ARTICLE 1. Change of Grade [854. - 859.]

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC 1.

in effect

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 854. Section 854.

Whenever the commission shall deem it expedient to alter the established grade of any State highway, or portion thereof, within a city, the commission may by resolution declare its intention to alter such established grade, in which resolution must be briefly specified the grade to be established, together with a reference to a place where a profile map or maps showing the new grade and the old may be examined, and a place in the city where objections may be presented. A copy of such profile map or maps shall be furnished to the governing body having jurisdiction of any highway intersecting or intercepting any affected portion of the State highway.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 855. Section 855.

Notice of such proposed change of grade shall be given by posting and publication of such resolution. Publication shall be made at least once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the city in which the portion of State highway affected is located, or if there is no newspaper in such city, then in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county. If there is no newspaper in either the city or county, notice by posting is sufficient. Notice by posting shall be given by posting copies of the resolution, indicating thereon the date of the first publication thereof, if any, in conspicuous places along the portion of the highway affected at intervals of not to exceed 200 feet, and in the event such highway is intersected or intercepted by other highways at least two of such notices shall be posted in each block. In no event shall less than three copies of the notice be posted. Postings shall be made within five days of the date of the first publication, if any. Within five days after the same is posted, a copy of such notice shall be furnished to the governing body having jurisdiction of any such intersecting or intercepting highway.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 856. Section 856.

Within sixty days after the completion of posting, any person may make and file at the place specified in said resolution his written objection to such proposed change in grade, setting forth the amount in which he claims that his interest in any real property will be damaged if such change be completed. Such objections may be filed by mailing them by registered mail, return receipt requested, or by personal delivery to the address specified in the notice as the place for presenting objections. Any person failing to file such written objection within such sixty day period waives his right to compensation for any damage to his property by such change of grade.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 857. Section 857.

After the expiration of such sixty day period, the commission may by resolution officially change and reestablish the official grade of said highway in accordance with such resolution of intention.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 858. Section 858.

The department shall not make any change in the physical grade of said highway affecting any property as to which an objection has been filed until it has been finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the objection filed is without merit or until the probable compensation has been deposited for each person filing an objection as provided in Article 1 (commencing with Section 1255.010) of Chapter 6 of, or the amount of the award has been deposited as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 1268.110) of Chapter 11 of, Title 7 of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 859. Section 859.

In the event that such changed grade of a State highway fails to meet the grade of any intersecting or intercepting highway, the department is authorized and directed, at the same time, to do such work as is necessary in order to cause such intersecting or intercepting highway to meet the State highway at grade and to restore it to its previous condition of surface, as near as may be. The procedure set forth in this article for the change of grade of the State highway in a city may be followed as to the portion of such intersecting or intercepting highway, the grade of which is changed. In lieu of, or in addition to, the above procedure mentioned in this section, the department and the governing body having jurisdiction over any such intersecting or intercepting highway may enter into a cooperative agreement in respect to the doing of any work authorized by this article, or the taking of any action in respect to such intersecting or intercepting highway as may be authorized by law.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026