Requirements for City of Oakland Building Permit Applicants
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OMC 15.34, Effective July 1, 2000
To obtain a Building Permit for the following type of projects, Applicants are required to have an approved Waste Reduction & Recycling Plan (WRRP).
Affected Projects
- New Construction (Residential and Non-residential)
- Demolition (Non-residential and Apartment House)
- Alteration/Addition (Non-residential and Apartment House) with construction valuation of $50,000 or greater
The WRRP documents how Applicants will meet the City's goal of reducing the quantity of construction and demolition (C&D) debris disposed of at landfills by 50% or greater.
A WRRP is due with your building permit application. Failure to submit your WRRP at that time may delay issuance of your permit.
Allow 3-5 business days for processing.
Building Permits will not be issued without an approved WRRP.
A Summary Report (SR) must be submitted upon completion of construction, and prior to the issuance of a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Occupancy. The SR indicates actual recycling activities and documents compliance with OMC 15.34. It can also work as a tool for contractors to sharpen estimating skills.
Have questions? Please contact the Construction & Demolition Debris Recycling Program at (510) 238-SAVE (7283). Completed WRRP forms can be faxed to the Building Permit Counter at (510) 238-2263.
What You Need To Do
There are 3 steps to comply with the City's C&D Debris Waste Reduction and Recycling Requirements. The following forms, titles underlined, are provided in .pdf format. (What's this?)
- Step 1 - Complete and submit a WRRP (.pdf, 168k) with your Building Permit application
- Step 2 - During construction/demolition, gather data (.pdf, 96k) for Recycling Summary Report (due at final inspection)
- Step 3 - Submit a completed Recycling Summary Report (.pdf, 164k) at project completion
Staff is available to help you plan your recycling program, identify facilities that will accept your construction and demolition (C&D) debris for recycling, and answer questions about filling out forms. For assistance, call (510) 238-SAVE.
The Waste Reduction & Recycling Plan (WRRP) is part of your building permit application. The WRRP is your plan for reusing and/or recycling 50% or greater of all construction and demolition (C&D) debris from your project. The WRRP indicates:
- Estimated quantities of C&D debris generated (Column A)
- Estimated quantities of materials reused, recycled, and/or disposed (Columns B, C, D)
- Reuse, recycling, and disposal facilities and service providers you plan to use (Column E)
Note: Quantities must be listed in tons to meet City and State mandated reporting requirements. To convert volume (e.g., cubic yards, square feet, etc.) to tons, use the Materials Conversion Worksheet (.pdf, 80k; what's this?) provided.
To avoid delays in obtaining your Building Permit:
- Submit your completed WRRP with your permit application.
- Allow 3-5 business days for WRRP processing.
- Remember that your Building Permit application is deemed incomplete without an approved WRRP. Building Permits will not be issued prior to WRRP approval.
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Step 1 - Complete and Submit a WRRP
If your submitted WRRP indicates that less than 50% of the C&D debris will be reused or recycled, you may need to provide additional information (in writing) explaining why the 50% requirement cannot be met. For example, written verification of hazardous materials contamination is required if stated as the reason for not meeting the City's waste reduction and recycling requirements.
Where To Submit Forms: Submit completed WRRPs at the Building Permit Counter, 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, or fax to (510) 238-2263. Keep a copy for your records.
Who Should Fill Out The WRRP: The Applicant (e.g., architect, owner, etc.) is ultimately responsible for submitting a completed WRRP with their Building Permit application. The WRRP can be filled out by whomever is knowledgeable about the types and quantities of debris that will be generated from the project. If you need help, ask the contractor, subcontractor, or estimator for assistance.
Subcontractor Participation: If subcontractors are required to remove debris from the job site, they can play a key role in helping you meet the City's recycling requirements. Inform subcontractors of your waste reduction and recycling program and what is required of them early in the project. The applicant must provide documentation for any materials subcontractors are hauling. Documentation must include types, quantities and destination of materials, and specify amount salvaged or recycled. We strongly recommend including specifications or other language for recycling and/or reuse in your contracts. Click here for sample specifications, also available in the Green Building Resource Center's C&D Recycling Resource Binder. Informing your sub-contractors of your requirements up front helps eliminate confusion later.
Where To Take Materials: The Builders' Guide To Reuse & Recycling (.pdf, large, takes you to stopwaste.org website) lists local facilities and the materials they accept. Guides are available online in .pdf format (click link above), or at the Building Permit Counter located on the 2nd Floor, 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza or call (510) 238-SAVE to receive one by mail.
Obtaining Additional Forms: WRRP Forms are available at the Building Permit Counter. They can also be obtained from the following sources:
- Online. Click here for forms on the Required Forms/Helpful Tools pages.
- By fax. Call (510) 238-SAVE to order forms via automated fax on demand. Press "3" for Construction/Demolition, then press "1" for individual forms or "2" for a complete C&D Debris Recycling Information Packet
Review Process: The WRRP Form will be reviewed to ensure that it is complete and accurate. City staff will review the WRRP to determine if the applicant's estimates for quantities of materials generated and overall plan for reducing waste by 50% or greater are realistic.
If the WRRP is not acceptable (e.g., the form is incomplete, the calculations are unrealistic, etc.) the applicant will be contacted by phone or fax (within 3 business days of receipt) and advised of needed changes. A HOLD WILL BE PLACED ON ISSUANCE OF THE PERMIT once the applicant has been notified by phone or fax of necessary revisions. The hold remains effective until the identified issue(s) has been addressed and the WRRP is approved. The review process for a properly completed WRRP is 3 to 5 business days.
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Step 2 - Gather Data For Your Summary Report
After your Building Permit is issued and you are ready to begin work, you will need to begin recording information for your Summary Report. Unlike the WRRP, which is an estimate, the Summary Report documents your actual tonnages. You are required to keep all weight tags, gate receipts, and/or invoices necessary to document actual quantities of materials generated, reused, recycled, and/or disposed of throughout the project, as well as facilities or service providers used.
Tracking Forms are available at the Green Building Center located on the 2nd Floor, 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza.
It is your responsibility to obtain written receipts from subcontractors and other parties removing debris from your site. Notify subcontractors/hauler(s) of this requirement before work begins.
City staff is available to help you with this process. Call (510) 238-SAVE for technical assistance.
Important: The City may review weight tags or other related documents at any point in the project.
Step 3 - Complete and Submit Your Summary Report
A completed Summary Report must be submitted to the City prior to sign off at Final Inspection, and issuance of a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Occupancy. The Summary Report is similar to the WRRP, except that it indicates actual quantities and destinations of materials rather than estimates. Quantities must be verifiable, based on weight tags or other sufficient documents.
If less than 50% of the C&D debris from the project was diverted from landfill disposal, you must submit documentation with your Summary Report demonstrating that a "good faith" effort was made to achieve the 50% waste reduction goal. Documentation must specify, in detail, the reasons why you could not meet the City's requirement.
Due Date: Summary Reports are due by Final Inspection. They must either be submitted to the Building Inspector at that time or faxed to (510) 238-7286 prior to Final Inspection (call 510- 238-SAVE to verify that your fax has been received). Be sure to keep a copy for your records.
Review Process: The Recycling Summary Report will be reviewed after Final Inspection and prior to issuance of a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Occupancy, to determine if the applicant met or exceeded the goals for reuse and recycling stated in their WRRP.
Additional Information
Resources
C&D Recycling Resource Binder - located in the Green Building Resource Center (see listing below). Contains detailed instructions and information on meeting the City's C&D Debris Waste Reduction and Recycling Requirements, and minimizing job site waste. Topics include:
- Sample Packet & Required Forms
- Project Tracking Form
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Detailed Instructions for filling out WRRP & Summary Report Forms
- C&D (Mixed Debris Recycling) Rebate Program
- How To Set Up A Recycling Program
- Contacts/Resources
- Building Products with Recycled Content
- Case Studies
- Oakland's Waste Reduction & Recycling Ordinance
- Sample Specifications
Green Building Resource Center - located at 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor (by Zoning Counter). Learn about new building products, practices, and services that can help you minimize the environmental impact of your building project. The library, which includes product samples, covers topics such as Energy and Water Conservation, Stormwater Treatment, Non-toxic building materials, Solar Energy, Land Use and many other topics. Use the Center's computer to access the Alameda County Waste Management Authority's web site (www.stopwaste.org) and other great resources online.
Rules For Transporting C&D Debris
Q. Who can transport construction and demolition debris in the City of Oakland?
A. It is unlawful for any person other than the City's licensed franchised solid waste collector to collect or haul any Construction and Demolition debris within the City except:
(a) Source Separated Recyclables (e.g., unpainted wood, scrap metals, new drywall scrap), which consist of materials that have been separated from general Construction & Demolition Debris for the express purpose of recycling. Loads consisting of recyclable materials that contain more than five percent of residual (non-recyclable) materials shall not be considered source separated recyclable; or,
(b) Construction and Demolition debris that is; (1) removed from a premises by a licensed contractor as an incidental part of a total construction, remodeling or demolition service offered by that contractor, and; (2) directly loaded onto a fixed body vehicle and hauled directly to a transfer station, or disposal facility.