California Vehicle Code definition of
Highway
CVC Section 360. "Highway" is a way or place of whatever nature, publicly
maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of
vehicular travel. Highway includes street.
CVC Section 527. (a) "Road" means any existing vehicle route established before
January 1, 1979, with significant evidence of prior regular travel
by vehicles subject to registration pursuant to Article 1 (commencing
with Section 4000) of Chapter 1 of Division 3; provided, that "road"
does not mean any route traversed exclusively by bicycles as defined
in Section 39001, motorcycles as defined in Section 400,
motor-driven cycles as defined in Section 405, or off-highway motor
vehicles as defined in Section 38012.
(b) Even though nature may alter or eliminate portions of an
existing vehicle route, the route shall still be considered a road
where there is evidence of periodic use.
(c) A vehicle route need not necessarily be a publicly or
privately maintained surface to be a road, as defined, for purposes
of this section. Nothing contained herein shall pertain to any
property in an incorporated area or properties held in private
ownership.
(d) This section is definitional only and nothing contained herein
shall be deemed to affect, alter, create, or destroy any right,
title, or interest in real property, including, but not limited to,
any permit, license, or easement; nor shall this chapter be deemed to
affect the liability, or lack thereof, of any owner of an interest
of real property based upon the use, possession, or ownership of such
interest in real property or the entry upon such property by any
person.
(e) This section shall only apply in a county where the board of
supervisors has adopted a resolution or enacted an ordinance
providing for such application.
CVC Section 530. A "roadway" is that portion of a highway improved, designed,
or ordinarily used for vehicular travel.
CVC Section 590. "Street" is a way or place of whatever nature, publicly
maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of
vehicular travel. Street includes highway.
CVC Section 591. A "street" or "highway" shall not include those portions of a
way or place in or upon which construction, alteration, or repair
work is being performed insofar as the equipment performing such work
and its operation are concerned. Where the work consists of a
street or highway project, the limits of the project as shown or
described in the plans or specifications of the awarding body shall
be so excluded with reference to the equipment actually engaged in
performing the work. The authority having jurisdiction over such way
or place may include any or all of the requirements set forth in
Divisions 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 in any permit issued for work on such
way or place and the awarding body on any such street or highway
project may include such requirements in the specifications for such
project. It is the intention of the Legislature, in enacting this
section, that this section shall not be construed to relieve any
person from the duty of exercising due care.