California Code, Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 969.5

Such boards may, after they have determined by a resolution adopted by a four-fifths vote of their membership that general county interest demands the improvement or repair of a privately owned road, improve or repair such road in consideration of the grant or lease of a right of way to the county for its own use or the use of the State, any political subdivision or other appropriate public agency for the public purposes specified in the resolution.

Such improvements or repairs shall be made and paid for in like manner as improvements or repairs of county highways.

By the same authorization the board may rent to the owner of land over which such a road has been open to the public for more than five years the machinery and equipment necessary to repair such road and the approaches thereto and any protecting embankments there may be, charging therefor by way of rental the cost of labor and other necessary expenses in addition to a reasonable allowance for depreciation of machinery.

Proceedings under this section shall not cause the road to become a county highway.