Unincorporated Communities

In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.  To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city or town with its own government. Thus, an unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a city government.  Such regions are generally administered by default as a part of larger territorial divisions, such as a township, borough, county, state, province, canton, parish, or country.

Municipal Advisory Councils

A Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) is an advisory body of local citizens elected by the community or appointed by the Board of Supervisors with the purpose of representing a designated community to the Board.  MACs advise the Board of Supervisors on such matters that relate to that area concerning services which are or may be provided to the area by the County or other local governmental agencies, including but not limited health, safety, welfare, public works, and planning.   Stanislaus County has a total of eight Municipal Advisory Councils established in the unincorporated communities of Denair, Empire, Hickman, Keyes, Knights Ferry, Salida, South Modesto, and Valley Home.  

Community Services Districts

 A Community Services District is a special district comprised of elected citizens from a designated community that provides a specific service such as sewer, water, lighting, etc. or a combination thereof.  Stanislaus County has a total of eight Community Services Districts that are independent of the County government in the unincorporated communities of Crows Landing, Denair, Grayson Keyes, Knights Ferry, Monterey Park Tract, Riverdale Park Tract and Westley.