A lawful fence is any fence which is good, strong, substantial, and sufficient to prevent the ingress and egress of livestock. No wire fence is a good and substantial fence within the meaning of this article unless it has three tightly stretched barbed wires securely fastened to posts of reasonable strength, firmly set in the ground not more than one rod apart, one of which wires shall be at least four feet above the surface of the ground. Any kind of wire or other fence of height, strength and capacity equal to or greater than the wire fence herein described is a good and substantial fence within the meaning of this article. The term “lawful fence” includes cattle guards of such width, depth, rail spacing, and construction as will effectively turn livestock.
EstraysGrazing Counties
Section § 17121
This law explains what qualifies as a 'lawful fence' to keep livestock in or out. For a wire fence to be considered lawful, it must have three securely fastened barbed wires mounted on sturdy posts, set no more than 16.5 feet apart, with one wire at least four feet from the ground. Any fence equally strong or stronger, regardless of materials, also qualifies. Cattle guards that effectively prevent livestock passage are included in the definition of a lawful fence.
lawful fence fence requirements livestock containment
Section § 17122
If you find a stray animal on your property in a California county mainly used for grazing, you can't claim it or keep a lien on it unless your property is fully enclosed by a solid fence.
In any county or part of a county devoted chiefly to grazing and so declared pursuant to this article, a person shall not have the right to take up any estray animal found upon his premises, or upon premises to which he has the right of possession, nor shall he have a lien thereon, unless the premises are entirely enclosed with a good and substantial fence.
estray animal grazing county taking up estray
Section § 17123
This law identifies specific areas in California that are mainly used for grazing livestock. It includes certain parts or the entirety of the counties of Trinity, Shasta, Siskiyou, Lassen, and Modoc. There might be other areas specified in Section 17124 that are also primarily focused on grazing.
The purpose of this designation is likely linked to land management and agricultural planning within these regions.
The following counties or parts of counties are declared to be devoted chiefly to grazing:
(a)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 17123(a) That portion of Trinity which is outside of the area described in Section 17125.
(b)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 17123(b) That portion of Shasta outside of the area which is described in Section 17126.
(c)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 17123(c) Siskiyou, Lassen, and Modoc.
(d)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 17123(d) Any county or part of a county which is declared to be devoted chiefly to grazing pursuant to Section 17124.
grazing land Trinity County Shasta County
Section § 17124
This law allows the board of supervisors in any county to officially state through an ordinance that all or part of the county mainly focuses on grazing activities.
The board of supervisors of any county may by ordinance declare that such county, or part of such county, is devoted chiefly to grazing.
county board of supervisors grazing designation county ordinance
Section § 17125
This statute specifies certain areas in Trinity County, California, that are not primarily used for grazing. It details the exact sections, quarters, and surrounding areas that are excluded from being classified as grazing land. These include particular sections located in different townships and ranges, some specifically defined by precise boundary descriptions. Additionally, a stretch of land surrounding U.S. Highway 299 is included in this list, covering 500 feet from each side of the centerline of the highway.
The following portions of Trinity County are declared not to be devoted chiefy to grazing:
(a)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 17125(a) All of Sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, T. 31 N., R. 12 W.; Section 7 and the north 1/2 of Section 18, T. 31 N., R. 11 W., M.D.M.
(b)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 17125(b) Beginning at the section corner common to Sections 7 and 18, T. 33 N., R. 9 W. and Sections 12 and 13, T. 33 N., R. 10 W., thence west 20 chains; then north 20 chains; thence west 20 chains; thence north 50 chains; thence east 17.09 chains; then south 32° west, 5.41 chains; thence south 59° east, 13.12 chains; thence south 42° 30´ east, 4.80 chains; thence north 22° east, 5.41 chains; thence north 22° west, 4.90 chains; thence north 75° west, 3.40 chains; thence north 33° west, 2.45 chains; thence north 58° west, 4.47 chains; thence east 15.02 chains; thence south 10° west, 4.66 chains; thence south 22° east, 3.75 chains; thence north 12° east, 8.04 chains; thence east 2.00 chains; thence north 9.361/2 chains; thence north 14° 30´ east, 10.58 chains; thence north 20° 30´ west, 0.42 chains; thence east 17.59 chains; thence south 30.00 chains; thence east 20.00 chains; thence south 40.00 chains; thence west 10. 00 chains; thence south 20.00 chains; thence west 30.00 chains, to and closing on the starting corner.
(c)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 17125(c) Beginning at the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of Section 17; thence south along the east line of said quarter section and the east line of the northwest quarter of Section 20, to the southeast corner of said quarter section; thence west along the south line of said quarter section and the south line of the northeast quarter of Section 19 to the southwest corner of said quarter section; thence north along the west line of said quarter section and the west line of the southeast quarter of Section 18 to the northwest corner of said quarter section; and thence east along the north line of said quarter section and the north line of the southwest quarter of Section 17 to the northeast corner of said quarter section and the point of beginning; being the southwest quarter of Section 17, the southeast quarter of Section 18, the northeast quarter of Section 19, and the northwest quarter of Section 20, T. 33 N., R. 8 W., Mount Diablo base and meridian.
(d)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 17125(d) Highway U.S. 299 and all land within 500 feet of each side of the centerline of the highway.
(e)CA Food And Agriculture Code § 17125(e) All of Section 5, T. 33 N., R. 9 W., M.D.M.
Trinity County non-grazing land land boundaries
Section § 17126
This law specifies a particular area in Shasta County, California, that is not primarily used for grazing. It describes this area using boundary lines and geographic references such as irrigation districts and the Sacramento River. This clarification helps in understanding the land's primary use and its legal designation.
The portion of Shasta County within the following metes and bounds is declared not to be devoted chiefly to grazing:
Beginning at the intersection of the Reading Grant line and the northwest corner of the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District, thence southerly along said Reading Grant line to the first intersection with the boundary of the dissolved Happy Valley Irrigation District; thence counterclockwise around the boundaries of said dissolved Happy Valley Irrigation District to the southeast corner of Section 20, T. 30 N., R. 4 W., M.D.B. and M.; thence directly east along section lines to the westerly boundary line of the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District; thence counterclockwise around the boundaries of said district to Cottonwood Creek; thence down Cottonwood Creek to its confluence with the Sacramento River; thence counterclockwise along the most easterly and northerly boundary lines of said Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District, including a crossing of the Sacramento River, to the point of beginning.
Shasta County grazing lands Reading Grant line
Section § 17127
If the board of supervisors in Shasta or Trinity County decides that areas of land are no longer mainly used for grazing, they can pass a rule allowing stray animals to be captured on open, unfenced properties in that region. This aims to apply statewide rules to those areas once the original reasons for different treatment are no longer valid.
The board of supervisors of Shasta or Trinity County may, if it determines that all or any part of the county under its jurisdiction has ceased to be devoted chiefly to grazing, provide by ordinance that estray animals may thereafter be taken up on unenclosed property in the county or part of county under its jurisdiction. It is the intent and purpose of this section that the provisions of law which are generally applicable throughout the state shall be extended to all of the county when the conditions upon which the exceptions were based have ceased to exist.
Shasta County Trinity County estray animals
Section § 17128
This law continues to enforce old rules about lawful fences and trespassing animals in certain counties of California, except for some changes. In Trinity, Shasta (excluding a specific area), and Siskiyou counties, the existing laws from 1850 and 1859 remain in effect but have updated provisions about stray goats, swine, or hogs. These animals can now be taken up if they wander or trespass on other people's lands in these counties. The laws stay in place until changes are made as described in another part of the law.
The act entitled “An act concerning lawful fences, and animals, trespassing upon lawfully enclosed lands,” passed March 30, 1850 (Ch. 49, Stats. 1850), and an act entitled “An act concerning lawful fences in the Counties of San Bernardino, Colusa, Shasta, Tehama and Placer,” approved April 18, 1859 (Ch. 266, Stats. 1859), insofar as the provisions of each of the acts apply to or affect the Counties of Trinity, Shasta, except that portion described in Section 17126, and Siskiyou, are continued in force, except as to goats, swine, or hogs, which may be taken up in the counties when the goats, swine or hogs estray or trespass on lands of others. The provisions of this chapter apply to goats, swine, or hogs in such counties, but in all other respects the acts specified in this section are continued in full force therein, it being determined that the conditions prevailing in the Counties of Trinity, Shasta, except that portion described in Section 17126, and Siskiyou demand the continued application of the acts in the counties until such time as action is taken pursuant to Section 17124.
lawful fences trespassing animals Trinity County
