California Code, Government Code - GOV § 53318

(a) A written request for the establishment of a district, signed by two members of the legislative body, describing the boundaries of the territory that is proposed for inclusion in the area and specifying the type or types of facilities and services to be financed by the district, is filed with the legislative body.

(b) A petition requesting the institution of the proceedings signed by the requisite number of registered voters, as specified in subdivision (d) of Section 53319, describing the boundaries of the territory that is proposed for inclusion in the area and specifying the type or types of facilities and services to be financed by the district, is filed with the clerk of the legislative body.  The petition may consist of any number of separate instruments, each of which shall comply with all of the requirements of the petition, except as to the number of signatures.

(c) A petition requesting the institution of the proceedings signed by landowners owning the requisite portion of the area of the proposed district, as specified in subdivision (d) of Section 53319, describing the boundaries of the territory that is proposed for inclusion in the area and specifying the type or types of facilities and services to be financed by the district, is filed with the clerk of the legislative body.

(d) The written request filed pursuant to subdivision (a) and the petition filed pursuant to subdivision (b) are not required to be acted upon until the payment of a fee in an amount that the legislative body determines, within 45 days of receiving the request or petition, is sufficient to compensate the legislative body for all costs incurred in conducting proceedings to create a district pursuant to this chapter.  A petition filed pursuant to subdivision (c) may not be acted upon until payment of a fee in an amount that the legislative body determines, within 45 days of receiving the petition, is sufficient to compensate the legislative body for all costs incurred in conducting proceedings to create a district pursuant to this chapter.