Establishment and Operation of Ferries on Rivers Between Two Counties.

Ala. Code tit. 11, tit. 2, ch. 49, art. 2

in effect

Ala. Code § 11-49-20 Exclusive Rights of Municipalities as to Establishment, Regulation, Etc., of Ferries.

11-49-20. Exclusive Rights of Municipalities as to Establishment, Regulation, Etc., of Ferries. (a) The mayor and council or other governing bodies of incorporated municipalities in this state have the exclusive power and authority to establish or authorize the establishment of ferries on rivers which in whole or in part constitute the dividing line between two counties in this state at points touching such incorporated municipalities and to regulate the same. (b) In all cases where the river is the dividing line between two counties and where the boundaries of any incorporated municipality border upon such river and at a public road crossing, the power and authority to establish a ferry across said river at such public road crossing is hereby vested exclusively in such municipality. (Acts 1923, No. 541, p. 721; Code 1923, §2409; Code 1940, T. 37, §372.)

Ala. Code § 11-49-21 Applications for and Granting of Licenses for Establishment of Ferries - Procedure Generally.

11-49-21. Applications for and Granting of Licenses for Establishment of Ferries - Procedure Generally. On application for a license for establishment of a ferry, where the banks on each side belong to the same person, such person is entitled to the prior right of establishing a ferry; when the banks belong to different persons, the municipal authorities may grant the license at their election to either of such owners making the application. Should any person not the owner of the land on either bank of the river where it is proposed to establish a ferry make application for a license, he shall be required to produce before the municipal authorities a statement in writing from the owner thereof saying that he is not an applicant, and such written statement must appear of record. (Acts 1923, No. 541, p. 721; Code 1923, §2410; Code 1940, T. 37, §373.)

Ala. Code § 11-49-22 Applications for and Granting of Licenses for Establishment of Ferries - Publication, Posting, Etc., of Notice of Application.

11-49-22. Applications for and Granting of Licenses for Establishment of Ferries - Publication, Posting, Etc., of Notice of Application. No license for a ferry shall be granted until 20 days’ notice of the intended application shall have been given by notice published in a newspaper and posted at the city hall of such municipality and at the courthouse door of the county in which such municipality is situated and at three other public places in the county, two of which shall be in the immediate vicinity where it is proposed to establish such ferry, and three other notices shall be posted in three public places in the adjoining county where said ferry touches, and personal notice shall be given to the owner of the land if he is not an applicant. (Acts 1923, No. 541, p. 721; Code 1923, §2411; Code 1940, T. 37, §374.)

Ala. Code § 11-49-23 Licenses to Be Granted for Establishment of Ferries at Public Road Crossings Only; Annulment of Nonconforming Licenses.

11-49-23. Licenses to Be Granted for Establishment of Ferries at Public Road Crossings Only; Annulment of Nonconforming Licenses. Such license for a ferry shall be granted only at the crossing of a river at a point where a public highway has been established. All licenses granted at points governed by this article and not in conformity with the provisions of the same are hereby annulled. (Acts 1923, No. 541, p. 721; Code 1923, §2412; Code 1940, T. 37, §375.)

Source: Alabama Legislature (alison.legislature.state.al.us)URL: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabamaFetched: 10/20/2026