Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8850. Section 8850.
The official geodetic datums and spatial reference network for use within the State of California shall be as defined by this chapter.
CHAPTER 3. Geodetic Datums and the California Spatial Reference Network [8850. - 8861.]
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 3.
in effectCal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8851. Section 8851.
As used in this chapter:
(a)
“NGS” means National Geodetic Survey or its successor.
(b)
“CSRC” means California Spatial Reference Center or its successor.
(c)
“NAD83” means North American Datum of 1983.
(d)
“NATRF2022” means the North American Terrestrial Reference Frame of 2022.
(e)
“PATRF2022” means the Pacific Terrestrial Reference Frame of 2022.
(f)
“NAVD88”
means North American Vertical Datum of 1988.
(g)
“NAPGD2022” means the North American-Pacific Geopotential Datum of 2022.
(h)
“ITRF” means International Terrestrial Reference Frame as defined by the International Earth Rotation Service.
(i)
“GPS” means Global Positioning System and includes other, similar space-based systems.
(j)
“FGDC” means Federal Geographic Data Committee or it successor.
(k)
“FGCS” means the Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee or its successor.
(
l
)
“CSRN” means California Spatial Reference Network.
(m)
“NSRS” means the National Spatial Reference System.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8852. Section 8852.
The official geodetic datum to which horizontal positions and ellipsoid heights are referenced within the State of California shall be NAD83, NATRF2022, or PATRF2022.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8853. Section 8853.
The official geodetic datum to which orthometric heights are referenced within the State of California shall be NAVD88 or NAPGD2022.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8854. Section 8854.
When horizontal positions, ellipsoid heights, or orthometric heights are shown on a document, the document shall show the geodetic datum, including datum realization tag and epoch date, if appropriate, to which the values are referenced, whether NAD83 (NSRS) epoch 2007.00, NATRF2022, NAVD88, NAPGD2022, ITRF, or another datum.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8855. Section 8855.
The official geodetic reference network for use within the State of California shall be the CSRN as defined by this chapter.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8856. Section 8856.
The geodetic control stations within the State of California having horizontal positions conforming to all of the following requirements shall be part of the CSRN. The horizontal positions shall:
(a)
Be referenced to NAD83 or NATRF2022.
(b)
Have been determined by GPS survey methods.
(c)
Be published by NGS or CSRC.
(d)
Have a NGS or CSRC published network accuracy of two centimeters or better as defined by FGDC or a NGS or CSRC published accuracy of first order or better as defined by FGCS.
(e)
Have a NGS or CSRC published horizontal velocity or a horizontal velocity that can be determined using procedures and values published by NGS or CSRC.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8857. Section 8857.
The geodetic control stations within the State of California having ellipsoid heights conforming to all of the following requirements shall be part of the CSRN. The ellipsoid heights shall:
(a)
Be referenced to NAD83 or NATRF2022.
(b)
Have been determined by GPS survey methods.
(c)
Be published by NGS or CSRC.
(d)
Have a NGS or CSRC published network accuracy of five centimeters or better as defined by FGDC or a NGS or CSRC published accuracy of fourth order, class II, or better as
defined by FGCS.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8858. Section 8858.
The geodetic control stations within the State of California having orthometric heights determined by GPS survey methods and conforming to all of the following requirements shall be part of the CSRN. The orthometric heights shall:
(a)
Be based on NAD83 and referenced to NAVD88, or alternatively, NATRF2022 and NAPGD2022.
(b)
Be published by NGS or CSRC.
(c)
Have a NGS or CSRC published network accuracy of five centimeters or better as defined by FGDC.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8859. Section 8859.
The geodetic control stations within the State of California having orthometric heights determined by differential leveling survey methods and conforming to all of the following requirements shall be part of the CSRN. The orthometric heights shall:
(a)
Be referenced to NAVD88.
(b)
Be published by NGS or CSRC.
(c)
Have a NGS or CSRC published accuracy of third order, class II or better as defined by FGCS.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8860. Section 8860.
The use of the NAD83, NATRF2022, PATRF2022, NAVD88, NAPGD2022, and CSRN by any person, firm, or governmental agency is optional.
Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 8861. Section 8861.
The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to prohibit the appropriate use of other datums, including ITRF, and other geodetic reference networks.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026