County Structure

Counties

Understanding California’s County Structure

California’s counties play a vital role in governance, serving as administrative arms of the state while also providing essential services to residents. However, counties differ from cities in their scope of authority and governance structure. Unlike cities, which have broad self-governing powers – including significant revenue-generating authority – counties operate under greater legislative oversight. The state Legislature can delegate functions to counties or reclaim those responsibilities as needed, as seen in the state’s funding of trial courts.

​Types of Counties

The California Constitution recognizes two types of counties: general law counties and charter counties.
A county may adopt, amend, or repeal a charter with majority voter approval. Currently, California has 43 general law counties and 15 charter counties.
Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Plumas, Riverside, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo, Yuba

General Law Counties

A county may adopt, amend, or repeal a charter with majority voter approval. Currently, California has 43 general law counties and 15 charter counties.
See List of General Law Counties

Charter Counties

A county may adopt, amend, or repeal a charter with majority voter approval. Currently, California has 43 general law counties and 15 charter counties.
See List of Charter Counties
Alameda, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, Placer, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Shasta, Tehama

​County Powers and Governance

Counties have the authority to create and enforce local ordinances that do not conflict with state law. They also have the power to:
  • Sue and be sued
  • Purchase, manage, and dispose of land and property
  • Levy and collect taxes authorized by law

 

All county powers are exercised by the Board of Supervisors, either directly or through appointed officials. The Board must comply with state procedural requirements when taking action—such as when abandoning a road or enacting land-use zoning regulations. In areas where the law does not specify a method, counties may adopt reasonable approaches to carry out their responsibilities.

Through this structured framework, counties serve as the foundation of local government, balancing state oversight with localized service delivery.