Private Property Trash Management Inspection Program

Stormwater from private property enters storm drain inlets and flows directly to local creeks and the Bay. Stormwater is often contaminated by pollutants that are deposited on land. Pollutants like trash degrade our waterways and can harm fish, wildlife, and people.

Starting in April 2025, a City contracted inspector will inspect the exterior areas of private properties with private storm drainage that connects to the City’s storm drainage system. The inspector will follow a standard method to assess and estimate the amount of trash that has the potential to flow into the property’s storm drain(s). 

If moderate to high levels of trash are observed, the City will require the property owner/manager to comply with City municipal code sections 13.16 – Creek Protection, Storm Water Management and Discharge Control and 8.24 – Property Blight by implementing one of the two options listed below:

1. Improve and document ongoing trash management on the property to ensure a consistently clean site; or
2. Install and document maintenance of one or more approved Full Trash Capture Device(s) certified by the State Water Resources Control Board. The number of required devices will depend on the number of storm drains on the property.

After inspection, the City will a letter as necessary to the property owner/manager describing the required actions. The letter will include recommended trash reduction best management practices (see Option 1), and information on installing an approved full trash capture device (see Option 2).

Follow-up inspection(s) will be conducted to verify that the property has implemented trash management actions. 

If needed, the City may issue fines for violations of the City’s municipal code.

All properties must either maintain a low level of trash (Category A) or install and maintain one or more approved full trash capture device(s). The following standard method (click here for the full methodology) will be used to assess and estimate the level of trash on each property. Depending on the level of trash present upon inspection, each property will be categorized as low, moderate, high or very high as follows:

A - Low - Not Littered 

• Effectively no trash is observed on your property.
• There may be some trash in the area, but it is not obvious at first glance.
• One individual could easily clean up all the trash observed while walking at normal pace.
• No additional trash reduction measures are needed in the assessment area.

B - Moderate - Slightly Littered

• Predominantly free of trash, except for a few littered areas.
• Some trash is noticeable at first glance.
• The trash observed could be collected by one or two individuals but would require walking at slower than normal pace.
• Additional trash reduction measures are needed in the assessment area.

C - High - Littered

• Predominantly littered, except for a few clean areas.
• Trash is widely/evenly distributed and or small accumulations are noticeable on the streets and sidewalks.
• It would take multiple people to remove all trash from the area, frequently requiring individuals to stop walking to remove the trash.
• Roughly four times as much trash as a "B" level.

D - Very High - Very Littered

• Trash is continuously seen throughout your property and there is a strong impression of lack of concern for litter.
• Large piles of trash may be observed.
• It would take an organized effort and a large group of people to remove all trash from the area, consistently requiring individuals to stop to pick up and remove the trash.
• Roughly three times as much trash as a "C" level.

Implement trash best management practices (BMPs) such as placing and maintaining trash cans around the property, posting effective antilittering signs, regularly sweeping the ground for litter, and if possible, organizing community volunteer clean ups.

Trash BMPs include, but are not limited to: 

• Make sure trash bins and recycling receptacles are adequately sized.
• Prevent trash bins and recycling receptacles from overflowing by scheduling waste management pickups at the right frequency. Do not stack waste outside of bins. Keep waste bin lids closed.
• Place trash bins and cigarette butt receptacles around the property, especially in areas where people congregate. Experiment to find the best placement and right number of trash, cigarette butt, and recycling receptacles on the property.
• Sweep outdoor and dumpster areas regularly. Schedule mechanical sweeping of outside equipment staging areas, materials storage areas, and parking areas at a frequency that keeps the area consistently free of trash. Manually sweep areas where mechanical sweeping cannot be effectively implemented.
• Train staff to regularly inspect parking lots and paved surfaces on your property for litter; collect any litter and dispose in trash bins.
• Where possible, engage your community to participate in monthly litter cleanups on your private property.
• Design and install signage to encourage picking up litter and to discourage littering.
• Use “No Dumping, Flows to Bay” labels on storm drain inlets.
• Please visit Oakland Recycles to learn about garbage service enrollment options, bulky pick-up services for Oakland residents, environmental enforcement and other tools that can help you control trash and avoid fines and mitigation measures. 

A full trash capture device is a stormwater treatment device that intercepts trash and other debris. Full trash capture devices must be sized and maintained according to manufacturer specifications and must be certified by the State Water Resources Control Board. The cost to install and maintain FTCs depends on the size and manufacturer. Property owners typically work with vendors to inspect and measure storm drain inlets to determine a device type and size that will work. Visit the State Water Board’s Certified Full Capture System List of Trash Treatment Control Devices to find Water Board-approved full trash capture devices. 

All full trash capture systems should be cleaned at least once per year. In high and very high trash generating areas, all full trash capture devices should be inspected at least twice per year and maintained as necessary. Please visit the City’s Interactive Creek Map and navigate to Parcels, Conservation, Trash and Land Management > Trash Generation Levels to determine what trash generation level your property is in. 

Property owners/managers must obtain a PZ permit from the City of Oakland’s Bureau of Building before installing a full trash capture device. A PZ permit is required for construction or modification of infrastructure on private property. Find the application here:PZ-Permit-and-Requirements-3.4.2019.pdf.

Property owners/managers must obtain a PZ permit from the City of Oakland’s Bureau of Building before installing a full trash capture device. A PZ permit is required for construction or modification of infrastructure on private property. Find the application here:PZ-Permit-and-Requirements-3.4.2019.pdf.

Public Works
Watershed and Stormwater Management Division

• tmip@oaklandca.gov
• 510-238-6600
• 
  250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
  Oakland, CA 94612