Federal

Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters

1,569 sections, each with the official text and a plain-English explanation of what it means for you.

• § 4001 — Assessments
• § 4001a — Consultation required
• § 4002 — National harmful algal bloom and hypoxia program
• § 4003 — Comprehensive research plan and action strategy
• § 4004 — Northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxia
• § 4004a — South Florida harmful algal blooms and hypoxia
• § 4005 — Great Lakes hypoxia and harmful algal blooms
• § 4006 — Protection of States’ rights
• § 4007 — Effect on other Federal authority
• § 4008 — Definitions
• § 4009 — Authorization of appropriations
• § 401 — Construction of bridges, causeways, dams or dikes generally; exemptions
• § 4010 — Hypoxia or harmful algal bloom of national significance
• § 402 — Construction of bridges, etc., over Illinois and Mississippi Canal
• § 403 — Obstruction of navigable waters generally; wharves; piers, etc.; excavations and filling in
• § 403a — Creation or continuance of obstruction of navigable waters
• § 403b — Lighting at docks and boat launching facilities
• § 404 — Establishment of harbor lines; conditions to grants for extension of piers, etc.
• § 405 — Establishment and modification of harbor lines on Potomac and Anacostia Rivers
• § 406 — Penalty for wrongful construction of bridges, piers, etc.; removal of structures
• § 407 — Deposit of refuse in navigable waters generally
• § 407a — Deposit of debris of mines and stamp works
• § 408 — Taking possession of, use of, or injury to harbor or river improvements
• § 408a — Expediting approval of modifications and alterations of projects by non-Federal interests
• § 409 — Obstruction of navigable waters by vessels; floating timber; marking and removal of sunken vessels
• § 41 — Osage River, Missouri
• § 410 — Exception as to floating loose timber, sack rafts, etc.; violation of regulations; penalty
• § 4101 — Definitions
• § 4102 — Coordination regarding assessment and acquisition by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of unmanned maritime systems
• § 4103 — Regular assessment of unmanned maritime systems to support National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration missions
• § 4104 — Acquisition of unmanned maritime systems
• § 4105 — Reports on unmanned maritime systems and usage for mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• § 4106 — Funding and additional authorities
• § 411 — Penalty for wrongful deposit of refuse; use of or injury to harbor improvements, and obstruction of navigable waters generally
• § 412 — Liability of masters, pilots, etc., and of vessels engaged in violations
• § 413 — Duty of United States attorneys and other Federal officers in enforcement of provisions; arrest of offenders
• § 414 — Vessel removal by Corps of Engineers
• § 415 — Summary removal of water craft obstructing navigation; liability of owner, lessee, or operator
• § 416 — Appropriations for removal of sunken water craft
• § 417 — Expenses of investigations by Department of the Army
• § 418 — Provisions for protection of New York Harbor unaffected
• § 419 — Regulation by Secretary governing transportation and dumping of dredgings, refuse, etc., into navigable waters; oyster lands; appropriations
• § 419a — Management practices to extend capacity and useful life of dredged material disposal areas
• § 42 — Platte River, Missouri
• § 420 — Piers and cribs on Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers
• § 4201 — Definitions
• § 421 — Deposit of refuse, etc., in Lake Michigan near Chicago
• § 4211 to 4219 — Transferred
• § 422 — Modification and extension of harbor lines at Chicago
• § 423 — Establishment of pierhead and bulkhead lines in Wilmington Harbor, California
• § 4231 to 4237 — Transferred
• § 424 — Establishment of pierhead or bulkhead lines in Newport Harbor, California
• § 424a — Modification of harbor lines in Newport Harbor, California
• § 425 — Omitted
• § 4251 — Incentive for fishermen to collect and dispose of plastic found at sea
• § 426 — Investigations concerning erosion of shores of coastal and lake waters
• § 426–1 — Coastal Engineering Research Center; establishment; powers and functions
• § 426–2 — Board on Coastal Engineering Research
• § 426–3 — Transfer of functions of Beach Erosion Board
• § 4261 — Statement of policy on international cooperation to combat marine debris
• § 4262 — Prioritization of efforts and assistance to combat marine debris and improve plastic waste management
• § 4263 — United States leadership in international FORA
• § 4264 — Enhancing international outreach and partnership of United States agencies involved in marine debris activities
• § 4265 — Consideration of marine debris in negotiating international agreements
• § 426a — Additional investigations concerning erosion of shores of coastal and lake waters; payment of costs; “shores” defined
• § 426b — Applicability of existing laws; projects referred to Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors
• § 426c — Report by Coastal Engineering Research Center
• § 426d — Payment of expenses
• § 426e — Federal aid in protection of shores
• § 426e–1 — Shore protection projects
• § 426e–2 — Clarification of munition disposal authorities
• § 426e–3 — Coastal storm damage reduction contracts
• § 426f — Reimbursements
• § 426g — Storm and hurricane restoration and impact minimization program
• § 426g–1 — State and regional plans
• § 426h — Repealed. Pub. L. 110–114, title II, § 2038(b) , Nov. 8, 2007 , 121 Stat. 1100
• § 426h–1 — Definitions
• § 426i — Shore damage prevention or mitigation
• § 426i–1 — Repealed. Pub. L. 113–121, title I, § 1014(c)(2) , June 10, 2014 , 128 Stat. 1222
• § 426i–2 — National coastal data bank
• § 426j — Repealed. Pub. L. 110–114, title II, § 2037(b)(1) , Nov. 8, 2007 , 121 Stat. 1096
• § 426k — Five year demonstration program to temporarily increase diversion of water from Lake Michigan at Chicago, Illinois
• § 426l — Protection of Lake Ontario
• § 426m — Collection and removal of drift and debris from publicly maintained commercial boat harbors and adjacent land and water areas
• § 426n — Technical assistance to States and local governments; cost sharing
• § 426o — Great Lakes material disposal
• § 426o–1 — Great Lakes dredging levels adjustment
• § 426o–2 — Great Lakes navigation and protection
• § 426p — Corps of Engineers
• § 427 to 430 — Repealed. July 31, 1945, ch. 334, § 5 , 59 Stat. 508
• § 4281 — Strategy for improving post-consumer materials management and water management
• § 4282 — Grant programs
• § 43 — Saint Marys River, Ohio and Indiana
• § 431 to 437 — Repealed. Pub. L. 91–224, title I, § 108 , Apr. 3, 1970 , 84 Stat. 113
• § 44 — Sturgeon Bay, Illinois
• § 441 — Deposit of refuse prohibited; penalty
• § 442 — Liability of officers of towing vessel
• § 443 — Permit for dumping; penalty for taking or towing boat or scow without permit
• § 444 — Dumping at other place than designated dumping grounds; penalty; person liable; excuses for deviation
• § 445 — Equipment and marking of boats or scows
• § 446 — Inspectors; appointment, powers, and duties
• § 447 — Bribery of inspector; penalty
• § 448 — Return of permit; penalty for failure to return
• § 449 — Disposition of dredged matter; persons liable; penalty
• § 45 — Swan Creek, Toledo, Ohio
• § 450 — Liability of vessel
• § 451 — Supervisor of harbor; appointment and duties
• § 451a — Harbors subject to this subchapter
• § 451b — Waters included within subchapter
• § 452 — Taking shellfish or otherwise interfering with navigation in New York Harbor channels; penalty; arrest and procedure
• § 453 — Regulations for navigation of Ambrose Channel; exclusion of tows and sailing vessels
• § 454 — Consent of Congress to obstruction of waters by New York City
• § 46 — Tchula Lake, Mississippi
• § 461 to 464 — Repealed. Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 854, § 1636 , 31 Stat. 1434
• § 465 — Authority to dredge; riparian rights of United States
• § 466 to 466g — Transferred
• § 466g–1 — Controversies involving construction or application of interstate compacts and pollution of waters
• § 466h to 466l — Transferred
• § 466m, 466n — Repealed. Pub. L. 91–224, title I, § 102 , Apr. 3, 1970 , 84 Stat. 91
• § 467 — Definitions
• § 467a — Inspection of dams
• § 467b — Investigation reports to Governors
• § 467c — Determination of danger to human life and property
• § 467d — National inventory of dams and low-head dams
• § 467e — Interagency Committee on Dam Safety
• § 467f — National dam safety program
• § 467f–1 — Lock and dam security
• § 467f–2 — Rehabilitation of high hazard potential dams
• § 467g — Research
• § 467g–1 — Dam safety training
• § 467g–2 — Public awareness and outreach for dam safety
• § 467h — Reports
• § 467i — Statutory construction
• § 467j — Authorization of appropriations
• § 467k to 467m — Repealed. Pub. L. 104–303, title II, § 215(c)(2) , Oct. 12, 1996 , 110 Stat. 3685
• § 467n — Recovery of dam modification costs required for safety purposes
• § 467o — Repealed. Pub. L. 118–272, div. A, title I, § 1132(e) , Jan. 4, 2025 , 138 Stat. 3024
• § 47 — Eagle Lake, Louisiana-Mississippi
• § 471 — Transferred
• § 472 — Transferred
• § 473 — Repealed. Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a) , Sept. 6, 1966 , 80 Stat. 637
• § 474 — Repealed. Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXVIII, § 11808(a)(1) , Dec. 23, 2022 , 136 Stat. 4165
• § 475 — Regulations for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
• § 476 — Restrictions on tanker traffic in Puget Sound and adjacent waters
• § 48 — Noxubee River, Mississippi
• § 49 — Bayou Saint John in New Orleans
• § 491 — Approval of and deviation from plans; exemptions
• § 492 — Bridge as post route; limitation as to charges against Government; telegraph and telephone lines
• § 493 — Use of railroad bridges by other railroad companies
• § 494 — Obstruction of navigation; alterations and removals; lights and signals; draws
• § 494a — Study of bridges over navigable waters
• § 495 — Violations of orders respecting bridges and accessory works
• § 496 — Time for commencement and completion of bridge
• § 497 — “Persons” defined
• § 498 — Reservation of right to alter or repeal
• § 498a — Repealed. Pub. L. 100–17, title I, § 135(b) , Apr. 2, 1987 , 101 Stat. 174
• § 498b — Repealed. Pub. L. 100–17, title I, § 135(c) , Apr. 2, 1987 , 101 Stat. 174
• § 499 — Regulations for drawbridges
• § 5 — Abolition of tolls on Government canals, canalized rivers, etc.; expense of operation, repairs to and reconstruction of canals, etc.; Panama Canal excepted; levies by non-Federal interest
• § 50 — Turtle Bay and Turtle Bayou, Texas
• § 500 — Deflection of current; liability to riparian owners
• § 501 — Omitted
• § 502 — Alteration, removal, or repair of bridge or accessory obstructions to navigation
• § 503 to 507 — Repealed. Pub. L. 100–17, title I, § 135(d) , Apr. 2, 1987 , 101 Stat. 174
• § 508 — Amount of tolls
• § 51 — Scajaquada Creek, New York
• § 511 — Definitions
• § 512 — Obstruction of navigation
• § 513 — Notice, hearings, and findings
• § 514 — Submission and approval of general plans and specifications
• § 515 — Contracts for project; guaranty of cost
• § 516 — Apportionment of cost
• § 517 — Payment of share of United States
• § 518 — Authorization of appropriations
• § 519 — Noncompliance with orders; penalties; removal of bridge
• § 52 — Park River, Connecticut
• § 520 — Review of findings and orders
• § 521 — Regulations and orders
• § 522 — Existing provisions of law
• § 523 — Relocation of bridges
• § 524 — Applicability of administrative procedure provisions
• § 525 — Construction and operation of bridges
• § 526 — Repealed. Pub. L. 100–17, title I, § 135(e) , Apr. 2, 1987 , 101 Stat. 174
• § 526a — Repealed. Pub. L. 100–17, title I, § 135(f) , Apr. 2, 1987 , 101 Stat. 174
• § 527 — Acquisition of interstate bridges by public agencies; amount of damages
• § 528 — Statement of construction costs of privately owned interstate bridges; investigation of costs; conclusiveness of findings; review
• § 529 — Repealed. Pub. L. 100–17, title I, § 135(e) , Apr. 2, 1987 , 101 Stat. 174
• § 53 — Benton Harbor Canal, Michigan
• § 530 — Bridges included and excluded
• § 531 — International bridges
• § 532 — Eminent domain
• § 533 — Penalties for violations
• § 534 — Conveyance of right, title, and interest of United States in bridges transferred to States or political subdivisions; terms and conditions
• § 535 — Congressional consent to construction, maintenance, and operation of international bridges; conditions of consent
• § 535a — Congressional consent to State agreements with Canada and Mexico; Secretary of State’s approval of agreements
• § 535b — Presidential approval; recommendations of Federal officials
• § 535c — Approval of Secretary; commencement and completion requirements; extension of time limits
• § 535d — Permitting for international bridges
• § 535e — Ownership
• § 535f — Applicability of provisions