Boards, Commissions and Committees

County government includes those standing and special citizen boards, commissions, committees and task forces formed to advise the Board of Supervisors and County staff on issues and policy and to serve as links to the community. County committees are created as a result of State and Federal legislation, agreements with public or private agencies, and local needs. Boards, Commissions and Committees advise Board of Supervisors on issues relating to the welfare and quality of life in the County. They provide an inter-relationship between the citizenry of the County and the government of the County.

Citizen Advisory Committees range from short-term task-oriented to long-term standing committees with broad-based jurisdictional responsibilities. There are committees for County Service Areas (CSA), health and human services, criminal justice, elderly, planning, land use, parks, libraries, housing, and others.

The following information is available to assist you in participating in a County board, committee or commission.

To apply, follow these steps:

  1. Review List of Opportunities/Vacancies: To see the current opportunities to serve on a County board, commission or committee, review the report of current Vacancies/Terms. For details about each board, including current member rosters, the terms, duties, and contact person, view the index of boards, commissions and committees and Fact Sheets.
  2. Submit Your Application: Complete the "Application to Serve on a Board, Commission, or Committee," and submit it to the Clerk of the Board. To determine the Supervisorial District in which you reside visit the San Diego County Registrar of Voters search page.

For more information on how to apply and what it means to serve on a County board, committee or commission, please visit our "How to Serve," web page. 

Additional Resources:

  • List of all County boards, commissions, and committees: The list includes Fact Sheets and current Member Rosters for each County board, commission and committee. The Fact Sheets describe the legal authority for the board, commission and committee, the terms of members, when they meet and provide the name of a contact person.  

  • Unscheduled Vacancies:  These are vacancies that occurred due to resignation, death, termination, creation of a new Committee or other causes.  Vacancy announcements shall be posted within 20 days after the vacancy occurs and no appointment shall be made to the position for 10 working days after posting, except on an acting basis in any emergency. (Government Code Section 54974)
  • Report of Local Appointments - Annual Roster Of Boards, Commissions and Committees (in compliance with the MADDY Act): This report lists all regular and ongoing boards, commissions and committees whose members are appointed by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. The list contains all appointive terms which are currently vacant and those that will expire during the next calendar year, with the name of the incumbent appointee, the date of appointment, the date the term expires, and the necessary qualifications for the position. The report also includes a separate list of all boards, commissions, and committees whose members serve at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors.  

  • For existing members, Incompatible and Non-Profit Incompatible Activities Form (pdf)
San Diego County Map