Cal. Harbors and Navigation Code § 4017

A board of supervisors of a county may grant any railroad corporation authority to construct a wharf on or in front of any lands owned by it bordering on any navigable bay, inlet, lake, creek, slough or arm of the sea situated in or bounding the county, with a license to take tolls for its use for the term of the corporate existence of the railroad corporation, not exceeding fifty years, whenever the board finds the use of the wharf or pier is necessary to the exercise of the franchise of the railroad corporation for terminal purposes. The authority may be granted without offering it for sale. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to limit the powers of a board to grant the right to railroad corporations to build and construct for terminal purposes on and in front of any land owned by it a wharf of the width necessary for the carrying on of the business of such railroad at such terminal. The wharf may extend to the length that may be desirable, not exceeding one thousand feet, if it does not prevent navigation. There is excluded from the operation of this section any and all territory and property under the jurisdiction or control of any incorporated city or town or any board of State harbor commissioners. All of the provisions of this chapter not in conflict with anything in this section contained are applicable to all proceedings under this section.