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HomeHarbors and Navigation CodeDiv. 8Pt. 2Ch. 5§ 5940 Harbor District Beach Lands

§ 5940 Harbor District Beach Lands

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

§ 5940 Harbor District Beach Lands

This law lets a harbor improvement district buy, lease, or receive land to make public beaches and take care of that land, but it can’t change any state‑owned tidelands or underwater lands.

Key Takeaways

  • •Harbor districts can get land for public beaches by buying, leasing, or receiving it as a gift.
  • •They can improve and maintain that land, but must follow the procedures set out in the chapter.
  • •State‑owned tidelands and submerged lands stay under the State Lands Commission’s control and are not affected by this law.

Example

A harbor district wants to turn a stretch of shoreline into a public beach for families to use.

The district can purchase or lease that shoreline land and then build things like sand, benches, and restrooms, as long as it follows the other rules in the chapter. It cannot take or change any tidelands that belong to the state.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 5940 Harbor District Beach Lands

Any harbor improvement district organized and existing pursuant to this part may purchase, lease or obtain by gift lands for public beaches located within the boundaries of the district and may hold, improve or maintain such lands. Any and all such acquisition, improvement or maintenance as is authorized herein shall be accomplished and carried out in accordance with the procedure and in the manner hereinafter provided in this chapter, except that nothing in this chapter shall affect state-owned tidelands and submerged lands or the jurisdiction of the State Lands Commission over tidelands and submerged lands. (Added by Stats. 1961, Ch. 441.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

harbor improvement districtpublic beachesstate-owned tidelandsState Lands Commission

Related Statutes

  • § 5941 County Harbor Land Surveys
  • § 7148 Public Agency Land Agreements
  • § 5910 Harbor District Improvement Authority
  • § 1190 Bar Pilotage Rates
  • § 1190.1 Monterey Bay Pilot Rates

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Harbors and Navigation Code. Section 5940.
View Official Source