ARTICLE 5. Control of Junkyards, Scrap Metal Processing Facilities, and Automobile Dismantling Facilities [745. - 759.3.]

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC 5.
in effect

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 745. Section 745.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that: (a) The establishment, use, and maintenance of junkyards in areas adjacent to any interstate or primary highway should be controlled in order to promote the safety and recreational value of public travel, to protect the public investment in such highways, and to preserve the natural beauty of areas adjacent to such highways. The Legislature finds that motorists are distracted by unscreened junkyards adjacent to such highways and that a junkyard visible from such a highway constitutes a hazard to the safety of the traveling public. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature, by the enactment of this article, to provide for the state control of junkyards required by Section 136 of Title 23 of th United States Code. (c) The recycling industry plays an important role in the conservation of our state resources. In support of that role, should removal of junk or scrap from a nonconforming junkyard be necessary because such junk or scrap is visible from any interstate or primary highway, then the department may either purchase such junk or scrap and move it to a recycling center or pay the costs of moving the junk or scrap to a recycling center, whichever is less expensive.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 746. Section 746.

As used in this article: (a) “Junk” means old or scrap copper, brass, rope, rags, batteries, paper, trash, rubber debris, waste, junked, dismantled or wrecked motor vehicles, or parts thereof, iron, steel and other old or scrap ferrous or nonferrous material. (b) “Automobile graveyard” means any establishment or place of business which is maintained, used, or operated for storing, keeping, buying, or selling wrecked, scrapped, ruined, or dismantled motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts. (c) “Junkyard” means any establishment or place of business which is maintained, operated, or used for storing, keeping, buying, or selling junk, or for the maintenance or operation of an automobile graveyard. This definition includes scrap metal processors, autowrecking yards, salvage yards, scrap yards, auto recycling yards, used auto parts yards, and temporary storage of automobile bodies and parts awaiting disposal as a normal part of a business operation when the business will continually have like materials located on the premises. The definition also includes garbage dumps and sanitary landfills. The definition does not include litter, trash, and other debris scattered along or upon the highway, or temporary operations and outdoor storage of limited duration. (d) “Scrap metal processing facility” means any establishment or place of business which is maintained, used, or operated solely for the processing and preparing of scrap metals for remelting by steel mills and foundries. (e) “Automobile dismantling facility” means any establishment or place of business which is maintained, used, or operated by an “automobile dismantler,” as defined in the Vehicle Code, for the buying, selling, or dealing in vehicles of a type required to be registered under the Vehicle Code for the purpose of dismantling such vehicles and for the buying or selling of the integral parts and component materials of such vehicles. (f) “Special conditions” are any of the following which have occurred after October 6, 1966: (1) physical changes which occur within a state-owned right-of-way which cause a junkyard to become visible, such as the failure to maintain screening within the right-of-way or the reconstruction of the highway, (2) the classification of a highway as interstate or primary, or (3) redesignation of an industrial zone to some other zoning classification. (g) “Visible” means capable of being seen without visual aid by a person of normal visual acuity while driving on the main traveled way of an interstate or primary highway. (h) “Interstate highway” means any highway at any time officially designated as a part of the national system of interstate and defense highways by appropriate authority of the federal government. (i) “Primary highway” means any highway, other than an interstate highway, at any time officially designated as a part of the federal-aid primary system by appropriate authority of the federal government. (j) “Recycle” means either: (1) Purchasing junk and moving it to an automobile wrecker or scrap processor, or putting it to some other useful purpose, or (2) Paying the costs of moving such junk to an automobile wrecker or scrap processor or to a place where it will be put to some useful purpose.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 746.1. Section 746.1.

“Nonconforming junkyard” means either of the following: (a) A junkyard lawfully in existence on October 6, 1966, but which does not conform to the requirements of this article. (b) A junkyard which is lawfully in existence at any time but later fails to comply with the requirements of this article due to special conditions as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 746.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 746.2. Section 746.2.

Nonconforming junkyards may continue in existence as long as they are not extended, enlarged, or changed in use, and are otherwise lawfully maintained. If the location of a nonconforming junkyard is changed for any reason, it ceases to be nonconforming and shall be treated as a new junkyard at a new location.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 746.3. Section 746.3.

An illegal junkyard is one which is either: (a) Established or is maintained in violation of this article and does not come within the definition of a “nonconforming junkyard,” as defined in Section 746.1. (b) A junkyard which becomes visible due to inadequate maintenance of screening located off the highway right-of-way, or the placement of junk so that it may be seen above or beyond the screen, or otherwise becomes visible. (c) A junkyard which, due to any conditions other than those described in subdivision (f) of Section 746, is established or maintained in violation of this article.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 747. Section 747.

Except as hereafter provided, no junkyard shall be established, operated, or maintained if any portion of the junkyard is within 1,000 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way and visible from the main traveled way of any interstate or primary highway and is not located in an area zoned for industrial purposes.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 747.1. Section 747.1.

Sanitary landfills need not be screened to satisfy the requirements of this article but landscaping shall be required when the fill has been completed and operations have ceased, unless the landfill area is to be used for immediate development purposes.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 748. Section 748.

(a) Any nonconforming junkyard, as soon as the maximum federal share under Section 136 of Title 23, United States Code, is available for that purpose, shall be removed from sight of interstate or primary highways by any of the following methods to whatever extent is required, so as not to be visible from the main traveled way of any interstate or primary highway: (1) Screening by natural objects, plantings, fences, or other appropriate means. (2) Recycling, as defined in subdivision (j) of Section 746. (3) Relocation. (b) This section applies if any portion of such junkyard is within 1,000 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way and if it is visible from the main traveled way of such highway. The department shall screen such junkyards at locations on the highway right-of-way or in areas acquired for such purpose adjacent to the right-of-way or may compensate the junkyard owner for the placement of screening on the junkyard property.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 749. Section 749.

The department may also screen any junkyards located within 1,000 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of an interstate or primary highway and located within an industrial zone if the director finds that such screening is necessary or desirable to achieve the purposes set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 745.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 751. Section 751.

The department is authorized to acquire such interests in real and personal property as may be necessary to effect the screening, recycling, relocation, removal, or disposal of junkyards required by the provisions of this article.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 751.1. Section 751.1.

The Legislature hereby declares that the acquisition of interests in real and personal property to effect the screening, relocation, removal, or disposal of junkyards provided for in Section 751 constitutes a public use and purpose.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 752. Section 752.

If federal law should be interpreted as requiring the states to pay just compensation with regard to the relocation, removal, or disposal of junkyards, just compensation shall be paid by the department to the owners of nonconforming junkyards which must be relocated, removed, or disposed of pursuant to the provisions of this article.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 753. Section 753.

The commission is authorized to allocate funds from the State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund for all of the following purposes: (a) Costs of administering the provisions of this article. (b) Costs of maintaining only that screening which is located on state right-of-way. (c) Costs necessary to match the maximum contribution allowed by the federal government in carrying out the purposes of this article.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 754. Section 754.

Any junkyard which is established or maintained in violation of the provisions of this article or the regulations prescribed thereunder is a public nuisance and may be removed or otherwise disposed of by any public employee or entity.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 755. Section 755.

The director may screen, relocate, remove or dispose of any illegal junkyard after 30 days’ written notice posted on such property and a copy forwarded by mail to the owner of such junkyard at his last-known address. The department shall have an action to recover the expense of such screening, relocating, removing or disposing, costs and expenses of suit, and, in addition thereto, the sum of one hundred dollars ($100) for each day such junkyard or portion thereof, remains in violation after the expiration of 30 days from the time of forwarding such written notice. For the purposes of this section, the director or his authorized agent may enter upon private property. All costs incurred under this section in screening, relocating, removing or disposing of such junkyards shall be the responsibility of the owners thereof.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 756. Section 756.

Every illegal junkyard is a public nuisance and every person, as principal, agent or employee, violating any of the provisions of this article or the regulations prescribed thereunder is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 758. Section 758.

The director may enter into agreements with the Secretary of Transportation of the United States and accept any allotment of funds as provided by Section 136 of Title 23 of the United States Code.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 759. Section 759.

The director shall prescribe and enforce regulations governing the establishment, screening, relocation, removal, or disposal of junkyards as provided in this article consistent with the provisions of Section 136 of Title 23 of the United States Code and the national standards promulgated thereunder by the Secretary of Transportation.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 759.3. Section 759.3.

It is declared to be the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article to establish minimum standards with respect to the regulation of outdoor junkyards. The governing body of any city, county, or city and county may enact ordinances, including, but not limited to, land use or zoning ordinances, imposing restrictions on junkyards equal to or greater than those imposed by this article.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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