Hayward, CA Gambling & Gaming: Card Room Licensing (2026)
Key Facts
- Citywide table cap
- 13 tables at one location
- Permit term
- 1 year, renewable
- Issuing office
- Revenue Division, Finance Dept.
- Extra approval
- Conditional use permit required
- State law layer
- Bus. & Prof. Code § 19850
Summary
Hayward requires a City-issued card club permit before any poker or card room can operate, on top of a conditional use permit under the Zoning Ordinance. The Police Chief investigates every applicant, and the City caps card tables citywide at 13 across a single location.
No applicant shall establish, operate, manage, or maintain any card club or suffer any card club to be established, operated, managed, or maintained within any building or structure, or any portion of a building or structure, owned, occupied, or controlled by such applicant unless a valid, unexpired permit for such establishment has been issued pursuant to the provisions of this Article and such permit is neither suspended nor revoked... A permit issued under this Article does not authorize the permittee to commence operations as a card club until the permittee has complied with all City business license, zoning and planning requirements... Prior to commencing operations pursuant to a card club permit, an applicant must also obtain a conditional use permit under the City's Zoning Ordinance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 28 Update 1 | Charter: Supplement 1).
Full Breakdown
10, and the permit holder must be available to the Chief of Police during regular business hours. 10(b) bars operation until City business license, zoning and planning requirements are satisfied. 13, with the Planning Director, Fire Chief and Building Official filing conformance reports within 30 days. 1 layers on the state's own disqualifying criteria from Business and Professions Code Section 19850, including felony convictions, organized-crime ties, and applicants under 21. 18, a hard ceiling that only shrinks if an existing permit is surrendered or revoked. 17 if filed 30 days before expiration.
Violations & Fines
Operating a card club without a valid permit, exceeding the 13-table citywide cap, or violating the Chief of Police's internal control standards under Section 4-3.30.1 can lead to permit suspension or revocation by the Revenue Division. The Police Department conducts compliance checks, which can occur monthly at the Chief's discretion, and false statements on an application are grounds for outright denial under Section 4-3.14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a poker room anywhere in Hayward?
Who investigates a Hayward card club application?
How long does a Hayward card club permit last?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hayward
California rules heatmap·Compare Hayward to another location·View the California gambling & gaming overview
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Card Room Licensing in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle card room licensing.