Request Lien Removal

If you own property in Oakland and you don't pay a City bill, you might have a lien placed on your property tax bill. There are many kinds of liens that can be placed against your property. If a lien is placed against your property, you can't sell it or refinance it without removing the lien. NOTE: Code Enforcement Liens are overseen by the Planning & Building Department. All other City of Oakland liens are overseen by the Finance Department.

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Lien Demand Request Form (except Code Enforcement Liens)-Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese versions below
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ALAMEDA COUNTY ASSESSOR
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Credit Card Authorization Form

There are many kinds of liens and assessments. These are the type of liens you may have put on your property if you had a delinquency with the City of Oakland.

· Garbage Liens (refuse liens)

· Business Tax Liens

· Real Estate Transfer Tax Liens

· Sidewalk Liens

· Sewer Lateral Liens

· Vegetation Management Liens (rubbish or fire inspection)

· Code Enforcement Lien from Planning & Building- This is a separate process Click here for Planning & Building Code Enforcement Lien Form

Garbage (refuse liens), Business Tax, Real Estate Transfer Tax, Sidewalks, Sewer Laterals, or Vegetation Management (rubbish or fire inspection) Liens

If you need to request a payoff demand for a lien or assessment related to Garbage (refuse liens), Business Tax, Real Estate Transfer Tax, Sidewalks, Sewer Laterals, or Vegetation Management (rubbish or fire inspection) you must:

  • Complete the CITYWIDE LIENS DEMAND REQUEST FORM (Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese versions are below)
  • Submit $175 Upfront Processing Fee 
  • Copy of the Lien (for business tax and RETT liens, only submit the first page with the recordation number and property reference page) 

 

To obtain a copy of the lien, please contact the Alameda County Recorder’s Office at 1106 Madison St., Oakland, CA 94607, or visit their online portal: Alameda County Property Search 

or type https://www.acgov.org/auditor/clerk/propertysearch.htm

 

For questions, call the Alameda County Recorder’s Office toll-free at 1-888-280-7708 

Payment Submission Methods for a lien or assessment related to Garbage (refuse liens), Business Tax, Real Estate Transfer Tax, Sidewalks, Sewer Laterals, or Vegetation Management (rubbish or fire inspection) : 

  • Mail in check/money order payable to “City of Oakland” with full demand request 
  • In Person at 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza #5342 Oakland, CA 94612 Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Email the full demand request with a credit card authorization form to citywideliens@oaklandca.gov

Important Notes related to Garbage (refuse liens), Business Tax, Real Estate Transfer Tax, Sidewalks, Sewer Laterals, or Vegetation Management (rubbish or fire inspection) Liens: 

  • Each Demand request qualifies for only one property address (APN) and one type of lien. Separate requests are required for each property and each lien type. 
  • We do not expedite requests. Demand requests are processed in the order received. 
  • Demands are valid for 30 days. After expiration, a new demand request must be submitted with an additional $175 upfront processing fee, demand letter request form, and copy of the liens. 
  • Once the demand payoff has been paid, we will mail the notarized Release of Liens to the address provided on the demand letter request form. You must record the Release of Liens with the County of Alameda Recorder’s Office at 1106 Madison St., Oakland, CA 94607, to remove them from the property.  

Request form for Garbage (refuse liens), Business Tax, Real Estate Transfer Tax, Sidewalks, Sewer Laterals, or Vegetation Management (rubbish or fire inspection) Lien Removal

Forms in Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese for Garbage (refuse liens), Business Tax, Real Estate Transfer Tax, Sidewalks, Sewer Laterals, or Vegetation Management (rubbish or fire inspection)

Code Enforcement Liens

If you need to request a payoff demand for a lien related to Code Enforcement you must:

To obtain a copy of the lien, please contact the Alameda County Recorder’s Office at 1106 Madison St., Oakland, CA 94607, or visit their online portal: Alameda County Property Search 

or type https://www.acgov.org/auditor/clerk/propertysearch.htm

 

For questions, call the Alameda County Recorder’s Office toll-free at 1-888-280-7708 

Payment Submission Methods for a lien related to Code Enforcement:

  • Mail in check/money order payable to “City of Oakland” with full demand request 
  • In Person at 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612 Monday & Wednesday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Email the full demand request with a credit card authorization to pbdcashier@oaklandca.gov 

It can take up to five business days to process the demand request. Incomplete submissions (missing payment, copy of the liens, or request form) will be rejected. 

Request form for Code Enforcement Lien Removal

Contact Us

For Liens Related to Garbage (refuse liens), Business Tax, Real Estate Transfer Tax, Sidewalks, Sewer Laterals, or Vegetation Management (rubbish or fire inspection)

Phone: 510-238-7474

Email: CitywideLiens@OaklandCA.gov 

Walk-In Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

 

For Liens Related to Code Enforcement from the Planning & Building Department

Phone: 510-238-4774

Email: PBDCashier@OaklandCA.gov

Walk-In Hours: Monday & Wednesday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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