LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomePublic Utilities CodeDiv. 4Ch. 1Art. 6§ 7627 Railroad Fence Liability Exemption

§ 7627 Railroad Fence Liability Exemption

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

§ 7627 Railroad Fence Liability Exemption

Key Takeaways

  • •If a railroad pays for a fence to keep animals off the tracks, they aren’t responsible if animals get hurt because the fence wasn’t built or maintained.
  • •If animals wander onto the tracks because there’s no fence, the animal owner must pay for any damage caused, unless the railroad was careless.
  • •The railroad only has to pay if they or their workers did something wrong, like not fixing a broken fence they were supposed to.

Example

A farmer’s cows keep getting onto the railroad tracks because the fence is broken. One day, a train hits a cow, and the railroad track gets damaged.

The farmer has to pay for the damage to the tracks because the railroad already paid for the fence. But if the railroad knew the fence was broken and didn’t fix it, they might have to pay instead.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 7627 Railroad Fence Liability Exemption

A railroad corporation that pays to the owner of the land through or along which its road is located an agreed price for making and maintaining a good and sufficient fence, or that pays the cost of such fence with the award of damages allowed for the right of way for the railroad, is relieved and exonerated from all claims for damages arising out of the killing or maiming of any animals of persons who thus fail to construct and maintain the fence. The owners of such animals are responsible for any damages or loss which may accrue to the corporation from the animals being upon its railroad track as a result of the nonconstruction of such fence, unless it is shown that the loss or damage occurred through the negligence or fault of the corporation, its officers, agents, or employees. (Enacted by Stats. 1951, Ch. 764.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

corporationnegligencedamagesclaimemployeedeathroadnonconstruction

Related Statutes

  • § 7631 Railroad Liability For Livestock
  • § 7655 Baggage Check Requirement
  • § 7535 Railroad Track Crossing Adjustments
  • § 7553 Railroad Land Use Permits
  • § 7604 Rail Crossing Warning Sounds

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Public Utilities Code. Section 7627.
View Official Source