Solicitation Permits

(courtesy of the Montclair Safety and Improvement Council)

Door-to-Door/City Sidewalk Solicitations: All persons conducting business within the City of Oakland, including commercial/industrial and residential rental property owners, retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, service companies, self-employed persons, independent contractors and businesses conducted within one's home, and non-profit organizations are required to obtain a business tax certificate and file business taxes annually. If you an individual, intend to sell or solicit door-to-door or along city streets, you must also obtain a peddlers and/or solicitors application from the City of Oakland. Complete the application and take it to the Oakland Police Department located at 455-7th St., Room 306 for processing. When Peddler/Solicitor ID card is issued, apply for a Business Tax Certificate from the City of Oakland Financial Services Agency

The name of the group is specified, along with exactly what they can sell and often the specific location where they are authorized to solicit.

When asked to produce a valid permit they should do so. Some solicitors have become quite belligerent when asked to see their permit. Should call non-ER police number to have solicitors removed if they cannot produce a valid permit.

Door-to-door requires that they go first to business licensing (at 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza). Business Licensing decides if a business license is needed and provides the solicitor's application, which must be taken to the records division of OPD. Fingerprinting & background check are done, and they need to provide 5 local references. The permit is good for only one year. The City also issues permits for charitable solicitations, but not if it is door to door.

Special Activity Permits: The Special Activity Unit of the Office of the City Administrator issues permits for special activities in the City of Oakland. Special activities include carnivals, bingo games, cabarets, charitable solicitations, electronic/mechanical games, massage establishments, massage therapists, sound amplification equipment for events not held in City parks, and certain secondhand dealers. A permit application and additional information may be obtained in person, by telephone, via facsimile or e-mail as follows:

Office of the City Administrator 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza 11th Floor Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 238-6914 (Office) (510) 238-7084 (Fax) jchan@oaklandnet.com (e-mail) bkilley@oaklandnet.com (e-mail)

Special Events Permits: Special event permits are issued by the Special Event Unit of the Oakland Police Department. Special events include dances, parades, concerts, or any events open to the public where 50 or more persons are in attendance. Special events include profit and non-profit events, and events that require street closures. Applications for special event permits should be filed at least 30 days in advance of such events. The Special Events Unit will review applications and assess the impact on public safety, including traffic and surrounding commercial or residential tenants. If public safety or traffic impacts are found, off-duty police officers are assigned to monitor such events and the applicant is assessed the cost of such officers. Additionally, the applicant must provide proof of liability insurance for the proposed event.

Updated 3/03/2008 RPV Page 2 of 4

2651 73rd Avenue Oakland, CA 94605 (510) 777-8525 (Office) (510) 777-8979 (Fax) Sergeant Pete Espinoza pespinoza@oaklandnet.com Officer Mike Morse mmorse@oaklandnet.com

Events in City of Oakland Parks: Events that are held inside of City parks and facilities must also be approved by the Parks Recreation. This agency will issue a park use permit and approve the use of sound amplification equipment for any event held in a City of Oakland park. You may contact the Director at the City park where you would like to hold your event for an application and availability information. For additional information, please contact the following unit of the Parks Recreation and Cultural Arts Agency at:

Central Reservations Parks Recreation 1520 Lakeshore Drive Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 238-3867 (Office) (510) 238-2224 (Fax) gmcmillon@oaklandnet.com (e-mail)