An Overview of California’s Codes

California has just over 156,000 statutes that are contained in its 29 Codes. As a reader would expect, these 29 Codes vary in size, content, and approach. The following is an overview of the 29 Codes and some of their similar and different provisions.

Business and Professions Code

There are 13 Divisions

General Provisions are stand alone and not in a separate division

Topics covered include Department of Consumer Affairs, business rights, real estate, special regulations, cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis

BPC – 10,036 Sections 

Civil Code

There are 4 Divisions

Preliminary Provisions and definitions are stand alone and not in a separate division

Topics covered include persons, property, and obligations
CIV – 3,710 Sections

Code of Civil Procedure

This is the only Code that places its name after the word Code

There are 4 Parts

Preliminary Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include courts of justice, civil actions, and special proceedings

CCP – 3,283 Sections

Commercial Code

There are 15 Divisions

General Provisions are in their own division

Topics covered include sales, negotiable instruments, letters of credit, title, leases, and fund transfers

COM – 646 Sections

Corporations Code

There are 6 Titles

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include corporations, partnerships, LLCs, unincorporated

CORP – 2,405 Sections

Education Code

There are only 3 Titles

The topics include preliminary provisions, secondary education, and postsecondary education

EDC – 11,061 Sections

Elections Code

There are 22 Divisions

Preliminary Provisions are contained in a division

Topics covered include elections, voters, political parties, nominations, measures submitted to voters, recalls, ballots, election ballots, and voting systems

ELEC – 2,280 Sections

Evidence Code

There are 11 Divisions

Topics covered include judicial notice, burden of proof, witnesses, expert witnesses, hearsay evidence, and writings

EVID – 502 Sections

Family Code

There are 17 Divisions

Preliminary and general provisions are their own divisions

Topics covered include marriage, domestic partners, division of property, custody of children, minors, adoption, and support services

FAM – 1,715 Sections

Financial Code

There are 37 Divisions

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include banking, financial information privacy, financial institutions, covered loans, securities, ATMs, credit unions, escrow agents, consumer finance, student loans, mortgage lending, financial literary, and debt collection

FIN – 3,335 Sections

Fish and Game Code

There are 17 Divisions

Topics covered include fish and game, birds and mammals, aquaculture, and Indian fishing

FGC – 2,275 Sections

Food and Agricultural Code

There are 25 Divisions

General Provisions are stand alone and not in a separate division

Topics covered include state and local administration, expositions and fairs, pest control, animals, cattle, bees and honey, dogs and cats, milk products, fruits and nuts, field crops, marketing, and industrial hemp

FAC – 9,760 Sections

Government Code

There are 59 Titles

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include state government, counties, cities, local agencies, planning and land use, two dozen authorities and transportation entities, political reform, tribal gaming compacts, international relations, and health care entities

GOV – 21,114 Sections

Harbors and Navigation Code

There are 9 Divisions

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include navigable waters, vessels, pilots, harbors, and ports

HNC – 1,290 Sections

Health and Safety Code

There are 67 Divisions

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include public health, emergency medical services, sanitation, cemeteries, drug and alcohol programs, substance abuse, hospitals, health services, air resources, pollution control, vital records, health access, prescription drugs

HSC – 16,740 Sections

Insurance Code

There are just 5 Divisions

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include classes of insurance, Insurance Commissioner, and insurance adjusters

INS – 4,479 Sections

Labor Code

There are 7 Divisions

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include Department of Industrial Relations, employment relations, workers’ compensation, retraining, and employment safety

LLAB – 2,520 Sections

Military and Veterans Code

There are 8 Divisions

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include veterans, emblems, cemeteries, military forces

MVC – 1,206 Sections

Penal Code

There are 6 Parts that cover all aspects of criminal law and procedure

Topics covered include crimes, punishment, criminal procedure, imprisonment, crime prevention, and control of deadly weapons

PEN – 5,638 Sections

Probate Code

There are 13 Divisions

Preliminary Provisions, Definitions, and General Provisions are in separate Division

Topics covered include guardianships, conservatorships, health care decisions, wills, intestate succession, trusts

PROB – 2,672 Sections

Public Contract Code

There are just 2 Divisions

It has Preliminary Matters and then all the remaining statutes fall under the General Provisions division that is focused on public contracting.

PCC – 1,571 Sections

Public Resources Code

There are 74 Divisions

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include geology, oil, gas, forestry, parks, agricultural land, recycling, environmental protection, green energy, ten local conservancies, waste management, safe drinking water

PRC – 7,653 Sections

Public Utilities Code

There are 34 Divisions

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include energy, Public Utilities Commission, utilities, aviation, transit boards, and eleven local transit agencies, and high-speed rail

PUC – 7,441 Sections

Revenue and Taxation Code

There are just 2 Divisions

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include property taxes, personal income taxes, corporation taxes, sales and use taxes, and special taxes

RTC – 7,068 Sections

Streets and Highways Code

There are 19 Divisions

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include city streets, county roads, state highways, expenditures of funds, multiple bond measures, tolling, and street lighting

SHC – 4,572 Sections

Unemployment Insurance Code

There are 8 Divisions

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include employment services, tax withholding, workforce development, and unemployment and disability insurance

UIC – 904 Sections

Vehicle Code

There are 33 Divisions

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division, but defined words and phrases comprise Division 1

Topics covered include vehicle registration and sales, licenses, financial responsibility, rules of the road, transportation of certain types of materials, bicycles, and towing

VEH – 3,458 Sections

Water Code

There are 32 Divisions

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include flood control, water quality, irrigation and water districts, water supply and conservation, wildfire prevention, and several local agencies

WAT – 10,058 Sections

Welfare and Institutions Code

There are 20 Divisions

General Provisions are stand along and not in a separate division

Topics covered include children, youth, mental institutions, older Californians, developmental services, long-term care, and the Department of Rehabilitation

WIC – 6,874 Sections