ARTICLE 2.5. State Scenic Highways [260. - 284.]

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC 2.5.

in effect

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 260. Section 260.

It is the intent of the Legislature in designating certain portions of the state highway system as state scenic highways to establish the State’s responsibility for the protection and enhancement of California’s natural scenic beauty by identifying those portions of the state highway system which, together with the adjacent scenic corridors, require special scenic conservation treatment. It is further declared to be the intent of the Legislature in designating such scenic highways to assign responsibility for the development of such scenic highways and for the establishment and application of specific planning and design standards and procedures appropriate thereto and to indicate, in broad statement terms, the location and extent of routes and areas requiring continuing and careful co-ordination of planning, design, construction, and regulation of land use and development, by state and local agencies as appropriate, to protect the social and economic values provided by the State’s scenic resources.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 261. Section 261.

The department shall establish and apply pertinent planning and design standards for development of official scenic highways. In establishing and applying such standards for, and undertaking the development of, official scenic highways, the department shall take into consideration the concept of the “complete highway,” which is a highway which incorporates not only safety, utility, and economy but also beauty. The department shall also take into consideration in establishing such standards that, in a “complete highway,” pleasing appearance is a consideration in the planning and design process. In the development of official scenic highways, the department shall give special attention both to the impact of the highway on the landscape and to the highway’s visual appearance. The standards for official scenic highways shall also require that local governmental agencies have taken such action as may be necessary to protect the scenic appearance of the scenic corridor, the band of land generally adjacent to the highway right-of-way, including, but not limited to, (1) regulation of land use and intensity (density) of development; (2) detailed land and site planning; (3) control of outdoor advertising; (4) careful attention to and control of earthmoving and landscaping; and (5) the design and appearance of structures and equipment.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 262. Section 262.

Whenever the department determines that the corridor protection program for any state highway in the state scenic highway system established by this article has been implemented by local governmental agencies and a plan and program has been developed by the department for bringing the highway up to the standards for official scenic highways established by the department, including the concept of the “complete highway,” as described in Section 261, the department shall designate the highway as an official state scenic highway and shall so indicate the highway in any publications of the department or in any maps which are issued by the department to the public. The department shall cause appropriate signs to be placed and maintained along the portions of the state scenic highway system which the department has designated as official state scenic highways that indicate that the highways are official state scenic highways. If at any time the department determines that the corridor protection program of local governmental agencies, with respect to any highway which has been designated as an official state scenic highway, no longer adequately carries out responsibility of the local governmental agencies for the protection of the scenic corridor, it may revoke the designation of the highway as an official state scenic highway and remove the signs which so indicate the highway.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 262.1. Section 262.1.

A local agency, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 65402 of the Government Code, shall coordinate its planning with, and obtain the approval from, the appropriate local planning agency on the location and construction of any new district facility that would be within the scenic corridor of any state scenic highway.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 262.5. Section 262.5.

(a) Whenever the department determines that any state highway within or traversing United States National Forest lands meets the standards for official state scenic highways, the department shall designate the highway as an official state scenic highway and shall so indicate the highway in any publications of the department or in any maps which are issued by the department to the public. (b) The department shall cause appropriate signs to be placed and maintained along those portions of the highways which the department has designated pursuant to subdivision (a) as official state scenic highways that indicate that those portions of the highways are official state scenic highways. (c) If at any time the department determines that a state highway, designated as an official state scenic highway pursuant to subdivision (a), no longer meets the standards for official state scenic highways, it may revoke the designation of the highway as an official state highway and remove the signs which so indicate the highway.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 263. Section 263.

The state scenic highway system is hereby established and shall be composed of the highways specified in this article. The highways listed in Sections 263.1 to 263.8, inclusive, are either eligible for designation as state scenic highways or have been so designated.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 263.1. Section 263.1.

The state scenic highway system shall include all of the following state routes: Routes 28, 35, 38, 52, 53, 62, 74, 75, 76, 89, 96, 97, 127, 128, 150, 151, 154, 156, 158, 161, 173, 197, 199, 203, 209, 221, 236, 239, 243, 247, 254, and 330 in their entirety.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 263.2. Section 263.2.

The state scenic highway system shall also include: Route 1 from: (a) Route 5 south of San Juan Capistrano to Route 19 near Long Beach. (b) Route 187 near Santa Monica to Route 101 near El Rio. (c) Route 101 at Las Cruces to Route 246 near Lompoc. (d) Route 227 south of Oceano to Route 101 near Pismo Beach. (e) Route 101 near San Luis Obispo to Route 35 near Daly City. (f) Route 35 in San Francisco to Route 101 near the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. (g) Route 101 near Marin City to Route 101 near Leggett. Route 2 from Route 210 in La Canada Flintridge to Route 138 via Wrightwood. Route 3 from: (a) Route 36 near Peanut to Route 299 near Douglas City. (b) Route 299 near Weaverville to Montague. Route 4 from: (a) Route 160 near Antioch to Route 84 near Brentwood. (b) Route 49 near Angels Camp to Route 89.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 263.3. Section 263.3.

The state scenic highway system shall also include: Route 5 from: (a) The international boundary near Tijuana to Route 75 near the south end of San Diego Bay. (b) San Diego opposite Coronado to Route 74 near San Juan Capistrano. (c) Route 210 near Tunnel Station to Route 126 near Castaic. (d) Route 152 west of Los Banos to Route 580 near Vernalis. (e) Route 44 near Redding to the Shasta Reservoir. (f) Route 89 near Mt. Shasta to Route 97 near Weed. (g) Route 3 near Yreka to the Oregon state line near Hilts. Route 8 from Sunset Cliffs Boulevard in San Diego to Route 98 near Coyote Wells. Route 9 from: (a) Route 1 near Santa Cruz to Route 236 near Boulder Creek. (b) Route 236 near Boulder Creek to Route 236 near Waterman Gap. (c) Route 236 near Waterman Gap to Route 35. (d) Saratoga to Route 17 near Los Gatos. (e) Blaney Plaza in Saratoga to Route 35. Route 12 from Route 101 near Santa Rosa to Route 121 near Sonoma. Route 13 from Route 24 to Route 580. Route 14 from Route 58 near Mojave to Route 395 near Little Lake. Route 15 from: (a) Route 76 near the San Luis Rey River to Route 91 near Corona. (b) Route 58 near Barstow to Route 127 near Baker. Route 16 from Route 20 to Capay. Route 17 from Route 1 near Santa Cruz to Route 9 near Los Gatos. Route 18 from Route 138 near Mt. Anderson to Route 247 near Lucerne Valley. Route 20 from: (a) Route 1 near Fort Bragg to Route 101 near Willits. (b) Route 101 near Calpella to Route 16. (c) Route 49 near Grass Valley to Route 80 near Emigrant Gap. Route 24 from the Alameda-Contra Costa county line to Route 680 in Walnut Creek. Route 25 from Route 198 to Route 156 near Hollister. Route 27 from Route 1 to Mulholland Drive. Route 29 from: (a) Route 37 near Vallejo to Route 221 near Napa. (b) The vicinity of Trancas Street in northwest Napa to Route 20 near Upper Lake. Route 33 from: (a) Route 101 near Ventura to Route 150. (b) Route 150 to Route 166 in Cuyama Valley. (c) Route 198 near Coalinga to Route 198 near Oilfields. Route 36 from: (a) Route 101 near Alton to Route 3 near Peanut. (b) Route 89 near Morgan Summit to Route 89 near Deer Creek Pass.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 263.4. Section 263.4.

The state scenic highway system shall also include: Route 37 from: (a) Route 251 near Nicasio to Route 101 near Novato. (b) Route 101 near Ignacio to Route 29 near Vallejo. Route 39 from Route 210 near Azusa to Route 2. Route 40 from Barstow to Needles. Route 41 from: (a) Route 1 near Morro Bay to Route 101 near Atascadero. (b) Route 46 near Cholame to Route 33. (c) Route 49 near Oakhurst to Yosemite National Park. Route 44 from Route 5 near Redding to Route 89 near Old Station. Route 46 from: (a) Route 1 near Cambria to Route 101 near Paso Robles. (b) Route 101 near Paso Robles to Route 41 near Cholame. Route 49 from: (a) Route 41 near Oakhurst to Route 120 near Moccasin. (b) Route 120 to Route 20 near Grass Valley. (c) Route 20 near Nevada City to Route 89 near Sattley. Route 50 from Route 49 near Placerville to the Nevada state line near Lake Tahoe. Route 57 from Route 90 to Route 60 near Industry. Route 58 from Route 14 near Mojave to Route 15 near Barstow. Route 68 from Monterey to Route 101 near Salinas. Route 70 from Route 149 near Wicks Corner to Route 89 near Blairsden. Route 71 from Route 91 near Corona to Route 83 north of Corona.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 263.5. Section 263.5.

The state scenic highway system shall also include: Route 78 from Route 79 near Santa Ysabel to Route 86 passing near Julian. Route 79 from: (a) Route 8 near Descanso to Route 78 near Julian. (b) Route 78 near Santa Ysabel to Route 371 near Aguanga. Route 80 from: (a) Route 280 near First Street in San Francisco to Route 61 in Oakland. (b) Route 20 near Emigrant Gap to the Nevada state line near Verdi, Nevada. Route 84 from Route 238 to Route 680 near Sunol. Route 88 from Route 49 in Jackson to the Nevada state line via Pine Grove, Silver Lake, and Kirkwood. Route 91 from Route 55 near Santa Ana Canyon to Route 15 near Corona. Route 92 from Route 1 near Half Moon Bay to Route 280 near Crystal Springs Lake. Route 94 from Route 125 near Spring Valley to Route 8 west of Jacumba.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 263.6. Section 263.6.

The state scenic highway system shall also include: Route 101 from: (a) Route 27 (Topanga Canyon Road) to Route 46 near Paso Robles. (b) Route 156 near Prunedale northeasterly to Route 156. (c) A point in Marin County opposite San Francisco to Route 1 near Marin City. (d) Route 37 near Ignacio to Route 37 near Novato. (e) Route 20 near Calpella to Route 20 near Willits. (f) Route 1 near Leggett to Route 199 near Crescent City. (g) Route 197 near Fort Dick to the Oregon state line. Route 108 from Route 49 near Sonora to Route 395. Route 111 from: (a) Bombay Beach in Salton Sea State Park to Route 195 near Mecca. (b) Route 74 near Palm Desert to Route 10 near Whitewater. Route 116 from Route 101 near Cotati to Route 1 near Jenner. Route 118 from Route 23 to DeSoto Avenue near Browns Canyon. Route 120 from: (a) Route 49 near Chinese Camp to Route 49 near Moccasin. (b) The east boundary of Yosemite National Park to Route 395 near Mono Lake. Route 121 from: (a) Route 37 near Sears Point to Route 12 near Sonoma. (b) Route 221 near Napa State Hospital to near the vicinity of Trancas Street in northeast Napa. Route 125 from Route 94 near Spring Valley to Route 8 near La Mesa. Route 126 from Route 150 near Santa Paula to Route 5 near Castaic.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 263.7. Section 263.7.

The state scenic highway system shall also include: Route 138 from Route 2 near Wrightwood to Route 18 near Mt. Anderson. Route 139 from Route 299 near Canby to the Oregon state line near Hatfield. Route 140 from Route 49 at Mariposa to Yosemite National Park near El Portal. Route 142 from the Orange-San Bernardino county line to Peyton Drive. Route 146 from Pinnacles National Monument to Route 25 in Bear Valley. Route 152 from: (a) Route 1 to the Santa Clara county line at Hecker Pass. (b) Route 156 near San Felipe to Route 5. Route 160 from Route 4 near Antioch to Sacramento. Route 163 from Ash Street in San Diego to Route 8. Route 166 from Route 101 near Santa Maria to Route 33 in Cuyama Valley. Route 168 from: (a) Route 65 near Clovis to Huntington Lake. (b) Camp Sabrina to Route 395. (c) Route 395 at Big Pine to Route 266 at Oasis. Route 174 from the Bear River to the Grass Valley city limits. Route 178 from the east boundary of Death Valley National Monument to Route 127 near Shoshone. Route 180 from: (a) Route 65 near Minkler to General Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park. (b) General Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park to Kings Canyon National Park boundary near Cedar Grove. Route 190 from Route 65 near Porterville to Route 127 near Death Valley Junction. Route 266 from the Nevada state line easterly of Oasis to Route 168 at Oasis.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 263.8. Section 263.8.

The state scenic highway system shall also include: Route 198 from: (a) Route 101 near San Lucas to Route 33 near Coalinga. (b) Route 33 near Oilfields to Route 5. (c) Route 99 near Goshen to the Sequoia National Park line. Route 210 from: (a) Route 5 near Tunnel Station to Route 134. (b) Route 330 near Highland to Route 10 near Redlands. Route 215 from Route 74 near Romoland to Route 74 near Perris. Route 251 from Route 37 near Nicasio to Route 1 near Point Reyes Station. Route 280 from Route 17 in Santa Clara County to Route 80 near First Street in San Francisco. Route 299 from: (a) Route 101 near Arcata to Route 96 near Willow Creek. (b) Route 3 near Weaverville to Route 5 near Redding. (c) Route 89 near Burney to Route 139 near Canby. Route 395 from Route 14 near Little Lake to Route 89 near Coleville. Route 580 from Route 5 southwest of Vernalis to Route 80. Route 680 from the Santa Clara-Alameda county line to Route 24 in Walnut Creek.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 280. Section 280.

(a) There is created within the state scenic highway system a system of California Historic Parkways. (b) California Historic Parkways are freeways that meet all of the following criteria: (1) The original construction was completed prior to 1945. (2) The department or the Office of Historic Preservation in the Department of Parks and Recreation announces or recognizes features of historical significance, including notable landmarks, historical sites, or natural or human achievements that exist or that occurred during the original construction of the parkway or in the immediately adjacent land area through which the parkway currently passes. (3) Any portion of the highway or corridor is bounded on one or both sides by federal, state, or local parkland, Native American lands or monuments, or other open space, greenbelt areas, natural habitat or wildlife preserves, or similar acreage used for or dedicated to historical or recreational uses. (4) Any portion of the highway is traversed, at the time of designation and by the department’s best count or estimate using existing information, by not less than 40,000 vehicles per day on an annual daily average basis.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 281. Section 281.

(a) The department, in consultation with the Office of Historic Preservation in the Department of Parks and Recreation, shall design signs and markers for exclusive use on California Historic Parkways that are distinct in color or other easily recognizable features from standard forms of signs on other state highways. (b) The department shall cause appropriate signs and markers to be placed and maintained along those portions of the highways which have been designated as California Historic Parkways. (c) The department shall include all California Historic Parkways on any maps or publications it issues that describe or depict State Scenic Highways.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 282. Section 282.

A local agency, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 65402 of the Government Code, shall coordinate its planning with, and obtain approval from, the appropriate local planning agency with regard to the construction of any agency facility that would be located within any California Historic Parkway.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 283. Section 283.

That part of the California highway system frequently referred to as the Pasadena Freeway, which is the section of Interstate Highway Route 110 lying between milepost 25.7 and milepost 31.9 is hereby designated a California Historic Parkway pursuant to Section 280, and is named the Arroyo Seco Parkway.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 284. Section 284.

That part of the California highway system frequently referred to as the Cabrillo Freeway, which is the segment of State Highway Route 163 between postmiles 0.5 and 3.0 through Balboa Park in the City of San Diego, is hereby designated a California Historic Parkway and is named the Cabrillo Parkway.

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