• How are the Landscape Maintenance Districts (LMDs) administered?
• How are the Landscaping Maintenance Districts (LMDs) funded?
• I was not in my home when the Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) was approved. Why do I have to pay the assessments?
• If I have more questions about the maintenance of my Landscape Maintenance District (LMD), who do I contact?
• If I was not in my home when these Special Districts were formed, why do I have to pay for the assessment now?
• What are Landscape Maintenance Districts (LMDs) and how many are located in the City?
• What are the benefits of a LMD?
• What do my Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) assessments cover?
• What is Proposition 218 and why does it impact LMDs?
• Who performs the maintenance within the LMDs?
• Who started the Landscaping Maintenance Districts (LMDs) in the City and why?

How are the Landscape Maintenance Districts (LMDs) administered?
Each LMD and SLD is administered by the GIS/Special Districts Division of the Administrative Services Department.  Staff is responsible for ensuring that all parcels within each LMD and SLD are accurately assessed annually on the tax roll for the special benefit received by such parcels from the improvements for such LMD and SLD.  The revenues received are only expended for the improvements that specially benefit the parcels within the respective LMD or SLD.  As needed, notices of delinquency are sent to property owners within the respective LMD or SLD.  The City's Public Works Services Department administers all the maintenance contracts and supervises the in-house maintenance staff.

How are the Landscaping Maintenance Districts (LMDs) funded?
The LMDs are governed by the legal requirements of Proposition 218 (Article XIIID of the California Constitution) as well as the provisions of the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 (the "1972 Act").  Every year, the City, in its role as administrator of the various LMDs and SLDs, levies an assessment on each parcel within each LMD and SLD, in accordance with existing law, based upon the special benefit that each such parcel receives from the improvements to be maintained from the proceeds of such assessments. 

The revenues collected for each LMD and SLD are intended for use within the boundaries of the LMD and SLD from which it is collected.  Ever since Proposition 218 was approved by the voters in 1996, increased assessment rates cannot be levied without submitting the proposed increases to the property owners within the affected LMD and SLD in an assessment ballot procedure for property owner approval.

I was not in my home when the Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) was approved. Why do I have to pay the assessments?
Upon approval by the original property owners at the time of the LMD formation, the assessments become attached to the property (secured) for the life of the LMD, similar to the manner in which homeowners' association (HOA) dues are the responsibility of each owner in a homeowners’ association, whether you owned property when the HOA was formed or not. 

If I have more questions about the maintenance of my Landscape Maintenance District (LMD), who do I contact?
The Public Works Services Department is responsible for the landscape maintenance throughout the City.  Please contact the Department at (909) 477-2730.    See click on the following link for the City's Hours and Location.

If I was not in my home when these Special Districts were formed, why do I have to pay for the assessment now?
Once a special assessment district has been formed an assessment or special tax levy is placed on the property and is a lien against that property and remains against that property even after an ownership change.   It is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that this lien is disclosed to the perspective buyer who can make an informed decision before making the purchase.

The assessment or special tax remains on the property until it is paid off or into perpetuity depending on the type of district.  A perspective buyer can also call the City's Special District Division to enquire as to the nature of the lien.

What are Landscape Maintenance Districts (LMDs) and how many are located in the City?
A LMD is not a separate entity of the City.  It is a financing vehicle utilized when the development of a neighborhood in the community is identified to specially benefit by certain improvements, such as parks, playgrounds, landscapes, sidewalks, trees, etc.   Due to this special benefit, landowners in the identified area are assessed to pay the costs of the construction and/or ongoing maintenance of such improvements. 

Each LMD is created through formation proceedings (also known as a vote of the affected property owners) pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 (the "1972 Act").  This usually occurs at the time a residential or commercial project is first developed.  The “1972 Act” allows a local agency (such as the City of Rancho Cucamonga) to levy an annual assessment for the maintenance of the community improvements, based on special benefit directly or indirectly, to the property owners within the LMD.  Annual assessments are paid as part of a line-item on individual property tax bills.

The City of Rancho Cucamonga has eleven (11) Landscape Maintenance Districts spread throughout the City.

What are the benefits of a LMD?
There are many benefits associated with the landscaping improvements in an LMD:

• Improved visual aesthetic appeal of nearby parcels, medians, paseos and parks,
• Improved dust control and erosion resistance,
• Improved drainage and flood control,
• Enhanced desirability of properties and property values,      
• Generally reduced property related crimes, particularly vandalism, as a result of a well-maintained neighborhood,
• Moderate temperatures and enhanced noise attenuation from well maintained landscaping,
• Unique identity and character of each community, and
• Improved access to health and fitness opportunities.

What do my Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) assessments cover?
Depending on the improvements within a particular LMD, assessments will pay for street light and traffic signal installation and maintenance, water, electric and other landscaping, utilities, paint, fertilizer, plant material, sand and soil, irrigation repair, pest control, small equipment and hand tools, electrical/plumbing parts, playground parts, janitorial supplies, equipment rental, equipment/vehicle maintenance, landscape maintenance contracts, tree maintenance contracts, mowing contracts, backflow testing, sport field maintenance, trail maintenance and repair, vandalism and graffiti repair, security and site lighting repair, and a portion of City staff salaries/benefits (both administrative & field staff) who work on the District.

What is Proposition 218 and why does it impact LMDs?
Proposition 218 is the "Right to Vote on Taxes Act" that was passed by California voters in November 1996.  It impacts the LMDs in the City, because it does not allow the City to increase assessment rates for LMDs without submitting the proposed increase in assessments to the owners of property within the LMD.  The aforementioned assessment ballot procedure allows the owners to express their support for, or opposition to, the proposed increase in the assessments applicable to their properties.

Who performs the maintenance within the LMDs?
To maximize efficiency and quality the City utilizes the services of landscape maintenance contractors and City crews for all regularly scheduled landscape maintenance.

Who started the Landscaping Maintenance Districts (LMDs) in the City and why?
The LMDs were an integral part of the City's development, after incorporation, to ensure that common landscape and lighting areas would remain beautified and operational as property changed hands; enhance property values; and create an accountability structure for maintaining the common landscape and lighting areas that did not rely on the efforts of individual residents for maintenance. 

In addition, the LMDs provided a mechanism whereby new development could pay for certain improvements demanded by homebuyers, without burdening existing property owners.  Most of the LMDs were initiated by the original property owner(s) who developed the [then] vacant land, as part of the development process. 

This system continues to the present day, even as new housing tracts are developed.  These new tracts are either included within a new LMD, or if appropriate, annexed to an existing LMD.