Stormwater Management: Oakland vs San Leandro
How do stormwater management rules compare between Oakland, CA and San Leandro, CA?
Oakland and San Leandro have similar restriction levels.
Oakland, CA
Alameda County
Oakland enforces comprehensive stormwater management under the Oakland Municipal Code and the Municipal Regional Stormwater NPDES Permit (MRP) issued by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. The city's stormwater program protects San Francisco Bay and local creeks from polluted runoff.
View full Oakland rules →San Leandro, CA
Alameda County
San Leandro is co-permittee under Bay Area Municipal Regional Stormwater NPDES Permit. C.3 treatment required for projects creating 2,500+ sq ft impervious.
View full San Leandro rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Oakland | San Leandro |
|---|---|---|
| Governing Permit | Municipal Regional Stormwater NPDES Permit | - |
| C.3 Threshold | 10,000 sq ft impervious (5,000 for some uses) | - |
| LID Required | Bioretention, pervious pavement, rain gardens | - |
| Fee Basis | Stormwater management fee | - |
| Penalty | Up to $10,000/day | - |
| Regulator | - | SF Bay RWQCB MRP |
| C.3 threshold | - | 2,500 sq ft impervious |
| Hydromod | - | Over 10,000 sq ft |
| Illicit discharge | - | Up to $10,000/day |
| Local code | - | SLMC Title 7 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Oakland FAQ
What triggers stormwater treatment requirements?
Projects creating or replacing 10,000+ square feet of impervious surface (or 5,000+ for auto service, restaurants, and certain uses) must include C.3 stormwater treatment and LID measures.
Does Oakland charge a stormwater fee?
Yes. Oakland charges a stormwater management fee to fund the city's Clean Water Program, which manages stormwater infrastructure and compliance.
San Leandro FAQ
Can I wash my car in the driveway?
Use biodegradable soap and minimize runoff. Commercial car washes are preferred since they capture wastewater.
What is C.3?
Provision C.3 of the Bay Area Stormwater Permit requires on-site treatment of stormwater for projects meeting impervious area thresholds.
Compare other topics
See how Oakland and San Leandro compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool