City of Oakland California

Facts About Oakland's Infrastructure - Street Lights & Traffic Signals

• Oakland has over 36,000 street lights, with repairs to about 2,000 per year.
• Taxpayers spend about $3 million on the street light utility bills each year.
• There are 671 traffic signalized intersections

Transportation Services
Under Transportation Services, you’ll find the Traffic Control application to obtain an encroachment, obstruction or excavation permit; information on Residential Permit Parking; Guardrail Information; and Traffic Safety.

Maintenance of Traffic Signals, Street Lights, Street Signs & Pavement Markings
The Electrical Services Division maintains Oakland’s traffic signals, street lights, street signs and pavement markings.

Capital Improvement Projects
You can find information about current capital projects through this CIP tool. The projects you will find are those designed to upgrade and improve the City’s infrastructure including building facilities, parks/open space, streets, sidewalks and sewers. Projects involving maintenance and repair of existing facilities are not shown here.

Report a Problem
The Report a Problem tool enables you to request a public works maintenance service. Please note that this website is for NON-EMERGENCY services only! For potential emergency situations, call the Public Works Call Center at (510) 615-5566.

See also the Parking Division under the Finance and Management Agency for information about parking meter operations, enforcement and parking citations.

Oakland's Residential Permit Parking Program helps ease traffic congestion and parking shortages in residential neighborhoods near BART stations, schools, business districts and hospitals.

• Establishes Residential Permit Parking areas
• Imposes time limit restrictions on parking within permit areas
• Issues parking permits for area residents, exempting them from parking restrictions 

To apply for a residential parking permit: Application and petition forms  

• Resident Permit & Sticker 
• Business Permit & Sticker
• Visitor Permit & Sticker 

1. What is the Residential Permit Parking?

Residential Permit Parking is a special program whereby the City may designate a residential parking area with time limited parking. A resident or a business owner can purchase a parking permit which will exempt them from the time limit parking zone without being ticketed. The program's basic elements are:

• Establish a Residential Permit Parking area
• Impose a time limit restriction on parking within the area
• Issue parking permits for area residents
• Exempt area residents' vehicles with permits from the parking restriction

2. What is the Residential Permit Parking Program supposed to do?

The Program provides residents (and business owners in residential neighborhoods) the opportunity to park in neighborhoods where they have difficulty competing with non-resident long-term parkers. This is accomplished by establishing either a two-hour or four-hour parking time limit that is in effect between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays in the designated neighborhoods and allowing residents to purchase parking permits exempting them from these parking restriction. Those vehicles not displaying the special parking permits and exceeding the posted parking time limits are subject to citation.

3. Does this program guarantee a parking space in front of a resident's home?

No. The Residential Permit Parking Program does not assure every resident a parking space in an area where parking demand is greater than the number of spaces available. Therefore, it should be pointed out that this program may reduce, but not eliminate, parking congestion in some neighborhoods.

4. Does a Residential Parking Permit exempt the permit holder from other existing parking controls and regulations?

No. Permit parking does not allow a permit holder to park in a red, yellow or blue zone, block a driveway,or park during street sweeping hours. It does not exempt a permit holder from any other parking controls and regulations existing in the designated Residential Permit Parking area nor does it exempt a permit holder from any other time limit parking located outside the designated Residential Permit Parking boundaries.

5. How long can a vehicle with a parking permit park in one spot?

The maximum consecutive period of time any vehicle may park on a street is 72 hours, and 5 hours for commercial vehicles.

6. Who can get parking permits?

All residents (and business owners in residential neighborhoods) within the area covered by a Residential Permit Parking zone are permitted to purchase parking permits to place on their vehicles which will exempt them from the parking time limits.

• Resident Permit & Sticker 
• Business Permit & Sticker 

7. How many parking permits can someone purchase?

Residents and business in a Residential Permit Parking area can purchase a parking permit for each motor vehicle they own or lease. A maximum of three parking permits will be issued to any residence except in areas where the demand for parking permits is expected to exceed the number of on-street parking spaces. In those cases, the sale of parking permits may be limited to one or possibly two per residence. Businesses on the other hand, are limited to one, except in area C where they are limited to two.

8. Is there a charge for each permit?

Yes. The initial fee for new permits issued between July 1st and December 31st is $25.00 per vehicle. The initial fee for new permits issued between January 1st and June 30th is $17.50 per vehicle. Residential Parking Permits are valid through June 30th. Renewals cost $15.00 per vehicle. Permits for businesses however are $75 per permit, and $75 for renewals as well.

9. What are the conditions for renewing the parking permit for a vehicle?

A parking permit can be renewed if there has been no change to vehicle ownership and the owner continues to live within the same Residential Permit Parking area.

10. How is the replacement of a lost, stolen or damaged parking permit handled?

A lost, stolen or damaged parking permit can be replaced for a fee of ten dollars.

11. What about visitors?

Residents may purchase visitor parking permits that will be valid for one to 14 days. No more than five one-day or two 14-day visitor parking permits per household will be issued at any one time.

• Visitor Permit & Sticker 

12. Is there a charge for a visitor parking permit?

Yes. There is a $1.00 per day per vehicle charge for a one-day visitor permit and $5.00 per vehicle for a 14-consecutive day visitor permit.

13. Why aren't the parking permits free?

Fees have been authorized by the Oakland City Council and are intended to recover a portion of the costs associated with administering the program, printing the parking permits and applications, processing permits, holding neighborhood meetings, installing signs and enforcement.

The establishment of Residential Permit Parking areas provides a special City service, which is needed and desired in only a few areas within the City. Since benefits are derived only by those using the service, annual fees have been established to pay for a portion of the program's cost.

14. What about businesses within a permit parking area?

A parking permit may be purchased for any vehicle owned or leased by a person who owns or leases commercial property and engages in business activity within the particular Residential Permit Parking area. A business may purchase a permit for each motor vehicle it owns or leases. However, no more than three parking permits may be purchased for each business establishment or motor vehicles registered to or under the control of such an establishment. In areas where the demand for parking permits is expected to exceed the number of on-street parking spaces, the initial sale may be limited to one or possibly two permits per business.

• Business Permit & Sticker 

15. Is proof or residency required?

Yes. The applicant must demonstrate that he or she is currently a resident of the area for which the permit is to be issued. This can be done by presenting a photocopy of the current automobile registration or driver's license. Other documents that provide proof of residence such as the most recently paid rent receipt or utility bill (PG&E, telephone or water) are also acceptable.

16. Is proof of automobile ownership required?

Yes. The applicant must demonstrate that he or she has ownership or continuing custody of the motor vehicle for which a permit is to be issued. This can be done by presenting a valid automobile registration or lease agreement.

17. Can parking permits be obtained for vehicles not owned by a resident?

Yes, as long as the resident can establish that the vehicle is under his or her control and for his or her exclusive use.

18. Are parking permits transferable?

No, for residents the permits are issued for specific vehicles only. The permit will be permanently affixed on the rear left bumper of the resident's vehicle. However for businesses a transferable permit maybe requested that is hung on the rear view mirror, there is no price difference.

19. Can I obtain permits by mail?

Yes. Permit application are handled via U.S. mail. For more information call (800) 500-6484.

20. How does someone initiate a Residential Permit Parking area?

Individuals requesting the implementation of Residential Permit Parking will be responsible for obtaining signatures from those residents within the proposed Residential Permit Parking area. Call Transportation Services of Oakland Public Works  at (510) 238-3466 to obtain an official petition form.

21. What are the requirements for establishing a Residential Permit Parking area?

• A petition must be submitted to the City containing signatures representing at least 51% of the residential units in each of the blocks within the proposed Residential Permit Parking area.
• The petition must be signed by residents 18 years or older.
• Petition signing is limited to one signature per household.
• At least six adjacent block fronts should be included in each area.
• At least 80% of each block front must be residentially zoned.
• At least 75% of all on-street parking spaced within the proposed area must be occupied during any two one-hour periods between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

22. Is it advisable to obtain signatures from residents representing more than 51% of the residential units?

Yes. It is recommended that those circulating the petition obtain as many signatures as possible. There have been instances where people have changed their mind after signing the petition. If a petition barely meets the minimum 51% requirement and a few people change their mind, the process can be delayed substantially.

23. Once the petition is turned in, what happens next?

The petition is evaluated to determine if there are sufficient signatures. If the petition does not have enough signatures, it will be returned so that additional signatures may be obtained. If there are sufficient signatures, a survey is conducted to confirm that the proposed Residential Permit Parking area meets the residential zoning and parking utilization requirements. Once it has been determined that all the requirements have been met, a public hearing will be held to notify the community, receive input from residents, and explain to the residents how Residential Permit Parking works.

24. How are people notified of the Public Hearing?

Notice of Public Hearings will be posted at least ten days prior to the hearing on all block fronts proposed to be included in the Residential Permit Parking area. Notice of the Public Hearings will also be advertised in major local newspapers.

• Example of Public Hearing Flier

25. Is City Council action required to establish a Residential Permit Parking area?

Yes. After staff verifies that all requirements have been met to establish a Residential Permit Parking area, a report and a resolution will be submitted to the Council recommending the establishment of such an area. The Council, in public session, will then determine whether or not to establish the Residential Permit Parking area.

26. What happens after the Council establishes a Residential Permit Parking area?

The City will mail letters to each known address within the area giving instructions on how to obtain parking permits.

27. When will the Residential Permit Parking signs be installed?

A minimum number of parking permits representing at least 50% of the residences in a given block or 15 stickers, whichever is less, must be purchased in each block before signs will be installed. Enforcement of the parking restrictions will not begin until signs are installed in the designated area.

• Typical Residential Parking Permit Sign

28. What happens if the minimum number of permits are not purchased?

If the minimum number of permits are not purchased within 90 days after Council action establishing a Residential Permit Parking area, money will be refunded and the designated area will be voided.

29. What if I don't wish to buy a parking permit?

Purchase of permits is not required. A parking permit will be required if residents desire to park on the street and be exempt from the posted time limit parking restrictions. Only those vehicles with permits can park for a greater length of time than that indicated by the posted restrictions.

30. If I signed the petition form, must I purchase a permit parking sticker if the plan is implemented.

No.

31. If Residential Permit Parking is established on the street I live on and my vehicle has a parking permit, am I exempt from the time limit restriction in other Residential Permit Parking areas?

No. Your vehicle will be exempt from the time limit restriction on any street with Residential Permit Parking in your area, but not in other Residential Permit Parking areas. Each area is assigned a unique designation (A, B, C, etc.).

• Typical Residential Parking Permit Sign