Article 3Duration of Leases
Section § 715
Section § 717
This law says that if you lease or grant land for farming or gardening for more than 51 years, and it includes any kind of rent or service obligation, that lease or grant won't be legally valid.
Section § 718
This law sets time limits on how long certain types of land owned by cities and municipalities can be leased out. Generally, city and town lots can't be leased for more than 99 years if they involve any rent or service. Municipal lands can be leased for up to 55 years, while lands not bought for parks and used for extracting resources like oil or gas can be leased for 35 years. Tidelands or submerged lands granted by the state and used by cities can be leased for up to 66 years, usually for industrial or harbor-related developments.
Section § 718f
This law section says that when someone leases land specifically to produce natural resources like minerals, oil, or gas from nearby lands, the lease can have a set duration or be tied to a future event. However, such leases cannot be valid for more than 99 years from when they start.
Section § 719
In California, cities can lease property for up to 99 years, exceeding the usual 55-year limit, if they follow certain rules. The lease must be reviewed periodically with market conditions in mind. A city must pass an ordinance for such leases and hold a public hearing with proper notice. Leases are awarded through competitive bidding to whoever offers the best economic return. Some rules don't apply to charter cities or specific types of leases like parkland or resource extraction.