Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the purpose of this program?
  2. How does an area qualify for a Residential Permit Parking Program?
  3. How do residents apply for a Residential Permit for their area?
  4. How are residential permits issued?
  5. Who is eligible to obtain a Residential Parking Permit?
  6. What is required to prove eligibility for a residential parking permit?
  7. How are the permits renewed?
  8. How many permits can a household or business have?
  9. What is the cost of permits?
  10. Who is exempt from the parking time restrictions within a RPPP area?
  11. How long are the permits valid?
  12. Are there any alternatives to RPPP?
  13. What are the limitations of this program?

  1. What is the purpose of this Program?

    This program is implemented to mitigate the on-street parking of vehicles by non-residents within designated neighborhoods in Alameda County. Under this program residents of a designated neighborhood can purchase parking permits to park along roadways in their area.

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  2. How does an area qualify for a Residential Permit Parking Program (RPPP)?

    Following are the guidelines to qualify for RPPP:

    • RPPP area must include at least six block fronts
    • 80% of the properties in the proposed area must be residential
    • Two-thirds of the area's resident must support the Program
    • 75% of all on-street parking spaces within the proposed area must be occupied during any two one-hour periods between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

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  3. How do residents apply for Residential Permit Parking for their area?

    • Residents acquire a standard RPPP petition form from Alameda County Public Works Agency located at 399 Elmhurst Street, Hayward or download it by clicking here (PDF - 32kb)*.
    • Conduct a petition drive in the proposed area to acquire at least two-thirds support for the program.
    • Submit the petition to Alameda County Public Works Agency.
    • Alameda County Public Works conducts a parking study or any other study that is needed to determine the eligibility of the proposed area.
    • Alameda County Public Works Agency conducts a Public Hearing on the proposed residential permit parking area. Notice of such hearing is posted at least 10 days prior to the hearing on all block fronts that are included in the proposed residential permit parking area. The notice is also published in a local major news paper.
    • If the petition meets with the requirements of this Program, Alameda County Public Works Agency proceeds with the preparation of a resolution recommending to the Board of Supervisors the establishment of residential permit parking area.
    • After the adoption of the resolution by the Board of Supervisors, Alameda County Public Works Agency installs signs establishing a residential permit parking area.

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  4. How are residential parking permits issued?

    After an area is designated as a residential permit parking neighborhood, residents submit a residential parking permit application to ACPWA located at 399 Elmhurst Street, Hayward. Application forms can be obtained from Alameda County Public Works Agency office located at 399 Elmhurst Street, Hayward. After receiving the application and appropriate fee, the residential parking permits are mailed to the residents within 10 working days.

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  5. Who is eligible to obtain a residential parking permit?

    There are four (4) types of Residential Parking Permits;

    1. Residential Permits

      • A residential parking permit may be issued for each vehicle owned, leased or under the continuing custody of an applicant who provides proof of residency within the designated residential permit parking area.
      • A residential parking permit may, in addition, be issued for each vehicle owned, leased, or under the continuing custody of a person who owns or leases commercial property and engages in business activity and employees thereof, within the designated residential permit parking area.
      • A total of three (3) permits can be purchased for each address in the parking permit area. Where it appears that the number of permits issued would exceed the number of legal on-street parking spaces, The total number of permits may be decreased at the discretion of the Director of Public Works or his/her designee.

    2. Neighborhood-Serving Establishment Permits

      A residential parking permit may be issued for any vehicle owned, leased, or under the continuing custody of a person who is employed by or a representative of a neighborhood-serving establishment located within the designated residential permit parking area. However, the issuance of the permits are subject to the following criteria:

      • An establishment for which there is inadequate off-street parking and no financially feasible way of creating adequate off-street parking on the site of the establishment.
      • The total number of permits issued, under no circumstances, shall exceed the lesser of 60 percent of the establishment's employees present on any given weekday or the number of unrestricted parking spaces along the establishment's frontage of the roadway designated as residential permit parking.
      • In areas where it appears that the number of permits sold per block would exceed the number of legal on-roadway parking spaces per block, the initial sale would be limited to one (1) or possibly two (2) permits per neighborhood-serving establishment.
      • Distribution of permits shall be through a designated representative of the establishment who will be responsible for allocation of the permits to employees.

    3. Business Permits:

      • A residential parking permit may be issued to a resident or an employee of a business located along a roadway that has been determined by the Director of Public Works or his/her designee to be significantly impacted by the implementation of residential permit parking on adjacent residential roadways. The Director of Public Works or his/her designee will determine which commercial roadways will qualify and the appropriate boundaries.
      • Any resident or employee whose business is located on a qualifying portion of a roadway will be allowed to obtain one (1) permit for each motor vehicle they own, lease, or have under their continuing custody up to a maximum of two (2) permits per address.
      • In areas where it appears that the number of permits sold would exceed the number of legal on-roadway parking spaces, the initial sale would be limited to one (1) permit per address.
      • Any resident or employee whose business is located on a qualifying portion of a roadway and whose address is in a building that was required by the County to provide off-street parking will not be allowed to obtain a residential parking permit.

    4. Visitor permits:

      Any person eligible to obtain a residential parking permit can acquire a visitor parking permit. However, no more than six (6) visitor parking permits can be issued at any one time.

      There are three types of visitor parking permits which are described as follows;

      • One-day Visitor Parking Permits is valid during the date indicated upon the face of the permit. A vehicle displaying such permit is exempt from the applicable parking time restrictions established pursuant to this Program.
      • 14-day Visitor Parking Permits is valid for the period of 14 days commencing upon the date indicated upon the face of the permit. A vehicle displaying said permit is exempt from parking time restrictions established pursuant to this Program.
      • 1-year Visitor Parking Permits is valid for the period of one year from July 1st to June 30th. A vehicle displaying said permit is exempt from parking time restrictions established pursuant to this Program. No more than one 1-year visitor parking permit per address shall be issued at any one time.

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  6. What is required to prove eligibility for a residential parking permit?

    Proof of eligibility to acquire residential parking permit consists of, but is not limited to, a driver's license, current rent receipt, or utility bill which identifies the applicant as a resident of a dwelling unit in the area. Proof of vehicle ownership or continuing custody consists of, but is not limited to, a vehicle registration or certificate of vehicle lease agreement.

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  7. How are permits renewed?

    The residential parking permits are renewed on a yearly basis and are valid from July 1 to June 30. The residents can renew residential parking permits during the months of May and June of each year by contacting Alameda County Public Works, located at 399 Elmhurst Street, Hayward.

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  8. How many permits can a household or business have?

    Please see question number 5.

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  9. What is the cost of permits?

    Following is the fee schedule for different types of residential parking permits;

    RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT FEE
    Residential Parking (auto) $25.00
    Residential Parking (Senior Citizens 50 yr.) $15.00
    Residential Parking Annual Renewal $15.00
    Business (owner-auto) $25.00
    Business (employee) $40.00
    Business (commercial vehicle) $75.00
    Visitor Parking (1-year) $25.00
    Visitor Parking (14-day) $10.00
    Visitor Parking (1 day) $5.00
    Replace Lost Permit $25.00

    These fees will be reviewed on an annual basis and established by the Director of Public Works and may be changed by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

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  10. Who is exempt from the parking time restrictions within a RPPP area?

    Following vehicles are exempt from the RPPP related parking restrictions;

    1. A motor vehicle displaying a valid residential parking permit, which is acquired under this Program.
    2. Any vehicle, including but not limited to, a clearly marked delivery, emergency utility or service vehicle with appropriate commercial license plates, which is under the control of an individual providing service to a property located on a roadway in the permit parking area while actually engaged in making pick-ups or deliveries of goods, wares, or merchandise from or to any building or structure within the permit parking zone or rendering a service to a resident within the permit parking area . Identification of such vehicle is the responsibility of the driver of such vehicle.
    3. Any vehicle which is identified as used by disabled individuals meeting the requirements of Section 22511.5 of the California Vehicle Code and displaying the disabled plates or placards.

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  11. How long are permits valid?

    Residential parking permits are valid for a term of one (1) year from July 1 to June 30, regardless of the actual date of issuance.

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  12. Are there any alternatives to RPPP?

    Yes. An area can be signed for parking prohibitions or time limits during times when on-street parking supply is limited. For example, prohibiting parking for a period as short as two hours a day may effectively eliminate all-day parking by non-residents and make unrestricted parking available during the remainder of the day to residents and their guests.

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  13. What are the limititations of this program?

    The RPPP does not:

    1. Guarantee or reserve to the holder of a RPPP permit an on-street parking space within the designated residential permit parking area.
    2. Authorize the permit parking holder to leave standing his/her vehicle for more than 72 hours.
    3. Authorize the abridgment or alteration of regulations established by authority other than this Program.
    4. Exempt the permit parking holder from other traffic controls and regulations existing in the designated residential permit parking area.

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