Albert Lopez
Planning Director
Planning

Unattended Collection (Donation) Boxes


On July 16, 2013, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors adopted regulations to address unattended collection boxes. A copy of the Ordinance may be found in the "Documents" section below. The Ordinance includes the following requirements:

  • Owner consent for placement
  • The box must contain contact information of the organization/persons maintaining the box
  • The box must remain in good order (i.e. free of graffiti, no litter present, etc.)
  • The box must not affect the flow of traffic or pedestrians
  • No box must be within a 2,500 feet of another box (to avoid overconcentration)

Important Dates

The Ordinance will become effective August 15, 2013. Per section 17.52.1290 (A) of the Ordinance, all property owners shall have 60 days from the Ordinance's effective date to file a permit for an unattended collection box. Therefore, property owners must submit their applications to the County no later than Monday, October 14, 2013, or face fines and possible abatement from the County's Code Enforcement Division.

Community Facilities and Collection Box Placement

The Ordinance approved by the Board of Supervisors states "that the County may approve a permit for an Unattended Collection Box on a parcel with a community facility as defined in Chapter 17.04 of the Alameda County General Ordinance Code." A community facility is defined as follows:

"Community facility" means any of the following buildings or uses:

  1. Church or rectory or convent, when constructed of frame or more lasting materials;
  2. School, attendance at which satisfies the requirements of the Compulsory Education Law of state;
  3. Nursery school;
  4. Library, college, university;
  5. Outdoor recreation facility;
  6. Public utility building or uses, excluding such uses as a business office, storage garage, repair shop or corporation yard;
  7. Newspaper carrier distribution center, having an area not in excess of one-hundred (100) square feet.

Boxes located on parcels without an approved community facility are not allowed.

Application Forms

A conditional use permit is required for the placement of unattended collection boxes within unincorporated Alameda County. Persons wishing to apply for a conditional use permit should complete the "Standard Application" and "Conditional Use Permit - Application Supplement" provided below. A conditional use permit is processed "at cost"-the applicant is responsible for all costs associated with the application. The County has set a $1,500 deposit for conditional use permits. For more information regarding the application cost, please refer to the "Conditional Use Permit - Application Guide".

A pre-application meeting with Planning Department staff is also recommended. Information about the pre-application process is also provided below.

If you have questions regarding application submittal, please contact the Alameda County Planning Department at 510-670-5400, Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., except on Wednesday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Documents


Staff Contacts

Sonia Urzua,Senior Planner, Planning Department
Phone: (510) 670-5400


Angela Robinson Pinon, Planner, Planning Department
Phone: (510) 670-5400