---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 204"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "204"
heading: "Exclusive jurisdiction ceded to United States by California"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/204"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter XXII — Lassen Volcanic National Park"
---

# §204. Exclusive jurisdiction ceded to United States by California


Sole and exclusive jurisdiction is assumed by the United States over the territory which is included as of April 26, 1928, or thereafter within the Lassen Volcanic National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), saving, however, to the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of California the right to serve civil or criminal process within the limits of the aforesaid [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) in suits or prosecutions for or on account of rights acquired, obligations incurred, or crimes committed in said [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) outside of said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3); and saving further to the said [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) the right to tax [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) and corporations, their franchises and property on the lands included in said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3), and the right to fix and collect license fees for fishing in said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3); and saving also to the [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) residing in said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) now, or hereafter, the right to vote at all elections held within the county or [counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d) in which said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) is situated. All the laws applicable to places under sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the United States shall have force and effect in said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3). All fugitives from justice [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) refuge in said [park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) shall be subject to the same laws as refugees from justice found in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of California.


## Source credit

(Apr. 26, 1928, ch. 438, § 1, 45 Stat. 463.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

A provision accepting the act of the California Legislature which ceded to the United States exclusive jurisdiction over the territory referred to in this section has been omitted as executed.