California's 58 counties don't share one structure: each is either a "general law" county following the state's default Board of Supervisors model, or one of 14 "charter" counties that have adopted a local charter, which can create a distinct elected or appointed county executive alongside the board. Most residents should start with their county's Board of Supervisors and its Clerk of the Board for meetings and general records; some larger charter counties also have a separate chief executive office. Because structure varies by county, it's worth checking the specific county's own site.

Most states use one county government structure statewide; California instead lets each county choose between a standard board-of-supervisors model and a locally adopted charter that can include a distinct elected executive, so the exact structure depends on which county you're in.