CHAPTER 2. Definitions [29720. - 29734.]

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 2.
in effect

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 29722. Section 29722.

“Delta” means the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, as defined in Section 12220 of the Water Code, for all provisions of this division, other than Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29735). For the purposes of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29735), “delta” means the area of the delta minus the area contained in Alameda County.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 29723. Section 29723.

(a) “Development” means on, in, over, or under land or water, the placement or erection of any solid material or structure; discharge of any dredged material or of any gaseous, liquid, solid, or thermal waste; grading, removing, dredging, mining, or extraction of any materials; change in the density or intensity of use of land, including, but not limited to, subdivisions pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act (Division 2 (commencing with Section 66410) of Title 7 of the Government Code), and any other division of land including lot splits, except where the land division is brought about in connection with the purchase of the land by a public agency for public recreational or fish and wildlife uses or preservation; construction, reconstruction, demolition, or alteration of the size of any structure, including any facility of any private, public, or municipal utility; and the removal or harvesting of major vegetation other than for agricultural purposes. (b) “Development” does not include any of the following: (1) All farming and ranching activities, as specified in subdivision (e) of Section 3482.5 of the Civil Code. (2) The maintenance, including the reconstruction of damaged parts, of structures, such as marinas, dikes, dams, levees, riprap (consistent with Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 12306) of Part 4.8 of Division 6 of the Water Code), breakwater, causeways, bridges, ferries, bridge abutments, docks, berths, and boat sheds. “Maintenance” includes, for this purpose, the rehabilitation and reconstruction of levees to meet applicable standards of the United States Army Corps of Engineers or the Department of Water Resources. (3) The construction, repair, or maintenance of farm dwellings, buildings, stock ponds, irrigation or drainage ditches, water wells, or siphons, including those structures and uses permitted under the California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 51200) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code). (4) The construction or maintenance of farm roads, or temporary roads for moving farm equipment. (5) The dredging or discharging of dredged materials, including maintenance dredging or removal, as engaged in by any marina, port, or reclamation district, in conjunction with the normal scope of their customary operations, consistent with existing federal, state, and local laws. (6) The replacement or repair of pilings in marinas, ports, and diversion facilities. (7) Projects within port districts, including, but not limited to, projects for the movement, grading, and removal of bulk materials for the purpose of activities related to maritime commerce and navigation. (8) The planning, approval, construction, operation, maintenance, reconstruction, alteration, or removal by a state agency or local agency of any water supply facilities or mitigation or enhancement activities undertaken in connection therewith. (9) Construction, reconstruction, demolition, and land divisions within existing zoning entitlements, and development within, or adjacent to, the unincorporated towns of the delta, as permitted in the Delta Area Community Plan of Sacramento County and the general plan of Yolo County, authorized prior to January 1, 1992. (10) Exploration or extraction of gas and hydrocarbons. (11) The planning, approval, construction, repair, replacement, alteration, reconstruction, operation, maintenance, or removal of oxidation and water treatment facilities owned by the City of Stockton or the City of Lodi, or facilities owned by any local agency within or adjacent to the unincorporated towns of the delta consistent with the general plan of the County of Sacramento or the County of Yolo, as the case may be.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 29724. Section 29724.

“Local agency” means any local agency, other than a local government, formed pursuant to general law or special act for the local performance of governmental or proprietary functions within limited boundaries or which maintains facilities within the delta. “Local agency” includes, but is not limited to, a port, water agency, flood control district, county service area, maintenance district or area, improvement district or improvement area, mosquito abatement district, resource conservation district, irrigation district, reclamation district, sanitary or sewer district, or any other zone or area, formed for the purpose of designating an area within which either an assessment or a property tax rate will be levied to pay for a service or improvement benefiting that area or a special function will be carried out within that area.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 29725. Section 29725.

“Local government” means the Counties of Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, and Yolo, and the Cities of Sacramento, Stockton, Tracy, Antioch, Pittsburg, Isleton, Lathrop, Brentwood, West Sacramento, and Oakley, and any other cities that may be incorporated in the future in the primary zone.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 29726. Section 29726.

“Pacific Flyway” means the identified migratory bird flight path, including feeding and nesting habitat, as described in the Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture component of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP-1986).

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 29727. Section 29727.

“Port” means the Port of Sacramento and the Port of Stockton, including all the land owned or leased by those ports, or potential sites identified in the Delta county general plans as of January 1, 2010, and otherwise authorized by law.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 29728. Section 29728.

“Primary zone” means the delta land and water area of primary state concern and statewide significance which is situated within the boundaries of the delta, as described in Section 12220 of the Water Code, but that is not within either the urban limit line or sphere of influence line of any local government’s general plan or currently existing studies, as of January 1, 1992. The precise boundary lines of the primary zone includes the land and water areas as shown on the map titled “Delta Protection Zones” on file with the State Lands Commission. Where the boundary between the primary zone and secondary zone is a river, stream, channel, or waterway, the boundary line shall be the middle of that river, stream, channel, or waterway.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 29730. Section 29730.

“Restoration” means actions which return a degraded or deteriorated area to a level of increased productivity, environmental quality, or beneficial values.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 29731. Section 29731.

“Secondary zone” means all the delta land and water area within the boundaries of the delta not included within the primary zone, subject to the land use authority of local government, and that includes the land and water areas as shown on the map titled “Delta Protection Zones” on file with the State Lands Commission.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 29734. Section 29734.

“Urban limit line” means that general plan line established and approved by any local government within the delta which delineates boundaries beyond which urban development is not publicly proposed by local government, as of January 1, 1992.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

Starting a business in California? California LLC guide: costs and requirements