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HomeCorporations CodeCh. 2§ 208 Corporate Power Limitations Enforcement

§ 208 Corporate Power Limitations Enforcement

Corporations Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 208 Corporate Power Limitations Enforcement

This law says that a company can't use its own internal rules to avoid responsibility to people outside the company, and any contract that looks like the company approved it is binding, even if the company’s internal documents tried to limit it.

Key Takeaways

  • •Internal limits in a corporation’s papers can’t be used to dodge contracts with outsiders.
  • •If the board signs or appears to sign a contract, the corporation is bound by it.
  • •The rule also covers foreign companies doing business or selling land in the state.

Example

A small tech startup’s articles say it can only make video games, but the board signs a contract to build a website for a local business.

Even though the startup’s internal papers tried to limit it to video games, the contract with the local business is still enforceable because the board appeared to have the authority. The startup can’t say, “Our articles said we can’t do that,” unless a shareholder or the state sues to stop the unauthorized business before the local business gets any rights.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 208 Corporate Power Limitations Enforcement

(a) No limitation upon the business, purposes or powers of the corporation or upon the powers of the shareholders, officers or directors, or the manner of exercise of such powers, contained in or implied by the articles or by Chapters 18, 19 and 20 or by any shareholders’ agreement shall be asserted as between the corporation or any shareholder and any third person, except in a proceeding (1) by a shareholder or the state to enjoin the doing or continuation of unauthorized business by the corporation or its officers, or both, in cases where third parties have not acquired rights thereby, or (2) to dissolve the corporation or (3) by the corporation or by a shareholder suing in a representative suit against the officers or directors of the corporation for violation of their authority. (b) Any contract or conveyance made in the name of a corporation which is authorized or ratified by the board, or is done within the scope of the authority, actual or apparent, conferred by the board or within the agency power of the officer executing it, except as the board’s authority is limited by law other than this division, binds the corporation, and the corporation acquires rights thereunder, whether the contract is executed or wholly or in part executory. (c) This section applies to contracts and conveyances made by foreign corporations in this state and to all conveyances by foreign corporations of real property situated in this state. (Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 682.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

limitationbusinesspurposespowerscorporationshareholdersofficersdirectorsthird personproceeding

Related Statutes

  • § 29103 Corporate Liability Separation
  • § 5141 Corporate Power Limitations Enforcement
  • § 213 Corporate Bylaws Access Requirements
  • § 13401.5 Professional Corporation Ownership Limits
  • § 12351 Board Meeting Notice Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 208.
View Official Source