Cal. Government Code - GOV § 65870. Section 65870.
Any city or county may adopt an ordinance for the imposition of covenants pursuant to this article.
ARTICLE 2.7. Covenants for Easement [65870. - 65875.]
Cal. Government Code - GOV 2.7.
in effectCal. Government Code - GOV § 65871. Section 65871.
(a)
In addition to any other method for the creation of an easement, an easement may be created pursuant to an ordinance adopted implementing this article, by a recorded covenant of easement made by an owner of real property to the city or county. An easement created pursuant to this article may be for parking, ingress, egress, emergency access, light and air access, landscaping, or open-space purposes.
(b)
At the time of recording of the covenant of easement, all the real property benefited or burdened by the covenant shall be in common ownership. The covenant shall be effective when recorded and shall act as an easement pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 801) of Title 2 of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Civil Code, except that it shall not merge into any other interest in the real property. Section 1104 of the Civil Code shall be applicable to conveyance of the affected real property.
(c)
A covenant of easement recorded pursuant to this section shall describe the real property to be subject to the easement and the real property to be benefited thereby. The covenant of easement shall also identify the approval, permit, or designation granted which relied upon or required the covenant.
(d)
A covenant executed pursuant to this section shall be enforceable by the successors in interest to the real property benefited by the covenant.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 65873. Section 65873.
The covenant of easement shall be recorded in the county where all or a portion of the restricted property is located and shall contain a legal description of the real property and be executed by the owner of the real property. From and after the time of its recordation, the covenant shall impart notice thereof to all persons to the extent afforded by the recording laws of this state. Upon recordation, the burdens of the covenant shall be binding upon, and the benefits of the covenant shall inure to, all successors in interest to the real property.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 65874. Section 65874.
(a)
The ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 65870 shall provide a procedure for the release of the covenant. The procedure shall require a public hearing by the agency designated by the ordinance for that purpose. The hearing shall be held at the request of any person whether or not that person has title to the real property.
(b)
Upon a determination that the restriction of the property is no longer necessary to achieve the land use goals of the city or county, a release shall be recorded by the city or county in the county where the restricted property is located.
(c)
The ordinance may provide for the imposition of fees to recover the reasonable costs of processing the release from those persons requesting the release pursuant to this section.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 65875. Section 65875.
Nothing in this article shall create in any person other than the city or county and the owner of the real property burdened or benefited by the covenant standing to enforce or to challenge the covenant or any amendment thereto or release therefrom.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026