SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ---------------- FORM 8-A FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 BLACKROCK CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) Delaware 51-0409109 (State of Incorporation (I.R.S. Employer or Organization) Identification no.) 100 Bellevue Parkway, 19809 Wilmington, Delaware (Zip Code) (Address of Principal Executive Offices) If this form relates to the registration of a If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursu- of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to ant to General Instruction A.(c), please to General Instruction A.(d), please check the following box. |X| check the following box. |_| Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: 333-58228 Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on Which to be so Registered Each Class is to be Registered -------------------- ------------------------------ Common Stock New York Stock Exchange Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered. The description of the Registrant's securities to be registered is incorporated by reference to the description contained under the caption "Description of Shares" in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (Nos. 333-58228 and 811-10331) as filed electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on April 3, 2001 (Accession No. 0000950172-01-000427) ("Registration Statement on Form N-2"), as amended by Pre-Effective Amendment No.1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2, as filed with the Commission on June 4, 2001 (Accession No. 0000950172-01-500296), and by Pre-Effective Amendment No.2 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2, as filed with the Commission on June 19, 2001 (Accession No. 0000950172-01-502510) which are incorporated by reference. Item 2. Exhibits. Pursuant to the Instructions as to Exhibits, no exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized. BLACKROCK CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST By: /s/ Ralph L. Schlosstein -------------------------- Name: Ralph L. Schlosstein Title: Trustee and President (Principal Executive Officer) Date: July 12, 2001