Oakland’s Business Stormwater Program: What Your Business Needs to Know

Oakland sits on a web of creeks and waterways that eventually empty into the Bay. Beautiful for walking, kayaking, and bird-watching… less great if someone’s dumpster leaks motor oil into the gutter.

To protect those waterways, the City created the Business Stormwater Program, which focuses on commercial operations that might accidentally send pollutants (oil, grease, chemicals, wash water, mystery gunk) straight into storm drains. Storm drains do not connect to any filtration system, and whatever goes in them goes directly to the Bay. That’s why the rules and the penalties are so serious: cleanup costs, fines, permit suspension, even criminal penalties can apply.

But don’t worry - once you know the rules, staying compliant is completely doable.

Who Has to Comply? (More Businesses Than You’d Think)

Industrial users are automatically included, but lots of other commercial businesses must also comply, including restaurants, grocery stores and markets, vehicle service and auto detailing, mobile fleet services, maintenance yards, machine shops and any business that could release fluids, chemicals, or trash outdoors.

If it drips, leaks, splashes, or rolls, the City wants you following stormwater practices.

How Businesses Stay in Compliance

Most businesses must complete self-inspection checklists and follow a set of best practices. Requirements vary by industry, but Oakland groups the basics into the “4 C’s” - easy to remember, and honestly pretty intuitive:

• Cover outdoor work and storage areas

• Capture fluids and pollutants before they hit a drain

• Clean up spills, trash, and debris (use dry cleanup when possible)

• Contain trash and chemical storage to keep pollutants from escaping

There are also a few smart “housekeeping” habits Oakland strongly encourages: label storm drains so employees know what NOT to dump, create a spill response plan (and train staff annually), use trained contractors for pressure washing, clearly label hazardous materials, place drip pans under equipment prone to leaking, inspect dumpsters for leaks, keep liquid waste out of dumpsters, inspect parked vehicles for oil leaks, keep lids on all outdoor trash bins, dispose of hazardous materials at approved facilities, and avoid “biodegradable” cleaners, as many are still harmful to aquatic life (!).

If your business touches the outdoors in any meaningful way, these practices matter.

How Inspections Work (and When They Happen)

If your business is subject to stormwater rules, you’ll be placed into an inspection rotation. Highlights:

• Industrial users, businesses with hazardous materials (mercury, PCBs, pesticides), underground storage tanks need to be inspected every 2 years

• Food service, construction, manufacturing, automotive, and other commercial uses need to be inspected every 5 years

• You are NOT notified ahead of time: inspectors arrive without scheduling, review your site, check records, and confirm staff training

If you fail, or if they need to return because things weren’t ready, you’ll pay additional fees.

After the inspection

You’ll receive an inspection letter, and an invoice will follow within ~60 days. Fees typically range from $200–$400, depending on business type, and the invoice and any other communication will go to the business owner, not the property owner or manager.

Stay Ahead of Inspections (Without Constant Vigilance)

Get ahead of this deadline with our automated annual alerts! Our Compliance tracker can help you stay ahead of these inspections to ensure you are ready ahead of the inspector’s visit so you pass on the first go-round.

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