California Code, Government Code - GOV § 7267.1

(a) The public entity shall make every reasonable effort to acquire expeditiously real property by negotiation.

(b) Real property shall be appraised before the initiation of negotiations, and the owner, or the owner's designated representative, shall be given an opportunity to accompany the appraiser during his or her inspection of the property.  However, the public entity may prescribe a procedure to waive the appraisal in cases involving the acquisition by sale or donation of property with a low fair market value.