Local Issues and Background: Garbage and Blight

Bulk Waste Pick-up

You can now call (at least two weeks ahead) to arrange an appointment for bulk waste pick up. An appointment will be made on your regularly scheduled garbage day. Set your stuff out the day before (no sooner, and not later than 6 a.m. on your appointment date). If you have recyclables (computers, appliances, mattresses, tires and TVs), a separate truck will come by to haul them off. A different truck will pick up your properly prepared yard trimmings, clean untreated wood, scrap metal and cardboard, and all your non-recyclable items.

To schedule an appointment, call 510 613-8710. For more information, click here to go to the Bulk Waste page on the City's Web site.

Blight & Dumping

Here are some handy numbers:

• Blight on private property: 510.238.6218
• Blight on public property: 510.238.3381
• Abandoned cars on private property: 510.615.5870
• Abandoned cars on public property/streets: 510.615.-5713
• Free removal of junk vehicles for the legal owner: 510.238.4703
• Graffiti: 510.238.4703
• Illegal dumping: 510.615.5566
• Community Clean-ups: 510.434.5101
• Household hazardous waste: 1.800.606.6606

Weekly Trash and Recycling

For questions about recycling and regular waste pick-up, call 510.238.7283.

Remember to minimize the time your garbage cans and recycle bins sit out in public view. They are becoming an accumulated eyesore as time-stressed homeowners start putting full receptacles out earlier and bringing empty ones in later. Use 24 hours as a maximum---e.g., out one night, in the next. Team up with a neighbor when work, commute or vacation schedules make this difficult. Tidy streets are good for property values, a benefit we can all share.

In 1998, Oakland enacted a Blight Ordinance to improve the appearance of Oakland streets, enhance the City's economic growth and promote an improved social environment. The legislation requires cans and recycling bins to be out no longer than noon the day before and noon the day after collection. Bins and cans are not to be stored in sight. If they are in your front yard, they must be in an enclosed storage area. As neighbors, let's remind one another of the need to keep our streets and yards clean and tidy. If the City gets involved, fines begin at $727 for non-compliance with the legislation.

City of Oakland Regulations Regarding Garbage and Blight

• Garbage & Recycling Containers
• Maintaining Your Property
• Property Blight
• Time Restriction: Parking

Garbage & Recycling Containers - Single Family Homes, Duplexes, Triplexes
and Fourplexes

Before Collection
Garbage cans and recycling bins can be placed at the curb or in your front
yard after noon (12:00 pm) on the day before your scheduled collection.

After Collection
Cans or bins must be removed by noon (12:00 pm) on the day after your
scheduled collection.

Storage
Cans and bins can be stored in your back yard or on the side of your home,
but not in your front yard unless they are in an enclosed storage area.

Maintaining Your Property

Your Front & Side Yards
These must be kept neat and tidy. Remove overgrown weeds. Keep the grass cut
and shrubbery trimmed.

Debris, Litter, Dirt and Garbage
All debris which accumulates in your yard, walkway, driveway, sidewalk or
gutters by the curb must be removed and properly disposed of.

Sofas, Appliances or Personal Property
Sofas, appliances, flea market items, mattresses or other objects considered
for indoor use cannot be stored or placed on your front porch or in your
front yard.

Laundry
Laundry cannot be hung in a front yard or on a porch or balcony facing the
street.

Vacant Lots
Vacant lots must be properly fenced to deter dumping. Fencing can be chain
link (cyclone), wood or any other approved material no higher than 6 feet.

Vacant Buildings
Vacant buildings must be kept in good condition. Their facades must be
repainted if needed. The property must be swept and kept clean. Abandoned
signs must be removed.

Oakland Municipal Code -- Chapter 8.24 PROPERTY BLIGHT

8.24.010 Purpose of chapter.

The purpose of this chapter is to promote the health, safety, and general
welfare of the citizens by requiring a level of maintenance of residential,
commercial, and industrial property which will protect and preserve the
livability, appearance, and social and economic stability of the city and
which will also protect the public from the health and safety hazards and
the impairment of property values which results from the neglect and
deterioration of property. (Ord. 12046 § 1, 1998: prior code § 15-1.01)

8.24.020 Blighted property defined.

Any property on which there exists any one or more of the following
conditions or activities is a blighted property for the purpose of this
chapter:

A. Abandoned Building or Structure.

1. A building or structure which is not occupied, inhabited, used, or
secured. For purposes of this chapter, a building or structure is unsecured
when it is unlocked or the public can gain entry without the consent of the
owner,

2. Any partially constructed, reconstructed or demolished building or
structure upon which work is abandoned. Work is deemed abandoned when there
is no valid and current building or demolition permit or when there has not
been any substantial work on the project for six months;

B. Attractive Nuisance.

8.24.030 Time restriction--Parking.

For purposes of this chapter an item is unlawfully parked, kept or stored in
any area for a period of time in excess of seventy-two (72) consecutive
hours when:

A. The item has not been removed from such area for an intervening period of
time in excess of seventy-two (72) consecutive hours; or

B. The item has been parked, kept or stored during the intervening period of
time upon any public street. (Prior code § 15-1.03)