The purpose of this Chapter and of any Rules, Regulations, specifications and standards adopted, pursuant thereto, is to control and regulate the development and/or subdivision of any land for any purpose whatsoever. Control and regulation is necessary to provide for the orderly growth and harmonious development of the territory and to achieve various purposes including: to secure adequate provisions for water supply, drainage, sanitary sewerage and other health requirements and to permit the conveyance of land by accurate legal description.

This Chapter defines property and ownership in general and contains various rules regarding the property of land, fixtures and wild animals. This Act defines “ownership”, “property”, “real property” “land” and “appurtenances” and contains rules relative to ownership of real property. The Act also contains a clause on the ownership of wild animals. The Act declares that animals wild by nature are the subject of ownership, while living, only when on the land of the person claiming them, or when tamed, or taken and held in possession, or disabled and immediately pursued.

This Chapter provides for public access to the ocean shore, i.e. land between the mean low waterline and series of lines connecting angle points prescribed in section 3. Extensive areas of ocean shore are inaccessible to the public due to the absence of public rights-of-way and the ocean is a vital part of the patrimony of the people of Guam and is a major source of recreation and livelihood. In order to safeguard access to the ocean shore this Chapter provides for protection and maintenance of traditional rights of way to the ocean.