Office of the General Counsel

CDFW's General Counsel advises and reports to the Director on legal matters; conducts legal actions and directs the State Attorney General in representing the Department; and provides in-house legal services to CDFW divisions and regions.

During regular business hours at the address on this website, CDFW’s Office of General Counsel is authorized to accept personal service of process on behalf of the Department, Director, Chief Deputy Director, Wildlife Conservation Board, and Wildlife Conservation Board’s Executive Director. Alternatively, CDFW’s Office of General Counsel will accept service on behalf of these individuals and entities at serviceofprocess@wildlife.ca.gov, or you may leave a message at the Office of General Counsel’s main number (916) 654-3821 and an attorney will respond to arrange for service. CDFW’s Office of General Counsel will not accept deposition subpoenas or subpoenas for personal appearance, on behalf of any other CDFW or Wildlife Conservation Board employee. Each employee must be served personally at their designated office location.

Frequently Requested Resources

• Public Records Act Requests
• Regulations implementing the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) are found in Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations(opens in new tab) as follows:
  • Article 1. Take Prohibition; Permits for incidental take of Endangered Species, Threatened Species and Candidate Species (§§ 783.0-783.8)
  • Article 2. Take Incidental to Routine and Ongoing Agricultural Activities (§§ 786.0-786.8)
• Additional information on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
• Persons bringing legally taken fish or game into California need to complete a Declaration for Entry form.
• For information on obtaining an agreement to substantially divert or obstruct; change the bed, channel, or bank; or use material from a river, stream, or lake, see Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreements.