THE CITY OF Oakland's Stormwater Ordinance was updated in 1997 to provide new and stronger provisions to safeguard and manage creeks. It is now called the "Creek Protection, Stormwater Management and Discharge Control Ordinance," and includes permitting guidelines for development and construction projects taking place on a creekside property. Most creekside properties have been identified and flagged in the City's permit tracking system. New creeks and creekside properties will be added to the system through periodic field investigations.

Click here for a print-friendly version of the Ordinance (.pdf format, 348k).

A creek is a watercourse that is a naturally occurring swale or depression, or engineered channel that carries fresh or estuarine water either seasonally or year round. If you are a creekside property owner, this Ordinance may affect you. Any development or construction work you undertake may threaten the creek running through your property. Therefore, if you are planning any development projects, whether indoor or outdoor, you must apply for a Creek Protection Permit.

Visit the "Permitting Guide" and "How to Comply" sections of this website for tips and information about Creek Protection Permits (including how to tell what type of permit your project will require) and helpful documents to help you comply with the Ordinance.

NEW! "Creeks 101" is an educational slide show outlining what is a creek, why creeks are important, and the beneficial and deleterious impacts of different types of development on creeks.