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.

HomeHarbors and Navigation CodeDiv. 3Ch. 2Art. 4§ 509 Vessel Personal Property Liens

§ 509 Vessel Personal Property Liens

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

§ 509 Vessel Personal Property Liens

This law says you can't put a legal claim (lien) on personal stuff on a boat, unless that stuff is needed for rescue, safety, tying up, or running the boat.

Key Takeaways

  • •Liens can only be placed on boat items used for lifesaving, safety, mooring, or operating the boat.
  • •All other personal belongings on the boat are protected from liens.
  • •The registered owner or their agent must hand over those protected items when asked.

Example

A fisherman has a boat with a cooler of fish, a fishing rod, and a life jacket. The cooler and rod are personal items, but the life jacket is for lifesaving.

If someone tried to claim a lien on the cooler or fishing rod, the law says they can't. They could only claim a lien on the life jacket because it's for lifesaving. The fisherman can ask for his personal items back and the owner must give them to him.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 509 Vessel Personal Property Liens

No lien shall attach to any personal property in or on the vessel except that which is carried on the vessel for lifesaving, safety, mooring, and operating purposes. Personal property not subject to lien shall be given to the registered owner or the owner’s authorized agent upon demand. (Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 941, Sec. 2.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

lienpersonal propertylifesaving, safety, mooring, and operating purposesregistered owner

Related Statutes

  • § 502 Boater Service And Storage Lien
  • § 505 Vessel Lien Release Requirements
  • § 506.5 Vessel Lien Redemption Period
  • § 507.5 Vessel Lien Sale Proceeds
  • § 508 Vessel Lien Assignment Rules

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Harbors and Navigation Code. Section 509.
View Official Source