing pursuant to Section 56658 for an application for an annexation of incorporated territory to a county service area or a reorganization that would result in the annexation of incorporated territory to a county service area, unless the application is accompanied by a resolution adopted by the city council of the affected city that consents to the annexation of that incorporated territory.

(d) Land devoted primarily to the commercial production of agricultural products, timber, or livestock may be included in a county service area only if that land is contiguous to other land within the county service area and only if the land will benefit from the services and facilities that the county service area provides. A local agency formation commission shall not approve any change of organization or reorganization that would result in the inclusion of land devoted primarily to the commercial production of agricultural products, timber, or livestock in a county service area unless the board finds that the land will benefit from the services and facilities that the county service area provides.

(e) Except as provided in this chapter, the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 (Division 3 (commencing with Section 56000) of Title 5) shall govern any change of organization or reorganization of a county service area. In the case of any conflict between that division or this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail.

(f) A county service area shall not be deemed an “independent special district” as defined by Section 56044 and as that term is used in the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 (Division 3 (commencing with Section 56000) of Title 5).

(g) Whenever the boundaries of an improvement zone change, a county shall comply with Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 54900) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5.

(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 158, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2009.)