§ 102 State Water Ownership Rights

Water Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says all water in the state belongs to everyone, but people can get permission to use it in certain ways.

Key Takeaways

•All water in the state is owned by the people of the state.
•You can get permission to use the water, but you don’t own it.
•You have to follow the rules to get permission to use the water.

Example

A farmer wants to use river water to grow crops.

The farmer can ask for permission to use the water, but the water itself still belongs to the state.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 102 State Water Ownership Rights

All water within the State is the property of the people of the State, but the right to the use of water may be acquired by appropriation in the manner provided by law. (Enacted by Stats. 1943, Ch. 368.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

water property of the people right to the use of water appropriation

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Water Code. Section 102.

Key Takeaways

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Key Terms

Related Statutes

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Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References