Streets and Highways Code section 909

No agreement entered into by the board of supervisors for the purchase, hire, or rental of any apparatus used in the construction, improvement, or maintenance of highways shall create a charge against the county, unless the agreement complies with all of the following:

(a)

The agreement is in writing.

(b)

The writing is signed by the chair of the board of supervisors.

(c)

A copy of the writing is certified by and filed with the clerk of the board of supervisors.
All of these writings and copies are public documents.
If a county purchases, hires, or rents any apparatus specified herein pursuant to a local purchasing ordinance, including competitive bidding procedures, it does not have to comply with subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) herein to create a charge against the county. Compliance with the local purchasing ordinance shall be sufficient to create a charge against the county for said purchase, hire, or rental.

Source: Section 909, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=SHC§ionNum=909.­ (updated Jan. 1, 2003; accessed Jun. 18, 2026).

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Verified:
Jun. 18, 2026

§ 909's source at ca​.gov