To help reduce litter and plastics in our environment, the City of Oakland (City) adopted a Reusable Foodware Ordinance (Ordinance) in December 2023. The Ordinance aims to: (1) reduce the amount of plastic pollution in our environment, (2) prioritize the use of reusable foodware over single-use disposable foodware, and (3) ensure single-use foodware is free of harmful chemicals.
Learn Oakland's recycling requirements for building permits and find help below.
Parties collecting, transporting or disposing of construction and demolition (C&D) debris in Oakland are required to obtain a Non-Exclusive Franchise (NEF) from the City of Oakland, (with limited exceptions, as described below).
If you need to remove a tree as part of a permitted Construction Project, please follow the Tree Removal Permit application instructions below.
The Obstruction of View Corridors Ordinance (OMC 15.52) allows for pruning certain trees to eliminate or minimize view obstructions.
The Sewer Services Division of Oakland Public Works is responsible for performing preventive maintenance to over 934 miles of sewer main, ranging from six inches to over 66 inches in diameter.
Smoke Testing is used to detect issues in the sewer. The smoke is non-toxic and non-hazardous and is manufactured specifically for this purpose.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) is spearheading an effort to keep the Bay clean
You can find answers to common questions here.
A creek is a watercourse that is a naturally occurring swale or depression or engineered channel that carries fresh or estuarine water either seasonally or year around.
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