ARTICLE 2. Listing of Endangered Species [2070. - 2079.1.]

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC 2.
in effect

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2070. Section 2070.

The commission shall establish a list of endangered species and a list of threatened species. The commission shall add or remove species from either list if it finds, upon the receipt of sufficient scientific information pursuant to this article, and based solely upon the best available scientific information, that the action is warranted.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2071. Section 2071.

The commission shall adopt guidelines by which an interested person may petition the commission to add a species to, or to remove a species from either the list of endangered or the list of threatened species.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2072. Section 2072.

The petition shall be written, shall be clearly identified as a petition, and shall clearly indicate the administrative measure recommended.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2072.3. Section 2072.3.

To be accepted, a petition shall, at a minimum, include sufficient scientific information that a petitioned action may be warranted. Petitions shall include information regarding the population trend, range, distribution, abundance, and life history of a species, the factors affecting the ability of the population to survive and reproduce, the degree and immediacy of the threat, the impact of existing management efforts, suggestions for future management, and the availability and sources of information. The petition shall also include information regarding the kind of habitat necessary for species survival, a detailed distribution map, and any other factors that the petitioner deems relevant.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2072.7. Section 2072.7.

The department may, in the absence of a petition from an interested party, recommend to the commission that it add a species to, or remove a species from, either the list of endangered species or the list of threatened species. If it makes a recommendation under this section, the department shall include the information specified in Section 2072.3. A department recommendation under this section shall be considered by the commission as a petition with a departmental recommendation to accept and consider as described in subdivision (b) of Section 2073.5, and is subject to Sections 2074 to 2079, inclusive.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2073. Section 2073.

Within 10 days of the receipt of a petition from an interested person under Section 2072.3, the commission shall refer the petition to the department.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2073.3. Section 2073.3.

(a) The commission shall publish a notice in the California Regulatory Notice Register of the receipt of a petition prepared pursuant to Section 2072.3 by the department, or by an interested party and referred to the department, pursuant to Section 2073, or the commencement of an evaluation, to add a species to, remove a species from, or change the status of a species on, the list of endangered species or the list of threatened species pursuant to Section 2072.7. At a minimum, the notice shall include all of the following: (1) The scientific and common name of the species. (2) Habitat type, if that information is available in the petition. (3) The location where interested persons can submit information to the department relating to the petitioned species. (b) The commission shall notify interested persons pursuant to Section 2078, by mail, of the notices prepared pursuant to subdivision (a), and shall mail a copy of the notice to those persons.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2073.4. Section 2073.4.

(a) A person may submit information to the department relating to the petitioned species during the evaluation of the petition pursuant to Section 2073.5. The information shall relate to the matters identified in Section 2072.3. (b) Within 30 days after receiving information pursuant to subdivision (a), the department shall notify the petitioner regarding its content.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2073.5. Section 2073.5.

(a) Within 90 days of receipt of the petition, the department shall evaluate the petition on its face and in relation to other relevant information the department possesses or receives, and submit to the commission its written evaluation report with one of the following recommendations to the commission: (1) Based upon the information contained in the petition, there is not sufficient information to indicate that the petitioned action may be warranted, and the petition should be rejected. (2) Based upon the information contained in the petition, there is sufficient information to indicate that the petitioned action may be warranted, and the petition should be accepted and considered. (b) Upon the request of the director, the commission may grant the department an extension of time, not to exceed 30 days, to allow the department additional time to further analyze and evaluate the petition and complete its evaluation report. (c) The department’s evaluation report shall include copies of, or a list of, all information submitted to the department pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2073.4 during its evaluation of the petition. If copies are not included, the report shall state where the listed information is available for review.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2073.7. Section 2073.7.

A petitioner may amend a petition at any time prior to the beginning of the meeting held by the commission pursuant to Section 2074.2. However, if the commission determines that the amendment is substantive, the commission shall resubmit the petition to the department for review pursuant to Section 2073.5, publish notice of the amendment pursuant to Section 2073.3, and renotice or continue any hearing scheduled pursuant to Section 2074 in order to provide adequate opportunity for public comment.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2074. Section 2074.

The commission shall schedule the petition for consideration at its next available meeting, but not sooner than 30 days after receipt of the petition and public release of the evaluation report, and distribute its pending agenda to interested persons pursuant to Section 2078. The commission also shall make the petition, evaluation report, and other materials received available for review.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2074.2. Section 2074.2.

(a) At the meeting scheduled pursuant to Section 2074, the commission shall hold a public hearing on the petition and shall receive information, written or otherwise, and oral testimony. After the conclusion of oral testimony from the commission and department staff, the petitioner, or any other persons, the commission may close the public hearing and administrative record for the commission’s decision pursuant to this section. (b) After the commission closes the public hearing, the administrative record for the commission’s decision is closed and it shall not be reopened except as provided in subdivision (c). Once the public hearing is closed, no person shall submit further information to the commission for consideration on that petition and the commission shall not accept any further information for consideration on that petition except as provided in subdivision (c). (c) The administrative record for the commission’s decision pursuant to this section shall not be reopened once the commission closes the public hearing unless one of the following occurs prior to the commission’s decision: (1) There is a change in state or federal law or regulation that has a direct and significant impact on the commission’s determination as to whether the petition provides sufficient information to indicate that the petitioned action may be warranted. (2) The commission determines that it requires further information to evaluate whether the petition provides sufficient information to indicate that the petitioned action may be warranted. If the commission makes that determination during its deliberation, the commission may request, on the record at the scheduled meeting or at a continued meeting, further information on any issue relevant to making its determination as to whether the petition provides sufficient information to indicate that the petitioned action may be warranted. Any request by the commission pursuant to this paragraph shall specify a date by which the information must be submitted to the commission and shall serve to reopen the administrative record for the limited purpose of receiving further information relating to the issues specified by the commission in the request. Commission and department staff, the petitioner, or any other person may submit information in response to a request pursuant to this paragraph. If the commission reopens the record pursuant to this paragraph, it shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the submitted information prior to the issuance of its decision. (d) In its discretion, the commission may either close the public hearing and continue the meeting on the petition for the purpose of deliberation or continue both the public hearing and the meeting on the petition to a subsequent date, which shall be no later than 90 days after the meeting scheduled pursuant to Section 2074, and subject to applicable notice and agenda requirements. If the commission closes the public hearing but continues the meeting for the purpose of deliberation, a person shall not submit, and the commission shall not receive, further information relating to the petition except as provided in subdivision (c). (e) At the meeting scheduled pursuant to Section 2074 or at a continued meeting scheduled pursuant to subdivision (d), the commission shall consider the petition, the department’s written report, written comments received, and oral testimony provided during the public hearing, and the commission shall make and enter in its record one of the following findings: (1) If the commission finds that the petition does not provide sufficient information to indicate that the petitioned action may be warranted, the commission shall publish a notice of finding that the petition is rejected, including the reasons why the petition is not sufficient. (2) If the commission finds that the petition provides sufficient information to indicate that the petitioned action may be warranted, the commission shall publish a notice of finding that the petition is accepted for consideration. If the accepted petition recommends the addition of a species to either the list of endangered species or the list of threatened species, the commission shall include in the notice that the petitioned species is a candidate species. The commission shall maintain a list of species which are candidate species. (f) The commission shall publish and distribute the findings relating to the petition pursuant to Section 2078.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2074.4. Section 2074.4.

If a petition is accepted by the commission for consideration, all reasonable attempts shall be made to notify affected and interested parties and to solicit data and comments on the petitioned action from as many persons as is practicable. In addition to commission efforts to provide notification through distribution of the commission agenda and minutes pursuant to Section 2078, the department shall immediately undertake efforts to notify affected and interested parties. Methods of notification may include, but are not limited to, correspondence, newspaper notices, and press releases, and notification shall include notice to owners of that land which may provide habitat essential to the continued existence of the species, unless the director determines that ownership is so widespread, fragmented, or complex as to make individual notice impractical.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2074.6. Section 2074.6.

(a) If the commission accepts a petition for consideration, the department shall promptly commence a review of the status of the species concerned in the petition. (b) Within 12 months of the date of publication of a notice of acceptance of a petition for consideration pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of Section 2074.2, the department shall produce and make publicly available on the department’s internet website a final written peer reviewed report, based upon the best scientific information available to the department, which indicates whether the petitioned action is warranted, which includes a preliminary identification of the habitat that may be essential to the continued existence of the species, and which recommends management activities and other recommendations for recovery of the species. (c) Prior to releasing the final written report, the department shall have a draft status review report prepared and independently peer reviewed, and upon receiving the peer reviewers’ input, shall evaluate and respond in writing to the independent peer review and shall amend the draft status review report as appropriate. (d) The revised report shall be posted on the department’s internet website for a minimum of 30 days for public review prior to the hearing scheduled pursuant to Section 2075. (e) The commission may grant an extension of up to six months if the director determines an extension is necessary to complete independent peer review of the report, and to provide a minimum of 30 days for public review of the peer reviewed report prior to the public hearing specified in Section 2075.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2074.8. Section 2074.8.

(a) This article does not impose any duty or obligation for, or otherwise require, the commission or the department to undertake independent studies or other assessments of any species when reviewing a petition and its attendant documents and comments. (b) The director may approve an extension of time for completion of the status report if necessary for the purposes of obtaining independent peer review pursuant to Section 2074.6.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2075. Section 2075.

The commission shall schedule the petition for final consideration at its next available meeting after receipt of the departmental report provided pursuant to Section 2074.6 and shall distribute the pending agenda for that meeting pursuant to Section 2078. The commission shall make the department’s report, or copies thereof, which was provided, pursuant to Section 2074.6, available for review upon request.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2075.5. Section 2075.5.

(a) At the meeting scheduled pursuant to Section 2075, the commission shall hold a public hearing on the petition and shall receive information, written or otherwise, and oral testimony. After the conclusion of oral testimony from the commission and department staff, the petitioner, or any other person, the commission may close the public hearing and the administrative record for the commission’s decision pursuant to this section. (b) After the commission closes the public hearing, the administrative record for the commission’s decision is closed and it shall not be reopened except as provided in subdivision (c). Once the public hearing is closed, a person shall not submit further information to the commission for consideration on that petition and the commission shall not accept any further information for consideration on that petition except as provided in subdivision (c). (c) The administrative record for the commission’s decision pursuant to this section shall not be reopened once the commission closes the public hearing unless one of the following occurs before the commission’s decision: (1) There is a change in state or federal law or regulation that has a direct and significant impact on the commission’s determination as to whether the petitioned action is warranted. (2) The commission determines that it requires further information to evaluate whether the petitioned action is warranted. If the commission makes that determination during its deliberation, the commission may request, on the record at the scheduled meeting or at a continued meeting, further information on any issue relevant to making its determination as to whether the petitioned action is warranted. Any request by the commission pursuant to this paragraph shall specify a date by which the information must be submitted to the commission and shall serve to reopen the administrative record for the limited purpose of receiving further information relating to the issues specified by the commission in the request. Commission and department staff, the petitioner, or any other person may submit information in response to a request pursuant to this paragraph. (d) The commission, in its discretion, may either close the public hearing and continue the meeting on the petition for the purpose of deliberation or continue both the public hearing and the meeting on the petition to a subsequent date that is no later than 90 days after the meeting scheduled pursuant to Section 2075, and subject to applicable notice and agenda requirements. If the commission closes the public hearing but continues the meeting for the purpose of deliberation, a person shall not submit, and the commission shall not receive, further information relating to the petition except as provided in subdivision (c). (e) At the meeting scheduled pursuant to Section 2075, or at a continued meeting scheduled pursuant to subdivision (d), the commission shall make one of the following findings based on the best available scientific information: (1) The petitioned action is not warranted, in which case the finding shall be entered in the public records of the commission and the petitioned species shall be removed from the list of candidate species maintained pursuant to Section 2074.2. (2) The petitioned action is warranted, or the petitioned action is not warranted but listing the petitioned species at a different status than that requested by the petitioner is warranted, in which case the commission shall, within 30 days of adopting written findings, publish a notice of that finding and shall add the species to, or remove the species from, the list of endangered species or the list of threatened species. Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the change in status of a species pursuant to this article. The commission shall submit the change in status to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and publication in the California Code of Regulations. The commission shall use underline or italics to indicate additions to, and strikeout to indicate deletions from, the California Code of Regulations to reflect the change in status.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2076.5. Section 2076.5.

Notwithstanding Sections 2071 to 2075.5, inclusive, the commission may adopt a regulation that adds a species to the list of endangered species or to the list of threatened species as an emergency regulation pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 399) of Division 1 if the commission finds that there is any emergency posing a significant threat to the continued existence of the species. The commission shall notify affected or interested persons of the adoption of the emergency regulation pursuant to the methods described in Section 2074.4.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2076.7. Section 2076.7.

(a) For the purposes of this section only, “federally listed species” means any species, subspecies, distinct population segment, or evolutionarily significant unit that is native to California, that was, as of January 1, 2025, listed or was a candidate for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.), and that is not currently protected under Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3. (b) For purposes of this section only, “a decrease in endangered or threatened species protections by the federal government” shall mean any action that satisfies both of the following: (1) That is an act of the United States Congress to amend the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), a rulemaking or amendment to regulations by either the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service, an executive order by the President of the United States, or an action by the Endangered Species Committee, established by Section 1536(e) of Title 16 of the United States Code. (2) That reduces the level of protection provided to one or more federally listed species by, among other actions, delisting a species, changing the listing status of a species from endangered to threatened, eliminating or changing the prohibitions on take, or decreasing the amount of mitigation required for permits or other approvals. (c) To ensure no backsliding as a result of a decrease in endangered or threatened species protections by the federal government, the department shall take the following actions: (1) The department shall monitor actions by the United States Congress, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the President of the United States, and the Endangered Species Committee that could result in a decrease in endangered or threatened species protections by the federal government. (2) For any action that the department determines will result in a decrease in endangered or threatened species protections by the federal government, the department shall determine whether both of the following have occurred: (A) The decrease in endangered or threatened species protections by the federal government will have a substantial impact on one or more federally listed species within California. (B) Provisional listing as a candidate under Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3 could significantly reduce any such substantial impact. (3) If the department determines that one or more federally listed species will be substantially impacted by a decrease in endangered or threatened species protections by the federal government and that listing as a provisional candidate species could significantly reduce such impacts, the department shall publish written findings in the California Regulatory Notice Register regarding the determinations in paragraph (2) along with a statement that the affected species is deemed a provisional candidate species pursuant to Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3 and shall be added to the commission’s list as a provisional candidate species. (d) Any species added to the list of provisional candidate species pursuant to subdivision (c) shall remain a provisional candidate species until December 31, 2031. Sections 2074.4 to 2076, inclusive, shall not apply to any species added to the list of provisional candidate species pursuant to subdivision (c). (e) Any species added to the list of provisional candidate species pursuant to subdivision (c) may be removed from the list by the commission, pursuant to this article. (f) (1) The department shall report any federally listed species that are listed as provisional candidate species pursuant to subdivision (c) at the next public meeting of the commission following the provisional candidacy determination. (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (d), if the commission determines a federally listed species that is listed as a provisional candidate species pursuant to subdivision (c) may warrant ongoing protection pursuant to Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3, the commission may direct the department to prepare a status review pursuant to 2074.6 and proceed with the process for listing the species as endangered or threatened under Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3. (g) Provisional candidate species shall have the same protections afforded to candidate species pursuant to this chapter. (h) The California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code) shall not apply to any actions taken by the department or the commission pursuant to this section. (i) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department and the commission be provided sustainable funding sufficient to fully implement this section and the resulting obligations. (j) The department shall notify affected and interested persons of any determination to make a federally listed species a provisional candidate species pursuant to subdivision (c) using the methods described in Section 2074.4. (k) During the pendency of a provisional candidacy for a species pursuant to this section, an entity operating under a federal authorization for take, in effect on or before January 19, 2025, for species listed pursuant to the provisional candidacy, shall not be liable for criminal or civil penalties under this article as long as the entities are in full compliance with their federal biological opinion, incidental take permit, incidental take statement, conservation benefit agreement, or rules promulgated under subsection (d) of Section 4 of the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.). ( l ) Nothing in this section is intended to nor shall it be interpreted to affect the duties of the commission or the department as set forth in Article 2 (commencing with Section 2070) of Chapter 1.5 of Division 3 with respect to processing petitions submitted pursuant to Section 2072.3. (m) This section shall become inoperative on December 31, 2031, and, as of January 1, 2032, is repealed.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2077. Section 2077.

(a) Upon a specific appropriation of funds by the Legislature, the department shall, or if other funding is available, in the absence of a specific appropriation, may, review species listed as an endangered species or as a threatened species every five years to determine if the conditions that led to the original listing are still present. The review shall be conducted based on information that is consistent with the information specified in Section 2072.3 and that is the best scientific information available to the department. The review shall include a review of the identification of the habitat that may be essential to the continued existence of the species and the department’s recommendations for management activities and other recommendations for recovery of the species. The department shall notify any person who has notified the commission, in writing with their address, of their interest, and the department may notify any other person. (b) Review pursuant to subdivision (a) of species that are listed by both the commission and the United States Department of the Interior shall be conducted in conjunction with the five-year review process of the United States Department of the Interior. (c) Initial review of those species listed by the commission before January 1, 1982, that are not listed by the federal government shall be undertaken and completed by July 1, 1987. Initial review of those species listed by the commission after January 1, 1982, that are not listed by the federal government shall be undertaken and completed within five years of the date the species was originally listed by the commission. (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the commission or the department may review a species at any time based upon a petition or upon other data available to the department and the commission. (e) The department shall report in writing to the commission the results of its five-year review for each listed species. The commission shall treat any report of the department under this subdivision that contains a recommendation to add a species to, or remove a species from, the list of endangered species or the list of threatened species as a department recommendation submitted pursuant to Section 2072.7.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2078. Section 2078.

(a) To provide all interested persons access to information and notification of pending listing or delisting actions, the commission shall distribute the related agenda of pending actions and those portions of its minutes of actions taken under this article to any individuals who have notified the commission, in writing with their address, of their interest. This notification shall be published in the California Regulatory Notice Register and shall meet the requirements of public notice as required for commission action under Section 2073.3, 2074, 2074.2, 2075, or 2077. (b) The commission may impose an annual fee on those persons who request inclusion on the list to be notified in order to offset the cost of establishing and maintaining the list, and preparing and mailing the notices. Fees received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2079. Section 2079.

The department shall, by January 30 of every third year, beginning January 30, 1986, prepare a report summarizing the status of all state listed endangered, threatened, and candidate species, and shall post the report on the commission’s Internet Web site. This report shall include, but not be limited to, a listing of those species designated as endangered, threatened, and candidate species, a discussion of the current status of endangered, threatened, or candidate species, and the timeframes for the review of listed species pursuant to this article.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2079.1. Section 2079.1.

(a) Upon a specific appropriation of funds by the Legislature, or if funding is otherwise available, the department may develop and implement nonregulatory recovery plans for the conservation and survival of species listed as an endangered species or as a threatened species, unless the department finds that the recovery plan will not promote the conservation of the species. (b) The department, in developing and implementing recovery plans, shall, to the extent practicable, give priority to those endangered or threatened species, without regard to taxonomic classification, that are most likely to benefit from a recovery plan, particularly those species populations that are, or may be, significantly affected by anticipated land use changes, climate change, or changes in aquatic conditions. (c) Each recovery plan shall be based on the best available scientific information and shall, at a minimum, include all of the following: (1) A description of site-specific management actions necessary to achieve the recovery plan’s goal for the conservation of the species. (2) Objective, measurable criteria that, when achieved, would result in a determination, in accordance with the provisions of this section, that the species be removed from the list of endangered species or the list of threatened species, as applicable. (3) Estimates of the time required and the cost to carry out those measures needed to achieve the goal of the recovery plan and to achieve intermediate steps toward that goal. (d) The department, in developing and implementing a recovery plan, may consider data and appropriate information from public and private agencies and institutions, and other qualified persons, in addition to data and appropriate information derived from the public process required pursuant to subdivision (g). (e) The department may, in its discretion, adopt, or may adopt with revisions, an existing federal recovery plan for a species described in subdivision (a) that is also listed as an endangered species or a threatened species pursuant to Section 4 of the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1533) if the department finds that the recovery plan is consistent with the provisions of this section. (f) Subject to subdivision (a), and pursuant to subdivision (g), the department shall adopt guidelines and criteria to aid in the implementation of this section. Upon adoption, the department shall post the guidelines and criteria on its Internet Web site. (g) Development of a recovery plan pursuant to subdivision (a), and adoption of guidelines and criteria pursuant to subdivision (f), shall be through a public process including at least one public meeting at which the department provides landowners, local governments, and interested members of the public the opportunity for input. The public meeting may be in conjunction with a meeting of the commission. In the case of a recovery plan, the public meeting shall be held in the recovery planning area. (h) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the development, adoption, or amendment of guidelines, criteria, or recovery plans pursuant to this section.
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