California Coordinate System

(a) The "California Coordinate System of 1927" is based on the North American Datum of 1927, established by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.

(b) The "California Coordinate System of 1983" is based on the North American Datum of 1983, established by the National Geodetic Survey.

(c) Definitions include:
• "NAD27" and "NAD83" referencing the respective datums
• "CCS27" and "CCS83" for the coordinate systems
• "CCS2022" for the California Coordinate System of 2022
• "GPS" means "Global Positioning System and includes other, similar space-based systems"

(d) "The California portion of the system of plane coordinates defined as the State Plane Coordinates System of 2022" shall be known as the "California Coordinate System of 2022."

(e) "State Plane Coordinates" refers only to the three coordinate systems: CCS27, CCS83, and CCS2022.

For CCS27, the state is divided into seven zones. For CCS83, the state is divided into six zones.

CCS27 uses Lambert conformal conic projection based on Clarke's Spheroid of 1866 (NAD27). CCS83 uses Lambert conformal conic projection based on the Geodetic Reference System of 1980 (NAD83).

Control Points:
• CCS27 zones 1-6: Northing = 000.00 feet; Easting = 2,000,000 feet
• CCS27 zone 7: Northing = 4,160,926.74 feet; Easting = 4,186,692.58 feet
• CCS83 zones: Northing = 500,000 meters; Easting = 2,000,000 meters

The statute delineates which California counties (and certain Channel Islands) comprise each zone, with Zone 7 of CCS27 (Los Angeles County) being absorbed into Zone 5 of CCS83.

Zone 1 coordinates shall be named, and, on any map on which they are used, they shall be designated as "CCS27, Zone 1 or CCS83, Zone 1."

Standard parallels are positioned at north latitudes 40°00' and 41°40', where the scale remains exact. The control point is established at the intersection of the central meridian (122°00' west longitude) and the parallel at 39°20' north latitude.

Zone 2 coordinates shall be named and designated on maps as "CCS27, Zone 2 or CCS83, Zone 2."

The standard parallels of CCS27, Zone 2 and CCS83, Zone 2 are positioned at north latitudes 38 degrees 20 minutes and 39 degrees 50 minutes, with exact scale along these parallels. The coordinate control point is located at the intersection of the zone's central meridian at 122 degrees 00 minutes west longitude with the parallel at 37 degrees 40 minutes north latitude.

Zone 3 coordinates shall be named and designated on maps as "CCS27, Zone 3 or CCS83, Zone 3."

Standard parallels are at north latitudes 37°04' and 38°26', where the scale maintains exact measurements. The control point is located where the zone's central meridian (120°30' west longitude) intersects with the 36°30' north latitude parallel.

Zone 4 coordinates shall be named, and, on any map on which they are used, they shall be designated as "CCS27, Zone 4 or CCS83, Zone 4."

Standard parallels are positioned at north latitudes of 36°00' and 37°15', where the scale remains accurate. The control point sits at the intersection of the zone's central meridian (119°00' west longitude) and the 35°20' north latitude parallel.

Zone 5 coordinates shall be named and designated on maps as "CCS27, Zone 5 or CCS83, Zone 5."

The standard parallels for both CCS27, Zone 5 and CCS83, Zone 5 are positioned at north latitudes 34°02' and 35°28', where the scale is exact along these parallels. The coordinate control point is located at the intersection of the zone's central meridian (118°00' west longitude) and the 33°30' north latitude parallel.

Zone 6 coordinates shall be designated as "CCS27, Zone 6 or CCS83, Zone 6" on any maps where they appear.

Standard parallels are at north latitudes 32° 47' and 33° 53', where the scale is exact along these parallels. The control point is located at the intersection of the zone's central meridian (116° 15' west longitude) and the parallel at 32° 10' north latitude.

Zone 7 coordinates shall be named, and on any map where they appear, they must be labeled as "CCS27, Zone 7."

The standard parallels for CCS27, Zone 7 are positioned at north latitudes 33°52' and 34°25', with exact scale maintained along these lines. The coordinate control point is situated where the zone's central meridian (118°20' west longitude) intersects the 34°08' north latitude parallel.

Note: Zone 7 exists only in CCS27. In CCS83, the area formerly covered by Zone 7 (Los Angeles County) was absorbed into Zone 5.

Coordinates comprise two distances: the "East x-coordinate" measuring distance east of the Y axis, and the "North y-coordinate" measuring distance north of the X axis. These distances are "expressed in feet and decimals of a foot or meters and decimals of a meter."

For CCS27 and CCS83, the U.S. Survey foot applies (1 foot = 1200/3937 meters).
For CCS2022, the international foot standard governs (1 foot = 0.3048 meters).

The Y axis remains parallel with each zone's central meridian, while the X axis maintains perpendicularity to that meridian.

If the survey of any parcel of land extends from one coordinate zone into another, the positions of all points delineated upon the map thereof may be referred to either of these zones. The zone which is used shall be specifically named in the title upon the map.

Prior to January 1, 2000, state plane coordinates shall be based on, or derived from, the plane coordinates of monumented second order or better horizontal control stations that have been published by the USC&GS or NGS. Any survey or map that uses those coordinates shall be based on, and show, established field-observed direct connections to at least two stations of corresponding or better accuracy whose credentials are based upon published stations of the USC&GS or NGS. The geodetic positions of CCS27 and CCS83 stations that are used to increase the density of control and that purport to be of second order or better accuracy shall have been surveyed in conformity with the applicable survey standards and specifications in effect at the time of the survey as defined by the FGCS.

After December 31, 1999, and prior to January 1, 2006, any survey or map that uses state plane coordinates shall be based on, and show, field-observed direct connections to at least two horizontal reference stations meeting one of three criteria: stations within the California Spatial Reference Network (CSRN), stations outside California meeting CSRN requirements except location, or stations appearing on filed maps whose positions were determined using Global Positioning System methods following specified standards with connections to CSRN stations.

State plane coordinates are permissible for identifying property on maps, surveys, conveyances, and instruments affecting real property titles. However, to establish constructive notice upon recording, the property identification must also reference recorded data from an office whose records create constructive notice. The recorded data must independently identify the property without relying on the coordinates, and "in case of conflict between them, the references to that recorded data shall be controlling for the purpose of determining constructive notice under the recording laws."

The use of the term "California Coordinate System" on any map or document or in any field notes shall be suffixed either with "27" (shown as "CCS27") for coordinates based on NAD27, with "83" (shown as "CCS83") for coordinates based on NAD83, and with "2022" (shown as CCS2022) for coordinates based upon NATRF2022 or PATRF2022.

This chapter does not impair or invalidate land titles, legal descriptions, or jurisdictional or land boundaries and, further, this chapter does not impair or invalidate references to, or the use of, CCS 27 coordinates, except as provided in Section 8817.

This chapter does not prohibit the use of new surveying technologies or techniques for which FGCS specifications or other accepted specifications have not yet been published.