What Is in California’s Public Resources Code?

The California Public Resources Code is one of 29 Codes that contain state statutes. The Public Resources Code, or PRC as it is often referred to is a compilation of most state environmental laws, from oceans to forests. The PRC contains 74 Divisions. There are also numerous parts, chapters, and articles containing hundreds of code sections, or individual statutes. The following is a broad overview of the Public Resources Code.

GENERAL PROVISIONS [Sections 1 – 18]

There are 19 Sections.

DIVISION 1. ADMINISTRATION [Sections 500 – 830]

There are 5 Chapters and 10 Articles.

DIVISION 2. GEOLOGY, MINES AND MINING [Sections 2001 – 2815]

There are 10 Chapters and 7 Articles.

DIVISION 3. OIL AND GAS [Sections 3000 – 3865]

There are 9 Chapters and 33 Articles.

DIVISION 3.5. MINES AND MINING [Sections 3900 – 3985]

There are 4 Chapters.

DIVISION 4. FORESTS, FORESTRY AND RANGE AND FORAGE LANDS [Sections 4001 – 4958]

There are 5 Parts, 24 Chapters, and 57 Articles.

DIVISION 5. PARKS AND MONUMENTS [Sections 5001 – 5873]

There are 51 Chapters and 118 Articles.

DIVISION 5.8. CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE, COASTAL, AND PARK LAND CONSERVATION ACT [Sections 5900 – 5938]

There are 4 Chapters.

DIVISION 6. PUBLIC LANDS [Sections 6001 – 8561]

There are 4 Parts, 25 Chapters, and 26 Articles.

DIVISION 7. KAPILOFF LAND BANK ACT [Sections 8600 – 8633]

There are 3 Chapters.

DIVISION 7.5. ARROYO SECO PARKLANDS [Sections 8650 – 8655]

There are 6 Sections.

DIVISION 7.7. School Lands [Sections 8700 – 8723]

There are 2 Chapters.

DIVISION 7.8. OIL SPILL PREVENTION AND RESPONSE [Sections 8750 – 8760]

There are 2 Chapters.

DIVISION 8. SURVEYING AND MAPPING [Sections 8801 – 8902]

There are 5 Chapters.

DIVISION 9. RESOURCE CONSERVATION [Sections 9001 – 9972]

There are 10 Chapters and 33 Articles.

DIVISION 10. STREAMFLOW PROTECTION STANDARDS [Sections 10000 – 10005]

There are 6 Sections.

DIVISION 10.2. AGRICULTURAL LAND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM OF 1995 [Sections 10200 – 10277]

There are 5 Chapters and 4 Articles.

DIVISION 10.3. AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM [Sections 10280 – 10283]

There are 6 Sections.

DIVISION 10.4. RANGELAND, GRAZING LAND, AND GRASSLAND PROTECTION ACT [Sections 10330 – 10344]

There are 15 Sections.

DIVISION 10.5. CALIFORNIA FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM ACT OF 2007 [Sections 12200 – 12276]

There are 5 Chapters and 4 Articles.

DIVISION 11. RESORT IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS [Sections 13000 – 13233]

There are 13 Chapters.

DIVISION 12. CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS [Sections 14000 – 14424]

There are 8 Chapters.

DIVISION 12.1. CALIFORNIA BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING AND LITTER REDUCTION ACT [Sections 14500 – 14599]

There are 10 Chapters.

DIVISION 12.2. PRODUCTS CONTAINING TOXIC METALS [Sections 15000 – 15029]

There are 5 Chapters.

DIVISION 12.3. RECYCLED CONCRETE [Sections 16000 – 16004]

There are 5 Sections.

DIVISION 12.4. GREASE TRAP AND GREASE INTERCEPTOR WASTE [Sections 16050 – 16053]

There are 4 Sections.

DIVISION 12.5. Community Conservation Corps [Sections 17000 – 17003]

There are 4 Sections.

DIVISION 12.7. PLASTIC WASTE [Sections 18000 – 18017]

There are 2 Chapters.

DIVISION 12.9. FIBERGLASS RECYCLED CONTENT ACT OF 1991 [Sections 19500 – 19535]

There are 5 Chapters.

DIVISION 13. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY [Sections 21000 – 21189.70.10]

There are 16 Chapters and 6 Articles.

DIVISION 13.5. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAM [Sections 21190 – 21194]

There are 7 Sections.

DIVISION 14. THE VENTURA-LOS ANGELES MOUNTAIN AND COASTAL STUDY COMMISSION [Sections 22000 – 22080]

There are 5 Chapters.

DIVISION 14.5. Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake [Sections 22085 – 22092]

There are 7 Sections.

DIVISION 15. ENERGY CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT [Sections 25000 – 25991.8]

There are 39 Chapters and 8 Articles.

DIVISION 16. CALIFORNIA ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AND ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION FINANCING AUTHORITY ACT [Sections 26000 – 26082]

There are 4 Chapters and 9 Articles.

DIVISION 16.3. CLEAN ENERGY JOB CREATION [Sections 26200 – 26240]

There are 5 Chapters.

DIVISION 16.5. ENERGY AND RESOURCES FUND [Sections 26400 – 26406]

There are 5 Sections.

DIVISION 17. GEOLOGIC HAZARD ABATEMENT DISTRICTS [Sections 26500 – 26654]

There are 8 Chapters and 13 Articles.

DIVISION 18. MORRO BAY MANAGEMENT PLAN [Sections 28000 – 28007]

There are 8 Sections.

DIVISION 19. SUISUN MARSH PRESERVATION [Sections 29000 – 29612]

There are 7 Chapters and 8 articles.

DIVISION 19.5. DELTA PROTECTION ACT OF 1992 [Sections 29700 – 29780]

There are 8 Chapters.

DIVISION 20. CALIFORNIA COASTAL ACT [Sections 30000 – 30900]

There are 11 Chapters and 25 Articles.

DIVISION 20.4. WATERSHED, CLEAN BEACHES, AND WATER QUALITY ACT [Sections 30901 – 30950]

There are 5 Chapters and 6 Articles.

DIVISION 20.5. OCEAN USE PLANNING [Section 30960]

There is 1 Section.

DIVISION 20.6. Planning for Sea Level Rise Database [Sections 30961 – 30968]

There are 8 Sections.

DIVISION 20.6.5. California Sea Level Rise Mitigation and Adaptation Act of 2021 [Sections 30970 – 30973]

There are 4 Sections.

DIVISION 20.7. SANTA MONICA BAY RESTORATION [Sections 30988 – 30988.3]

There are 3 Sections.

DIVISION 21. STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY [Sections 31000 – 31414]

There are 12 Chapters.

DIVISION 22. CALIFORNIA URBAN WATERFRONT AREA RESTORATION FINANCING AUTHORITY ACT [Sections 32000 – 32208]

There are 5 Chapters and 4 Articles.

DIVISION 22.3. SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA CONSERVANCY [Sections 32300 – 32381]

There are 5 Chapters.

DIVISION 22.5. SAN JOAQUIN RIVER CONSERVANCY [Sections 32500 – 32538]

There are 3 Chapters.

DIVISION 22.7. BALDWIN HILLS CONSERVANCY ACT [Sections 32550 – 32580]

There are 4 Chapters.

DIVISION 22.8. SAN GABRIEL AND LOWER LOS ANGELES RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY [Sections 32600 – 32622]

There are 6 Chapters.

DIVISION 22.9. SAN DIEGO RIVER CONSERVANCY [Sections 32630 – 32659.9]

There are 6 Chapters.

DIVISION 23. SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY [Sections 33000 – 33220]

There are 4 Chapters.

DIVISION 23.3. SIERRA NEVADA CONSERVANCY [Sections 33300 – 33356]

There are 3 Chapters.

DIVISION 23.5. COACHELLA VALLEY MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY [Sections 33500 – 33806]

There are 4 Chapters.

DIVISION 23.7. PRESERVATION OF FUTURE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS [Sections 33910 – 33917]

There are 8 Sections.

DIVISION 24. RENEWABLE RESOURCES INVESTMENT PROGRAM [Sections 34000 – 34002]

There are 3 Sections.

DIVISION 25. COASTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE [Sections 35000 – 35034]

There are 3 Chapters.

DIVISION 26. SANTA CLARA VALLEY OPEN-SPACE AUTHORITY [Sections 35100 – 35186]

There are 6 Chapters.

DIVISION 26.5. CALIFORNIA OCEAN PROTECTION ACT [Sections 35500 – 35651]

There are 6 Chapters.

DIVISION 27. OCEAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT [Sections 36000 – 36995]

There are 8 Chapters and 6 Articles.

DIVISION 28. NATURAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION TAX CREDIT ACT OF 2000 [Sections 37000 – 37042]

There are 7 Chapters.

DIVISION 30. WASTE MANAGEMENT [Sections 40000 – 49654]

There are 9 Parts, 78 Chapters, and 208 Articles.

DIVISION 31. WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES [Sections 50000 – 50002]

There are 6 Sections.

DIVISION 33. GLASS CONTAMINATION [Sections 70000 – 70031]

There is 1 Chapter and 3 Articles.

DIVISION 34. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION [Sections 71000 – 71424]

There are 17 Parts and 9 Chapters.

DIVISION 36. MARINE INVASIVE SPECIES ACT [Sections 71200 – 71271]

There are 6 Chapters.

DIVISION 37. CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT FOR MARINE PRESERVATION [Sections 71500 – 71562]

There are 5 Chapters.

DIVISION 38. CALIFORNIA CLEAN COAST ACT [Sections 72400 – 72442]

There are 5 Chapters.

DIVISION 43. THE SAFE DRINKING WATER, WATER QUALITY AND SUPPLY, FLOOD CONTROL, RIVER AND COASTAL PROTECTION BOND ACT OF 2006 [Sections 75001 – 75130]

There are 13 Chapters.

DIVISION 44. Transit, Affordable Housing, and Sustainable Communities Program [Sections 75200 – 75244]

There are 4 Parts and 2 Chapters.

DIVISION 45. Fluorinated Refrigerants [Sections 76000 – 76008]

There are 5 Sections.

DIVISION 46. California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018 [Sections 80000 – 80173]

There are 16 Chapters.