ARTICLE 3. Powers [6070. - 6087.]

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC 3.
in effect

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6070. Section 6070.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 660, the board may pass all necessary ordinances for the regulation of the district, including, but not limited to, ordinances to provide for the protection and safety of persons or the property of persons using district facilities, and persons and property in and upon waters subject to the jurisdiction of the district, and adjacent property owned or controlled by the district.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6070.2. Section 6070.2.

Before any ordinance may be adopted, the violation of which shall be a misdemeanor, a notice shall be published once in a newspaper of general circulation published within the district, or if none, in any newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which the district, or a part thereof, is located, stating generally the nature of the ordinance proposed, stating where and when a copy thereof may be inspected, and specifying the date, not less than 20 days from the date of publication of such notice, on which the board will meet for the purpose of adopting the ordinance. The ordinance shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the board, unless another effective date is set forth by the board.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6070.6. Section 6070.6.

The district’s manager, harbormaster or wharfinger, or any duly authorized representative of one of these persons, shall have the power to issue citations for violation of district ordinances in the manner provided by Chapter 5c (commencing with Section 853.6) of Title 3, Part 2 of the Penal Code.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6071. Section 6071.

It may employ engineers, attorneys and any other officers and employees necessary in the work of the district. It shall appoint a treasurer, who shall hold office at the pleasure of the board, and whose duty it shall be to receive and safely keep all moneys of the district. He shall comply with all provisions of law governing the deposit and securing of public funds. He shall pay out moneys only on warrants duly authorized by the board and not otherwise; provided, however, that no warrants need be issued for the payment of principal and interest on bonds of the district. He shall at regular intervals, at least once each month, submit to the secretary of the district a written report and accounting of all receipts and disbursements and fund balances, a copy of which report he shall file with the board. The treasurer may appoint a deputy or deputies for whose acts he and his bondsman shall be responsible. Such deputy or deputies shall hold office subject to the pleasure of the treasurer and shall receive such compensation as may be provided by the board. Said treasurer shall execute a bond covering the faithful performance by him of the duties of his office and his duties with respect to all moneys coming into his hands as treasurer in such amount as shall be fixed by resolution of said board. The surety bond herein required shall be executed only by a surety company authorized to do business in the State of California and the premium therefor shall be paid by the district out of its general fund. Said bond shall be approved by the board and filed with the secretary of the district. Said treasurer before entering upon the duties of his office shall take and file with the secretary of the district the oath of office required by the Constitution of this State.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6074. Section 6074.

It may take by grant, purchase, gift, devise, lease or otherwise acquire, hold and enjoy and lease and dispose of real and personal property of every kind, within or without the district, necessary to the full or convenient exercise of its power.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6075. Section 6075.

Notwithstanding Section 6012: (a) A harbor district may acquire, construct, own, operate, control, or develop any and all harbor works or facilities within the limits of its established boundaries. No interest in lands may be acquired, either by lease, purchase, or the exercise of the power of eminent domain within any port district, chartered port, harbor improvement district, incorporated city, or recreational harbor district without the prior consent to the acquisition by resolution of the governing body of each district, port, or city in which the lands are located. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a harbor district that does not operate on tide and submerged lands that have been granted by legislative enactment may acquire, construct, own, operate, control, or develop any and all harbor works or facilities within or outside the boundaries of the district. No interest in lands may be acquired, either by lease, purchase, or the exercise of the power of eminent domain within any port district, chartered port, harbor improvement district, incorporated city, county, or recreational harbor district without the prior consent to the acquisition by resolution of the governing body of the district, port, city, or county in which the lands are located.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6077. Section 6077.

It may borrow money and incur indebtedness and issue bonds or other evidence of indebtedness. All bond elections called by the board shall be conducted and held pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 43600) of Chapter 4 of Division 4, Title 4 of the Government Code. When in that article, the word “city” is used it includes the district and whenever the words “legislative body” are used they mean the board. The purposes for which bonded indebtedness may be incurred by the district are described in Section 6075. All bonds issued shall be signed by the board and a district shall not incur a bonded indebtedness which in the aggregate exceeds 15 percent of the assessed value of all the real and personal property in the district.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6077.1. Section 6077.1.

Whenever the improvement and development work for which any issue of bonds has been voted has been constructed and the proceeds of the bonds sold have not been entirely expended, the board may by resolution order that the unexpended proceeds be placed in the fund provided for the purpose of paying principal and interest of said bonds or said board may by resolution direct that all or a part of said unexpended proceeds be used for the purpose of purchasing outstanding bonds of said district. Said bonds may be purchased only after the publication at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the district of a notice inviting sealed proposals for the sale of bonds to the district. The notice shall state the time and place when the proposals will be opened and the amount of money available for the purchase of the bonds. The legislative body may reject any or all proposals and if it rejects all thereof, may within a period of thirty days thereafter purchase for cash any outstanding bonds of the district but in that event the purchase price shall not be more than the lowest purchase price at which bonds were tendered to the district in the public bidding. Any bonds purchased under the authority of this section shall be canceled immediately.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6077.2. Section 6077.2.

It may provide for, and supervise pilots and the pilotage of sea-going vessels within the harbor and it may regulate and control the anchoring, mooring, towing, and docking of all vessels.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6077.4. Section 6077.4.

It may manage the business of the district and promote the maritime and commercial interest by proper advertisement of its advantages and by the solicitation of business within or without the district, within other States or in foreign countries, through such employees or agencies as are expedient.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6077.5. Section 6077.5.

A harbor district may acquire, purchase, takeover, construct, maintain, operate, develop, and regulate grain elevators, bunkering facilities, belt or other railroads, floating plants, lighterage, towage facilities, and any and all other facilities, aids, equipment, or property necessary for, or incident to, the development and operation of a harbor or for the accommodation and promotion of commerce, navigation, or fishery in the harbor district.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6077.5.5. Section 6077.5.5.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the Oxnard Harbor District may acquire, purchase, take over, construct, maintain, operate, develop, and regulate airports and roads with the prior consent of each district, port, city, or county in which the lands are located.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6077.6. Section 6077.6.

A harbor district may by resolution order that all or any of the funds under its control and not necessary for current operating expenses be invested in accordance with Section 53601 of the Government Code.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6079. Section 6079.

The board shall by ordinance fix the rate of wharfage charges and other charges which are appropriate for the use of any of the facilities owned and constructed or services furnished or provided by the district.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6082. Section 6082.

At any time after the creation of the fund, the board may transfer to the capital outlay fund any unencumbered surplus funds raised for any purpose whatever, remaining on hand at the end of any fiscal year or years.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6083. Section 6083.

The capital outlay fund shall remain inviolate for the making of any capital outlays and the money shall not be disbursed from the fund except for such a purpose unless the district board submits a proposition to the electors of the district to obtain their consent to use the money in the fund for some other specific purpose. The proposition may be submitted at any election. A two-thirds vote of all the voters voting at the election is necessary to authorize the expenditure of the money for such other purpose.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6084. Section 6084.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the board may borrow money by issuance of promissory notes, or execute conditional sales contracts to purchase personal property, in an amount or of a value not exceeding in the aggregate at any one time the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000), for the purposes of acquiring land for and constructing or operating any work, project, or facility authorized by subdivision (d) of Section 6012 or Section 6075 or for the making of improvements or the purchase of equipment or for the maintenance thereof. All moneys borrowed pursuant to this section shall not be borrowed for a term exceeding five years, and the indebtednesses shall not incur a rate of interest in excess of 12 percent per annum. The indebtedness shall be authorized by a resolution of the board of commissioners adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members of the board. As a condition precedent to the borrowing of any money or the execution of any conditional sales contract, as provided in this section, in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the board shall first by a two-thirds vote approve by resolution and have on file a report on the engineering and economic feasibility relating to the project contemplated for the expenditure of the borrowed money or conditional sales contract. The feasibility report shall be prepared and signed by an engineer or engineers licensed and registered under the laws of the State of California. The district shall budget, levy, and collect taxes and pay for all indebtedness without limitation by any other provision of this part. (b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any money borrowed from any agency or department of the United States government or of the State of California.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6084.2. Section 6084.2.

(a) A district may issue limited obligation notes after the adoption, by a four-fifths vote of all the commissioners of the board, of a resolution reciting each of the following: (1) That the resolution is being adopted pursuant to this subdivision. (2) The purposes of incurring the indebtedness. (3) The estimated amount of the indebtedness. (4) The maximum amount of notes to be issued, and the source of revenue or revenues to be used to secure the limited obligation notes. (5) The maturity date of the limited obligation notes. (6) The form of the limited obligation notes. (7) The manner of execution of the limited obligation notes. (b) The resolution may also provide for one or more of the following matters: (1) Insurance for the limited obligation notes. (2) Procedures in the event of default, terms upon which the limited obligation notes may be declared due before maturity, and the terms upon which that declaration may be waived. (3) The rights, liabilities, powers, and duties arising upon the district’s breach of an agreement with regard to the limited obligation notes. (4) The terms upon which the holders of the limited obligation notes may enforce agreements authorized by this section. (5) A procedure for amending or abrogating the terms of the resolution with the consent of the holders of a specified percentage of the limited obligation notes. If the resolution contains this procedure, the resolution shall specifically state the effect of amendment upon the rights of the holders of all of the limited obligation notes. (6) The manner in which the holders of the limited obligation notes may take action. (7) Other actions necessary or desirable to secure the limited obligation notes or tending to make the notes more marketable. (c) The limited obligation notes shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding the rate permitted under Article 7 (commencing with Section 53530) of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code. (d) The limited obligation notes may not mature later than 10 years after the date of the issuance of the notes, and the total amount of the limited obligation notes outstanding at any one time for the district may not exceed the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000). (e) The agreement between the district and the purchasers of the limited obligation notes shall state that the notes are limited obligation notes payable solely from specified revenue of the district. The pledged revenue shall be sufficient to pay the following amounts annually, as they become due and payable: (1) The interest and principal on the notes. (2) Payments required for compliance with the resolution authorizing issuance of the notes or agreements with the purchasers of the notes. (3) Payments to meet any other obligations of the district that are charges, liens, or encumbrances on the pledged revenue. (f) The limited obligation notes are special obligations of the district, and shall be a charge against, and secured by a lien upon, and payable, as to the principal thereof and interest thereon, from the pledged revenue. If the revenue described in the authorizing resolution is insufficient for the payment of interest and principal on the notes, the district may make payments from any other funds or revenues that may be applied to their payment. The revenue and any interest earned on the revenue constitute a trust fund for the security and payment of the interest on and principal of the notes. (g) So long as any limited obligation notes or interest thereon are unpaid following their maturity, the pledged revenue and interest thereon may not be used for any other new purpose. (h) If the interest and principal on the limited obligation notes and all charges to protect them are paid when due, the district may expend the pledged revenue for other purposes. (i) Limited obligation notes of the same issue shall be equally secured. (j) The general fund of the district is not liable for the payment of the principal or the interest on the limited obligation notes. (k) The holders of the limited obligation notes may not compel the exercise of the taxing power by the district, other than the revenue pledged, or the forfeiture of the district’s property. ( l ) Every agreement shall recite in substance that the principal of, and interest on, the limited obligation notes are payable solely from the revenue pledged to the payment of the principal and interest and that the district is not obligated to pay the principal or interest except from the pledged revenue.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6085. Section 6085.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this part, the Crescent City Harbor District may borrow money and incur indebtedness under Section 6077 or under Section 6084 and may accept financial or other assistance from the state or federal government, and may expend such funds for the acquisition, construction, development, ownership, and leasing of fish processing plants and facilities, and for any other buildings, plants, equipment, aids, facilities and improvements necessary for or incident to the accommodation and promotion of commerce and fishery in the harbor district.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6086. Section 6086.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the Port San Luis Harbor District may operate, itself only and not pursuant to a lease agreement with a third party, the portion of its property known as the Port San Luis Trailer Park as a mobilehome park, as defined in Section 798.4 of the Civil Code, until the current occupants of the mobilehome park cease to occupy the park. When any current occupant ceases to occupy his or her mobilehome, the real property on which that occupant’s mobilehome is located shall cease to be used as a location for a mobilehome residence. No current occupant of the park shall acquire, or be entitled to acquire, through occupancy or any other means, a transferable or assumable interest in occupancy in the park. As used in this section, “current occupant” means any individual occupying a mobilehome as a residence in the Port San Luis Trailer Park on the effective date of this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect a current occupant’s right to file a claim against a local public agency as provided in Section 905 of the Government Code. Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow the use of tide or submerged lands belonging to the Port San Luis Harbor District in any manner inconsistent with the California Constitution or with the public trust.

Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC § 6087. Section 6087.

(a) (1) Notwithstanding the borrowing limit set forth in Section 6084, the Oxnard Harbor District may borrow money by issuance of promissory notes, or execute conditional sales contracts to purchase personal property, in an amount or of a value not exceeding in the aggregate at any one time the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000), for the purposes of acquiring land for and constructing or operating any work, project, or facility authorized by subdivision (d) of Section 6012 or Section 6075 or for the making of improvements or the purchase of equipment or for the maintenance thereof. (2) All moneys borrowed pursuant to this section shall be borrowed for a term not exceeding five years, and the indebtednesses shall not accrue interest in excess of 12 percent per annum. The indebtedness shall be authorized by a resolution of the board of commissioners adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members of the board. (3) As a condition precedent to the borrowing of any money or the execution of any conditional sales contract, as provided in this section, in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the board shall first, by a two-thirds vote, approve by resolution and have on file a report on the engineering and economic feasibility relating to the project contemplated for the expenditure of the borrowed money or conditional sales contract. The feasibility report shall be prepared and signed by an engineer or engineers licensed and registered under the laws of the state. (4) The district shall budget, levy, and collect taxes and pay for all indebtedness without limitation by any other provision of this part. (b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any money borrowed from any agency or department of the United States government or of the state.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

Starting a business in California? California LLC guide: costs and requirements