City of Oakland Service Modifications, Suspensions & Closures In Response to Alameda County Public Health Order to Shelter in Place

Interim City Administrator Steven Falk announced on March 17, 2020, temporary changes to City government functions, effective today, in accordance with the Alameda County Health Officer’s order for all Alameda County residents to shelter in place to slow the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and preserve critical health care capacity across the region.

Date Posted: March 17th, 2020 @ 5:29 PM
Last Updated: July 8th, 2020 @ 2:05 PM

City Facility Closures

  • Recreation centers (closed to the public, staffed during day for safety)
  • Libraries
  • Senior centers
  • Head Start sites
  • Fox Theater
  • Paramount Theatre
  • Oakland Convention Center

Maintenance Functions Shifted to Emergency Response Only:

Call 311 or report online:

  • Parks maintenance

Other Suspended or Canceled Services

Public Meetings and Events Canceled

  • Advisory Commissions
  • Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council meetings
  • Adopt a Spot Volunteer events. Please note that Earth Day is currently scheduled for April 18, 2020. Should the event be postponed or canceled, messages will be posted to the City’s website and social media accounts.
  • Bulky Block Party on March 28, 2020

Parking

  • Residential permit parking and street sweeping parking regulations not enforced
  • Effective July 6, parking meters operations and time-limited parking enforcement resumed
  • City garages are open, but may be limited to monthly parkers at times
  • NOTE: the City will continue to enforce all other parking regulations in service of public safety and public health, including, red curbs and fire hydrants, sidewalk and crosswalk blocking, double-parking and bike lane violations, wheelchair ramp obstruction, and unauthorized use of disabled person parking placards.
  • Please note also that many of the City’s essential infrastructure construction projects are still ongoing. Clear curbs are necessary for infrastructure work, so we ask that residents keep an eye out for 72-hour no-parking signs related to construction. If curbs are not clear where construction has been noticed, enforcement and vehicle towing could be necessary.

Counter Functions Closed/Suspended

  • Passports
  • Domestic partnership registration
  • Residency Verification
  • KTOP – Client services for stage rental and client use of media editing tools
  • OPD Special Events Permits
  • Film Permits
  • Walking Tours

Open by Appointment Only

  • City Hall and other Frank H. Ogawa Plaza buildings are accessible to the public only by special appointment or for public meetings, but will otherwise be closed to the public.
  • Most public service counters at City Hall, 150 Frank Ogawa Plaza, and 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza are switching to online/phone/appointment access only; see below for details.
  • Private Sewer Lateral and other Wastewater Permits
  • Hazardous Materials Compliance Review
  • Creek and Watershed Permits
  • Construction and Demolition Recycling Permits

Public Counter Closures with Phone/Online Alternatives

During this shelter in place order, many City services will remain available by phone or online. View an index of available online services.

City departments are providing alternative ways to access City services during the shelter in place order, including email, telephone, and online:

  • Parking Citation Assistance Center
  • Business Tax Assistance Center
  • Head Start:
    • Call (510) 238-3165 from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
  • Human Services: Calls will be answered from 8:30 am to 5 pm
    • Main number: (510) 238-3121 o Community Housing: (510) 238-6187
    • Oakland Unite: (510) 238-2374
    • Oakland Fund for Children and Youth: (510) 238-7163
    • sugar Sweetened Beverage: (510) 238-7163
    • Senior Services: (510) 238-6137
  • Animal Services
    • Open by appointment.
    • Call (510) 535-5602 from 11 am to 4 pm.
    • After-hours calls can go to the non-emergency police line at (510) 777-3333
  • Park and Recreation Services:
    • Call (510) 238-7275 from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
    • Facilities: call (510) 238-3420 from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
    • Playgrounds, picnic areas, gyms, dog parks, and other shared spaces that do not permit physical distancing or have high-touch equipment remain closed.
    • DeFremery Skate Park “Town Park” and Montclair Park Skate Ramp are open for use within social distancing guidelines.
    • Free Virtual programing including Youth Fitness, Adult Fitness, Student Coding Class, and more continue. Follow us on social media for more information.
    • Beginning Monday, May 11, limited childcare services will be offered to City of Oakland essential workers and first responders.
  • Business Assistance Center
  • Library Services:
    • The public can still access a librarian through eanswers@oaklandlibrary.org or (510) 238-3134
    • The public can still apply for a library card online by visiting https://oaklandlibrary.org/
    • All holds are extended until May 31.
    • Increased checkout limits on ebooks, audiobooks, movies and music: Overdrive (10 to 20), Hoopla (8 to 10), Kanopy (4 to 5).
    • Extended activation of Wi-Fi hotspots through May 31.
    • Extended patron accounts scheduled to expire to May 31.
  • Department of Transportation—permit application assistance:
  • Real Estate:
  • Oakland Police:
  • City Clerk:
  • Planning & Building:
    • Building Inspections: Inspectioninfo@oaklandca.gov or (510) 238-3444
    • The City of Oakland is resuming inspection services for all project types identified in the County Order.
    • Each construction project site must comply with the protocols for operations in Appendices A, B-1 and B-2 of the County Order. Project representatives must confirm their awareness of and adherence to the site and work conditions mandated in these appendices as a prerequisite for any inspection request. Anyone who cannot confirm awareness and adherence will have their inspection postponed until they can.
    • The Planning Commission will reconvene in May. Once a date has been established, the Planning Bureau will resume making administrative zoning determinations on projects and schedule entitlement cases to be heard before that body.
    • Planning & Building Permits/Applications/Appointments: permitinfo@oaklandca.gov
    • Get simple electrical, plumbing, or mechanical permits at: https://aca.accela.com/OAKLAND
    • Building Fee Payments: Pay by phone at 510-238-4774 or online after registering with credit card at https://aca.accela.com/OAKLAND
    • Plan Check: buildingplancheckinfo@oaklandca.gov
    • Code Enforcement: 510-238-3381 or use our online File a Complaint form
    • General Building Services Questions: (510) 238-3891
    • Strategic Planning: See our Neighborhood and Citywide Plans and Policy Projects pages for info
    • Priority services remain operational as outlined in the modified service matrix available here.