City of Oakland California

The City requires advance permits for many special activities, events and filming in Oakland to help ensure the safety of event participants and minimize the impact on our neighborhoods.  Obtaining a permit is easy!

Find your event type below, and then follow the links or call the agency indicated.

Activities include carnivals, bingo games, bingo hall, bowling alley, cabarets, carnival, charitable solicitations, dance hall, dog kennel, electronic/mechanical games, massage therapists and establishments, medical cannabis, pet shop, pool room, secondhand/pawn shop, sound amplification equipment, taxicab driver and fleet management permits.

• Bingo Hall Operator
• Bingo Game Operator     
• Cabaret Renewal Update Application 2016

Special Activity Permits
Office of the City Administrator
1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 11th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
fax: (510) 238-7084
 

Nancy Marcus - 510-238-3294  - nmarcus@oaklandnet.com

Please call or email Nancy Marcus for an application packet to be sent out for any of the above listed activities.    

City Offices will be closed:  September 4, September 9, November 11, November 24, November 25 and December 26, 2016 

For most up to date information, check back at this website, as we will update accordingly.  Feel free to submit any questions you may have to nmarcus@oaklandnet.com

Update:  September 21, 2016

https://oakland.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=505111&GUID=A20E51E3-19E9-4DCA-82D4-C790C6855408&Options=info&Search

Update:  August 5, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions and answers are available here.

Update:  July 22, 2016

The Power Point from the informational session held on July 21st regarding the forthcoming application process for non-dispensary medical cannabis permits is available here.  Additionally, information regarding medical cannabis application and annual regulatory fees can be found here.

Staff is now finalizing the application process and expects to have applications available for non-dispensary medical cannabis permits in August.

Update:  June 7, 2016

On Tuesday, May 17th the Oakland City Council officially adopted amendments to the City's medical cannabis ordinances, OMC 5.80 and 5.81.  The ordinances were passed as amended at the May 3, 2016 City Council Meeting.  This final passage allows City staff to move forward in developing an application process in collaboration with a number of City and County departments.  Staff hopes to have applications available for non-dispensary medical cannabis operators by late June or early July.  However, a timeline for a Request for Permit Application for medical cannabis dispensary permits has not yet been determined.

You can view the PDFs of the amendments to OMC 5.80 and 5.81.

For a full accounting of the legislative record please visit:

https://oakland.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2557740&GUID=AABB075C-6A7B-44CE-8567-F33BFC36B89B

If you would like to see whether medical cannabis activity may be permissible at a specific property, you may use this reference map by following these instructions:

1.  Click on the "Content" tab in the top left corner.

2.  Leave the boxes next to "Port of Oakland Jurisdiction" and "School Sites 600ft. Buffer" checked.

3.  Select the medical cannabis activity type(s) you wish to search for by selecting the box(es) to the left of either dispensary/delivery-only dispensary, cultivator/distributor/transporter/testing lab, non-   volatile manufacturer or volatile manufacturer.

4.  Enter the address for property you wish to search in the top right corner and hit return (note address must be actual legal address).

5.  Areas on the map that are shaded indicate areas where medical cannabis activity may be permitted, except for lighter shaded areas surrounded by a dotted line, which represent unpermitted areas as they are within 600 feet of a school.

Please note this map is for reference only and not an official approval to conduct medical cannabis activity at a given location.  Medical cannabis operators must submit an application and be approved by the City Administrator before any medical cannabis activity is permitted.

If you are interested in receiving an email notifying you of when applications are available, please email Nancy Marcus at nmarcus@oaklandnet.com

• A “Food Vending Group Site” is defined as the stationary operation of three (3) or more “mobile food vendors” clustered together on a single private property site, public property site, or within a specific section of public right-of-way.
• A “Mobile Food Vendor” refers to a person who is engaged in the sale of prepared foods from a truck, trailer, or other movable wheeled equipment or vehicle during hours of operation.

 PERMITTED MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSARIES IN OAKLAND

1 Frank H.Ogawa Plaza
11th Floor
Oakland, CA  94612
Fax:  (510) 238-7084

Contact:  Jackqueline Medina- 510-777-8527
              jmedina@oaklandnet.com

TAXI DRIVERS: Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 12:00 noon

Taxi applications can be found at:  Taxi Cab Applications  Once you have completed your application, print out your confirmation number and have your Fleet Manager sign the "Approval" form.  Then, you may come in to the office with all required documents, and all new drivers will then be assigned to the next available class and be given your Live Scan forms to be taken to the OPD for processing.

NEW DRIVER PERMIT CLASSES FOR 2016:  October 21, November 18 and December 16

Classes are held at 12:30-4:00pm in Classroom 2 located on the 2nd Floor of 150 Frank H. Ogawa (Lionel Wilson Building).

FLEET MANAGERS: Office Hours - Monday - Thursday 2:00 - 4:30pm
 

Fleet Manager Applications are now available.  Fleet Manager Applications and supporting documents are due by Tuesday, November 15, 2016 .   Incomplete packets will not be accepted. 

The Taxi Vehicle Renewal Permit Applications are now available  Please complete your application form and return by Tuesday, November 15, 2016 to the Taxi Detail Office Monday-Thursday from 2-4:30pm.

Taxi Cab Inspections are scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 12:00pm, 12:45pm, 1:30pm and 2:15pm.  To reserve your space, you must come in with your original Brake & Lamp Certificate and Meter Certificate, and a copy of your DMV registration.  Annual renewal fee is $350.00. 

For change of vehichle, you must also bring in proof of insurance and a parking  & traffic citation clearance.

For a list of taxi companies registered with the City of Oakland, click here.

Special events include dances, parades, concerts, or any events that are open to the public where 50 or more people will be in attendance. Special events include profit and non-profit events, and events that require street closures.

File your application with Special Event Unit of the Oakland Police Department at least 30 days prior to your event.

The Special Events Unit will review your application and assess the impact on public safety, traffic, and surrounding commercial or residential tenants. If public safety or traffic impacts are found, off-duty police officers will be assigned to monitor your event, and you will be assessed the additional cost.

You must provide proof of liability insurance for your proposed event, and if you are using sound amplification equipment a sound permit from the Special Activities unit of the City Administrator's Office may be required.

Special Events Unit
Oakland Police Department
Eastmont Precinct
2651 73rd Avenue
Oakland, CA 94605
phone: (510) 777-8525
fax: (510) 777-8979
Sergeant Andy McNeil: amcneil@oaklandnet.com
Officer Jorge Cabral: jcabral@oaklandnet.com