# California — Dam safety hazard classification, inspection frequency, and owner obligations by US state

For California, hazard classification is High; classification criteria is Expected to cause loss of at least one human life; inspection frequency is annually; mandatory is yes; inspector qualification is Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD), recorded from its source on 2026-08-16.

- **State:** California
- **Hazard classification:** High
- **Classification criteria:** Expected to cause loss of at least one human life. _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Inspection frequency:** annually
- **Mandatory:** yes
- **Inspector qualification:** Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD)
- **Statute:** California Water Code

## What the source says

> Expected to cause loss of at least one human life.

## Source

- https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/All-Programs/Division-of-Safety-of-Dams/Files/Publications/Division-of-Safety-of-Dams-Definitions-for-Downstream-Hazard-and-Condition-Assessment.pdf

Last verified: 2026-08-16. Review by: 2027-08-16.
Part of [Dam safety hazard classification, inspection frequency, and owner obligations by US state](https://referencesource.org/state-dam-safety-classification/).