Chapter 1. General Provisions of California Streets And Highways Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 1.

The authority conferred upon boards of supervisors by this division shall be exercised subject to such limitations and restrictions as are prescribed by this division or by other provisions of law, shall be in addition to any authority elsewhere conferred, and, except as otherwise expressly provided, shall be exercised only in relation to highways within their respective counties.

All county highways, once established, shall continue to be county highways until abandoned by order of the board of supervisors of the county in which such highways are situated, by operation of law, or by judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. No county highway laid out by the board of supervisors as provided in this division, or used and worked as provided in this division, shall be abandoned or cease to be a county highway except as prescribed in this section.

Except as otherwise provided by law, any toll trail, toll road or toll bridge, for which the franchise has expired by limitation or nonuser, becomes a free county highway. No claim shall be valid against the county for the right of way, or for the land or material comprising such toll trail, toll road or toll bridge.

After one year from the making of an order by a board of supervisors, pursuant to this division, opening a highway over any land, the county acquires title to the land in accordance with the terms of the order.

No route of travel used by one or more persons over another's land shall become a county highway by use.

The width of all county highways, other than bridges, alleys, lanes, and trails, shall be at least 40 feet, except as provided by Sections 906.5 and 969 and except that the board of supervisors of any county may, by a resolution passed by a unanimous vote of its members, determine that the public convenience and necessity demand the maintenance of a highway of less than 40 feet and may after such determination proceed with the maintenance of any such highway. This section shall not increase or diminish the width of any county highway established, dedicated, and maintained as such prior to January 1, 1945.

On construction under a contract advertised for bids after July 1, 1973, the board of supervisors shall install on the surface of county highways upon which the operation of bicycles is permitted only those types of grates which are not hazardous to bicycle riders.

Notwithstanding Section 906, a county may maintain a highway of less than 40 feet in width if all the cost of maintenance thereof is paid for by a maintenance district created pursuant to Chapter 26 (commencing with Section 5820) of Part 3 of Division 1.

Any owner or occupant of land may construct a sidewalk on the county highway along the line of his land, subject to the authority conferred by law on the board of supervisors.

The road commissioner, or the person to whom the duties of the road commissioner have been transferred pursuant to Section 2006.1 or 2006.5, shall maintain a record of each county highway, including its name and a general reference to its terminal points.

No agreement entered into by the board of supervisors for the purchase, hire, or rental of any apparatus used in the construction, improvement, or maintenance of highways shall create a charge against the county, unless the agreement complies with all of the following:
  (a) The agreement is in writing.
  (b) The writing is signed by the chair of the board of supervisors.
  (c) A copy of the writing is certified by and filed with the clerk of the board of supervisors. All of these writings and copies are public documents. If a county purchases, hires, or rents any apparatus specified herein pursuant to a local purchasing ordinance, including competitive bidding procedures, it does not have to comply with subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) herein to create a charge against the county. Compliance with the local purchasing ordinance shall be sufficient to create a charge against the county for said purchase, hire, or rental.