ARTICLE 1. Regulating Grazing on Federal Lands [8501. - 8508.]

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 1.
in effect

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8502. Section 8502.

It is unlawful to graze livestock on any part of the unreserved and unappropriated public lands of the United States in this State when such grazing will or does prevent, restrict or interfere with the customary use of such land for grazing livestock by any person who, by himself or his grantors or predecessors, has become established, either exclusively or in common with others, in the grazing use of such lands under and in accordance with the customs of the graziers of the region involved. This article shall not prohibit the grazing on any part of such public lands of livestock owned, kept or used for work or milking purposes by any ranch owner or bona fide settler, for his domestic use, as distinguished from commercial use, nor prohibit the grazing on such public lands of any livestock necessary for and used in connection with any mining or construction work or other lawful work of similar character.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8503. Section 8503.

Customary or established use as graziers, otherwise than under operation of law, as used in this article, includes the continuously open, notorious, peaceable and public use of such range, seasonally, for a period of five years or longer immediately prior to August 21, 1933, excepting adverse climatic conditions, by the person or his grantors or predecessors in interest except in cases where initiated without protest or conflict to prior use or occupancy thereof. Any change in such customary use so established shall not be made hereafter so as to prevent, restrict or interfere with the customary or established use of any other person or persons.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8504. Section 8504.

This article shall not be construed to prohibit any such established user from continuing his grazing use, as established in accordance with such customs.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8505. Section 8505.

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor, and independently of the penalty therefor, is liable to any person injured for all damages sustained by reason of such violation, and for such exemplary damages as the circumstances may warrant.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8506. Section 8506.

The violation of any provision of this article may be restrained by injunction, issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, pursuant to the provisions of law and principles of equity relating to injunctions.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8507. Section 8507.

Nothing in this article shall be construed to prohibit free transit over and rights in the public domain where such are provided by the acts of Congress.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8508. Section 8508.

This article is an exercise of the police power of the State, for the protection of the economic welfare and peace of the people of the State, and all of its provisions shall be liberally construed for the accomplishment of its purposes. Nothing in this article shall be construed as amending or repealing existing law regarding the grazing use of the public lands or of water for the purpose of watering livestock or as modifying or compromising any valid rights or priorities as may exist therein at the time of its enactment.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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