CHAPTER 6. Transportation of Animals [16901. - 16909.]

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC 6.

in effect

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 16901. Section 16901.

It is unlawful for any person to do any of the following: (a) Lead, drive, or conduct any animal along the track of a railroad, unless the railroad is built within the limits of a public highway or public place. (b) Permit any animal to be placed within the fences of a railroad for grazing or other purposes if he has the right to prevent it.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 16902. Section 16902.

A person that owns or controls the possession of any livestock shall not willfully or negligently permit any of the livestock to stray upon, or remain unaccompanied by a person in charge or control of the livestock upon, a public highway, if both sides of the highway are adjoined by property which is separated from the highway by a fence, wall, hedge, sidewalk, curb, lawn, or building.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 16903. Section 16903.

It is unlawful for any person to drive any livestock upon, over, or across any public highway between the hours of sunset and sunrise unless he keeps a sufficient number of herders on continual duty to open the road so as to permit the passage of vehicles.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 16904. Section 16904.

In any civil action which is brought by the owner, driver, or occupant of a motor vehicle, or by their personal representatives or assignees, or by the owner of livestock, for damages which are caused by collision between any motor vehicle and any domestic animal on a highway, there is no presumption or inference that the collision was due to negligence on behalf of the owner or the person in possession of the animal.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 16905. Section 16905.

It is unlawful for any officer, agent, or conductor of any railroad in this state, to confine any animals in cars for a longer period than 36 consecutive hours if the animals are being carried or transported by the railroad in carloads. At least every 36 hours the animals shall be unloaded for rest, water, and feeding, into properly equipped pens for a period of not less than five consecutive hours.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 16906. Section 16906.

In estimating the time of confinement pursuant to Section 16905, the period during which animals have been confined without such rest on connecting roads from which they are received, shall be included.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 16907. Section 16907.

If the owner or person in charge of the animals refuses or neglects to pay for the care and feed of the animals so rested, the company or person operating the railroad may charge the expense of the care and feeding to the owner or consignee and retain a lien upon the animals until the amount of expense is paid.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 16908. Section 16908.

It is unlawful for any person that owns or operates any motor truck, or motor truck and trailer, or semitrailer, to confine or permit to be confined, in such vehicle, any animal for a longer period than 28 consecutive hours from the time the animal was last fed and watered. Upon the written request of the owner or person in charge of the animal, the period of confinement may be extended to 36 hours. Before the expiration of the permissible period of confinement, the animal shall be unloaded in a humane manner by means of a chute or tailgate of sufficient size into properly equipped pens for rest, water, and feeding, for a period of at least five consecutive hours. The failure of a person to feed or water an animal within the time limit prescribed by this section is not a violation of this section if the feeding and watering of the animal is prevented by storm or other accidental or unavoidable causes which could not be anticipated or avoided by the exercise of due diligence and foresight.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 16909. Section 16909.

In estimating the period of confinement, the time consumed in loading and unloading the animal shall not be considered, but the time during which the animal has been confined without rest, food, or water on any other or connecting vehicle, or outside of the state, shall be included.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026