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Earlier editions: 2026-09

Title 5 — BUSINESS TAXES, PERMITS AND REGULATIONS›Chapter 5.19 — UNATTENDED DONATION/COLLECTION BOXES

Oakland Municipal Code Art. III Standards and Requirements

Oakland Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Oakland

Cite as: Oakland Municipal Code Article III · Text as of 2026-10-04

5.19.120 - Location.

A. No UDCB shall be located within 1,000 feet from any other UDCB, except those described in Subsection 5.19.060(B).

B. With the exception of areas described in Subsection (C), below, UDCBs are only allowed to be located in the following zones, which are designated in the zoning maps described in Chapter 17 of the Oakland Municipal Code:

  1. CC-1 and CC-2;

  2. CN-4;

  3. CR-1;

  4. D-BV-2 and D-BV-3;

  5. C-40 and C-45;

  6. S-1 and S-2;

  7. D-KP-1, D-KP-2, and D-KP-3;

  8. D-CE-1, D-CE-2, D-CE-4, D-CE-5, and D-CE-6;

  9. D-BV-1, D-BV-3, and D-BV-4; or

  10. All industrial zones.

C. No UDCBs are permitted within 300 feet of International Boulevard.

D. A UDCB is only permitted on a lot that also contains a principal building that contains at least one operating business, occupied residential unit, or other ongoing activity, not including a surface auto fee parking commercial activity as defined in Chapter 17.10 of the Oakland Municipal Code.

E. UDCBs are prohibited within any of the following locations:

  1. Fifteen feet from lots that lie in a hillside residential, detached unit residential, or mixed housing type residential zone as designated in the City's zoning maps;

  2. The public right-of-way and 20 feet of the public right-of-way;

  3. Five feet from any property line; or

  4. Landscaping.

F. UDCBs cannot block or impede access to:

  1. Required parking or driveways;

  2. Pedestrian routes;

  3. Emergency vehicle routes;

  4. Building ingress and egress;

  5. Required handicapped accessibility routes;

  6. Required easements; or

  7. Trash enclosure areas or access to trash bins/trash enclosures.

G. UDCBs cannot impede the functioning of exhaust, ventilation, or fire extinguishing systems.

H. No more than one UDCB is permitted per parcel unless documented evidence is submitted to the Director that a second bin is required due to the volume of items delivered to the site. A UDCB must be operating at a site for at least 90 days in order to establish that a second bin is required. Both UDCBs shall have the same operator. No fee is required to submit an application for this second bin.

I. The donation/collection area must be visible from the principal building and be no more than ten feet from a continually operating light source of at least one foot candle.

(Ord. No. 13335, § 2(Exh. A), 10-20-2015)

Exceptions & meaning →

5.19.130 - Physical attributes.

A. UDCBs shall:

  1. Be fabricated of durable and waterproof materials;

  2. Be placed on ground that is paved with durable cement;

  3. Have a collection opening that has a tamper-resistant locking mechanism;

  4. Be more than 82 inches high, 60 inches wide and 50 inches deep;

  5. Not be electrically or hydraulically powered or otherwise mechanized;

  6. Not be a fixture of the site or considered an improvement to real property; and

  7. Have the following information conspicuously displayed on at least two-inch type visible from the front on the UDCB:

i. The name, address, 24-hour telephone number, and, if available, the Internet Web address, and email address of the owner and operator of the UDCB and the parcel owner/owner agent;

ii. Address and parcel number of the site;

iii. Instructions on the process to register a complaint regarding the UDCB to the City Code Enforcement Division;

iv. The type of material that may be deposited;

v. A notice stating that no material shall be left outside the UDCB;

vi. The pickup schedule for the UDCB;

vii. A City approved identification system that identifies the box as being properly permitted by the City;

viii. If the UDCB is owned by a nonprofit organization:

A. A statement describing the charitable cause that will benefit from the donations;

B. The Federal Tax identification number of the nonprofit organization operating the UDCB; and

C. The statement "This collection box is owned and operated by a nonprofit organization."

ix. If the UDCB is owned by a for-profit entity:

a. "This donation is not tax deductible." and

b. "This collection box is owned and operated by a for-profit organization."

B. The parcel containing the UDCB shall display a sign with text in at least two-inch typeface stating that no material shall be left outside the UDCB. This sign shall be installed at a visually conspicuous location within a radius of 20 feet from the UDCB.

(Ord. No. 13335, § 2(Exh. A), 10-20-2015)

Exceptions & meaning →

5.19.140 - Maintenance.

A. No blight shall be within 20 feet of the UDCB including, but not limited to donation/collection overflow, litter, debris, and dumped material.

B. UDCBs shall be maintained and in good working order. Items to be repaired, removed, and/or abated include, but are not limited to graffiti, removed or damaged signs and notifications, peeling paint, rust, and broken collection operating mechanisms.

C. UDCBs shall be serviced not less than weekly between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekends. This servicing includes the removal of donated/collected material and abatement of the blight described this section.

D. The operator shall maintain an active email address and a 24-hour telephone service with recording capability for the public to register complaints.

E. UDCBs cannot be used for the collection of solid waste and/or any hazardous materials.

(Ord. No. 13335, § 2(Exh. A), 10-20-2015)

Exceptions & meaning →

5.19.150 - Liability.

Applicants and/or owner/owners agent shall maintain a minimum general liability insurance of $1,000,000.00 for the duration of the operation of a UDCB at each site, to cover any claims or losses due to the placement, operation, or maintenance of the UDCB and naming the City of Oakland as additional insured.

(Ord. No. 13335, § 2(Exh. A), 10-20-2015)

Exceptions & meaning →

5.19.160 - AB 939 Reporting.

Permitted UDCB operators shall be required to report annually the tonnage collected from their UDCBs within the City, including a breakdown by material type, whether the materials were reused or recycled, and any other information needed by the City to comply with AB 939. This information must be available to the City within 60 days of the end of the calendar year. Failure to report will be grounds for revocation of the UDCB permit.

(Ord. No. 13335, § 2(Exh. A), 10-20-2015)

Exceptions & meaning →

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