NOTE: On January 14, 2021, the City of Oakland provided an update regarding parking enforcement -- that Residential Permit Parking enforcement will resume February 1, 2021. That announcement is available online here.
In a growing effort to provide cleaner streets and sidewalks in Oakland neighborhoods, the City of Oakland will resume parking management operations November 9.
The City’s goal is to provide cleaner streets, and hopes that vehicle owners will resume moving their vehicles to comply with street sweeping schedules and avoid citations. Parking enforcement staff have been distributing warning fliers on vehicle windshields in neighborhoods that will be affected. The City will provide no-penalty warning citations through Dec. 31, 2020. Vehicle owners are entitled to ONE warning citation for violations of O.M.C. 10.28.240 in that time, and are subject to penalties for subsequent and other violations.
“Oaklanders need clean streets in their neighborhoods now more than ever. We’re hoping that by announcing loud and clear that parking enforcement is coming back to support this effort, we can avoid writing as many tickets as possible and instead keep our eye on the ball: providing cleaner streets and sidewalks,” Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said. “This is especially important now, as we are approaching the onset of winter weather that can contribute to flooding and other major issues if our curbs aren’t regularly swept.”
"We greatly appreciate our dedicated City of Oakland staff who are continuing to keep Oakland clean during these challenging times,” Oakland City Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas (District 2) said. “Trash and blight accumulation are huge concerns in District 2 from downtown to the Lake to San Antonio. We look forward to all working together to ensure our streets and sidewalks are clean and safe."
“Keeping our streets clean and gutters clear of debris is always important, especially as we enter the winter months and rainy season,” Oakland City Councilmember Loren Taylor (District 6) said. “I hope that this advance warning about our plans to resume parking enforcement will avoid fines and penalties, but instead ensure that our street sweepers are able to effectively deliver the clean streets our communities demand.”
When the Alameda County shelter-in-place order took effect in March, the City suspended several parking management operations, including enforcement of the City’s network of street sweeping corridors. Despite efforts at voluntary compliance, the suspension of enforcement has had a direct impact on street sweeping operations. City crews have continued working street sweeping routes, but when vehicle owners don’t move their vehicles, street sweeping equipment cannot access the curb.
For a sense of comparison, in a six-month period between March 16 and September 15, 2019 compared to the same period following shelter-in-place orders this year, street sweepers collected 270 fewer tons of debris. In other words, hundreds of tons of trash and debris which would have been picked up by street sweepers is instead accumulating in gutters, clogging storm drains, and littering our neighborhoods. The City continues to enforce other parking regulations in service of vibrant commercial districts, public safety and public health, including:
- Parking meters
- Red curbs, yellow curbs, white curbs
- Blue curbs and spaces
- Fire hydrants
- Sidewalk and crosswalk blocking
- Double-parking and bike lane violations
- Wheelchair ramp obstruction
- Essential construction work and other “No Parking” signage
- Unauthorized use of disabled person parking placards
Enforcement of Resident Parking Permit (RPP) areas remains suspended while staff completes an analysis that includes a survey of permit holders.
The City will maintain standard pricing at all street meters and in City-owned garages and lots. Shoppers are reminded that parking at street meters and in metered City parking lots is free on Sundays year-round. Time limits still apply.
To request parking enforcement assistance or for more information, contact OAK311 by dialing 311 or 510-615-5566, e-mailing OAK311@oaklandca.gov, reporting online at 311.oaklandca.gov, or using the free OAK311 mobile app for Apple and Android devices.