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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 3Pt. 2Ch. 15Art. 1§ 39901 City Harbor Development Authority

§ 39901 City Harbor Development Authority

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

§ 39901 City Harbor Development Authority

Key Takeaways

  • •Cities near water can build and fix things like docks, piers, and channels to help boats and businesses.
  • •They can make the water deeper or wider so boats can move easier.
  • •They can’t mess with people’s property or rights when doing this work.
  • •The goal is to help boats and trade, not to take away anyone’s land or rights.

Example

A city wants to build a new dock so fishing boats can unload their catch faster.

The city can build the dock and even make the water deeper so boats don’t get stuck. But they can’t build it in a way that blocks someone’s private beach or hurts their land.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 39901 City Harbor Development Authority

A city whose limits include or bound upon a harbor, bay, estuary, or other navigable body of water may: (a) Establish, acquire, construct, improve, and maintain in, upon, and along the body of water, piers, docks, wharves, bulkheads, quays, and other necessary works. (b) Construct, improve, dredge, deepen, or straighten, channels, turning basins, canals, slips, and waterways to, from, and along such works and connecting with any other navigable water within or without the city limits. (c) Do any thing necessary or convenient to the establishment, improvement, conduct, and maintenance of a harbor, and in furtherance of commerce and navigation. This section does not affect or limit a person’s use and enjoyment of property rights, nor grant a city the right to destroy, injure, impair, or interfere with any private or quasi-public property or property rights, leasehold, or otherwise, or to the use and enjoyment of the property. (Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 467, Sec. 36. (SB 1498) Effective January 1, 2019.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

navigationharborpropertydockleaseboatenjoymentestablishment

Related Statutes

  • § 25353 County Property And Water Rights
  • § 26000 Harbor Construction Licensing Authority
  • § 37386 City Harbor Land Leases
  • § 39731 City Ferry Acquisition Authority
  • § 50701 Revenue Bonds For Public Facilities

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 39901.
View Official Source