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HomeHarbors and Navigation CodeDiv. 7Ch. 1§ 4017 Railroad Wharf Construction Authority

§ 4017 Railroad Wharf Construction Authority

Harbors and Navigation Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 4017 Railroad Wharf Construction Authority

This law lets a county board let a railroad build a dock on county waterfront land, charge tolls for its use, and keep the permission for up to 50 years as long as the railroad needs it for its terminal.

Key Takeaways

  • •The county board can allow a railroad to build a wharf on county-owned waterfront land.
  • •The railroad may charge tolls and keep the permission for up to 50 years, or as long as the railroad exists, whichever is shorter.
  • •The wharf can be up to 1,000 feet long, must not block navigation, and cannot be built on city or state harbor property.

Example

A railroad wants to ship grain from its new train station to ships on a nearby lake. The county board approves a dock 800 feet long on county-owned land by the lake and lets the railroad charge ships a fee for using the dock.

Because the dock is on county land, not city or state harbor land, and it doesn't block other boats, the board can give the railroad permission to build it, let them collect tolls, and the permission can last as long as the railroad exists, but no more than 50 years.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 4017 Railroad Wharf Construction Authority

A board of supervisors of a county may grant any railroad corporation authority to construct a wharf on or in front of any lands owned by it bordering on any navigable bay, inlet, lake, creek, slough or arm of the sea situated in or bounding the county, with a license to take tolls for its use for the term of the corporate existence of the railroad corporation, not exceeding fifty years, whenever the board finds the use of the wharf or pier is necessary to the exercise of the franchise of the railroad corporation for terminal purposes. The authority may be granted without offering it for sale. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to limit the powers of a board to grant the right to railroad corporations to build and construct for terminal purposes on and in front of any land owned by it a wharf of the width necessary for the carrying on of the business of such railroad at such terminal. The wharf may extend to the length that may be desirable, not exceeding one thousand feet, if it does not prevent navigation. There is excluded from the operation of this section any and all territory and property under the jurisdiction or control of any incorporated city or town or any board of State harbor commissioners. All of the provisions of this chapter not in conflict with anything in this section contained are applicable to all proceedings under this section. (Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 368.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

board of supervisorsrailroad corporationwharfterminal purposesnavigable bay, inlet, lake, creek, slough or arm of the sea

Related Statutes

  • § 4000 County Wharf Construction Authority
  • § 4001 County Wharf Construction Authority
  • § 4002 Wharf Construction Application Requirements
  • § 4003 Wharf Chute Notice Requirements
  • § 4004 Wharf Land Appropriation Notice

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Harbors and Navigation Code. Section 4017.
View Official Source