Residency Requirements to Buy a Fishing License

September 5, 2014

Question: I recently went to buy a California fishing license and noted I must declare that I have resided in California continuously for the past six months. My issue is I have residences in California, Idaho and Arizona. I utilize all of them during the year but don’t spend more than six months in any one of them. Do I have to buy a non-resident license in all three states? I’m a little confused so can you please clarify the law for my situation. (G. Dzida, Redlands)

Answer: California law is clear on the definition of a “resident.” A resident is defined as any person who has resided continuously in California for six months or more immediately before the date of application for a license, or persons on active military duty with the armed forces of the United States or an auxiliary branch or Job Corps enrollees.

If you are not a California resident by this definition, you cannot purchase a California resident license. However, if you have an Arizona fishing license with Colorado River Special Use Stamp affixed to it, you may take fish from a boat or other floating device on the Colorado River or adjacent waters that form the California-Arizona border.

if you can afford a house in three states, you can afford to buy the out of state fishing license. 

if you can afford a house in three states, you can afford to buy the out of state fishing license.

X2

Another case of reading too much into the law.  If it states 6 months, it is 6 months.

Answer: California law is clear on the definition of a “resident.” A resident is defined as any person who has resided continuously in California for six months or more immediately before the date of application for a license, or persons on active military duty with the armed forces of the United States or an auxiliary branch or Job Corps enrollees.

That's the equivelent of: 

"The definition of apple is clear. It means something that is an apple."

Genius!


There is nothing clear about the definition of "resided continuously". What if I go to Europe for two weeks?  A month?  Does it matter where I've registered to vote, registered my vehicle, and pay taxes?  How about if I am working on a construction project in brookings harbor for a year but sleep in a trailer in smith river, and never change my drivers license, vehicle registration, or voting registration from Wyoming. Now am I continuously residing in California?

And that's the Ca. Govt at work for ya :0(
DFW says resident after 6 months, DMV says resident after 15 days, and the wardens only check CA ID to verify?
Not very consistent state wide.