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Albany, in short
Where can I get sandbags in Albany?
During the rainy season, the City says, sandbag supplies are free of charge: with proof of Albany residency you can take up to 10 sandbags at the Albany Fire Station on San Pablo Avenue. Sand is at the Ocean View Park parking lot on Buchanan Street, and the City asks you to bring a shovel.
The story of Albany
Albany, first the City of Ocean View, between the Bay and Albany Hill.
Albany began as the City of Ocean View: in 1908, the City’s history page says, area residents protested the dumping of Berkeley garbage in their community by incorporating. In 1909 voters changed the name to Albany, in honor of the birthplace of the City’s first mayor, and the town had grown after the 1906 earthquake, when many families moved from San Francisco to the East Bay.
The City’s history page says that in 1820 a large portion of the East Bay was granted to Don Luis Maria Peralta, who divided it among his three sons, and that Jose Domingo received the northern portion, which included the area of Berkeley and Albany, and used the land for cattle farming.
The discovery of gold and California’s entry into the United States ended the land grant economy, the City says, and the Peralta land was divided into small parcels and sold as farms or homesteads.
In 1879 the Giant Powder Company, supplier of dynamite to the gold miners of the Sierra, selected Fleming Point for its plant after frequent accidental explosions made it unwelcome in San Francisco, the City’s trail page says, and dynamite factories dominated the Albany waterfront until 1905.
The City’s Albany Hill Field Guide says the dynamite manufacturers planted non-native blue gum eucalyptus on the western sides of the Hill to reduce the impact of explosions in the surrounding area, and that now the Hill is mostly covered in tall eucalyptus.
After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, the City’s history page says, a large migration of families went from San Francisco to the East Bay.
In 1908, the City says, area residents protested the dumping of Berkeley garbage in their community by incorporating, and became the City of Ocean View.
In 1909 voters changed the name of the city, primarily to distinguish it from many other communities in the area with the name of Ocean View; on a vote of 38 to 6, Albany was chosen as the new name, in honor of the birthplace of the City’s first mayor.
In 1927, the City’s history page says, Albany voters adopted the City’s first Charter, giving the City full control over its own governance.
During World War II the federal government built a housing project called Codornices Village on land leased from the University of California, to accommodate the thousands of workers at the Richmond shipyards, and next to it Veterans Village provided temporary military housing for the Navy training base in the same area.
The City says the Golden Gate Fields racetrack, built in the early 1940s, did not begin successful operations until 1947 and was primarily used by the military during the war years.
After the war both villages operated as federal housing until 1956, when the 420 units went back to the University and came to be known as Albany Village, providing family student housing for those attending the University of California at Berkeley.
From the 1950s through the early 1980s, fill of construction debris and concrete rubble was placed to the north and northwest of the racetrack parking area, and those areas are known as the Albany Plateau, Neck and Bulb, the City’s General Plan says.
In 2002, the City’s history page says, the waterfront area was incorporated into the East Shore State Park, and with the exception of the Albany Bulb that land is now owned by the State of California; in 2012 the California State Park and Recreation Commission renamed the park McLaughlin Eastshore State Park.
In 2008 the City of Albany celebrated its Centennial.
In the fall of 2020, the City’s project page says, City staff noticed the decline of the blue gum eucalyptus trees on Albany Hill; in October of 2021 the City Council established a Capital Improvement Project to address the decline, and the Plan was adopted by the Council on March 3, 2025, by Resolution No. 2025-10.
In June 2024 Golden Gate Fields ended its operation as a horse racing track.
Fire safety
Your fire department
The Albany Fire Department provides emergency services to the community through a range of services: fire suppression, emergency medical response and disaster preparedness.
Read Oct 7 2026
Fire prevention
The department’s Fire Prevention Bureau heads up a company inspection program, a yearly weed abatement program and a photoelectric smoke detector compliance program, and works with the other City departments in reviewing plans for fire code requirements.
Read Oct 7 2026
See 5 more
The fire code
Albany’s code adopts the 2025 California Fire Code “in its entirety”, and the section was amended by Ordinance No. 2026-01, passed May 4, 2026.
Ordinance No. 2026-01, passed May 4, 2026
Albany Hill in the City’s hazard plan
The City’s 2018 hazard mitigation plan says there is potential for fire hazard throughout the Albany waterfront and on Albany Hill, “much of which is covered by a non-native eucalyptus forest that is at risk for wildfires.”
Plan adopted by Resolution 2018-2, January 8, 2018
The City’s count of declining trees
After fewer than 20 dangerously decayed trees were removed at once, the City’s project page says, “An additional 300-400 trees were determined to be in various states of irreversible decline.”
Page read Oct 7 2026
The first phase of work on the Hill
The City’s news item of August 18, 2026 says the first phase of its Albany Hill work will include tree removals “to help reduce wildfire safety risks to nearby residents”.
News item published August 18, 2026; read Oct 25 2026
Community wildfire resilience workshops
The City’s calendar lists four Albany-El Cerrito Community Wildfire Resilience Workshops, all ages welcome, from May 2026 into spring 2027; two of them are demonstrations of milling eucalyptus logs into lumber.
Calendar page read Oct 25 2026; a series that ends in spring 2027
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Albany this month
Storm season: before the winter rains the City’s crews inspect problem flood areas and clear debris from storm drain inlets, and the City’s Stormwater page asks residents to help by removing leaves and debris from the storm drain inlets near their property with a rake or shovel.
The Albany blog starts when there is enough local news to keep it current.
Culture and history
The Historical Society’s plaques
The Albany Historical Society has donated 8 plaques to the City denoting historical places, and says it has begun a historical walking path using plaques that commemorate important places and people.
Pages undated; read Oct 7 2026
The Solano Avenue Stroll
The Solano Avenue Association says that since 1974 Solano Avenue and the twin cities of Albany and Berkeley have hosted the Solano Avenue Stroll, which it calls the East Bay’s largest street festival; the City’s About page calls it an annual event, and the association gives the second Sunday in September, with the next on September 12, 2027.
September 12, 2027; the association’s page read Oct 25 2026
See 4 more
Winter and Lunar New Year on Solano
The association’s events page lists Winter on Solano on Sunday, December 6, 2026, three weekends of Santa on Solano in December, and a Lunar New Year Celebration on February 6, 2027, and says it will announce its 2027 line-up in the fall of 2026.
Dates as the association’s page prints them, read Oct 25 2026
Art and views on the Bulb
The City says the Bulb is home to a vast array of urban art, including mural, stencil, graffiti, sculpture and installation art, and that the waterfront looks out on the Golden Gate Bridge, the skyline of San Francisco and the Marin Headlands.
Pages undated; read Oct 7 2026
Sidewalk stamps
The Historical Society says the history of Albany is stamped into its concrete: stamps in sidewalks, curbs and driveways mark who laid the concrete and often the year, from the earliest it found, 1909, to the most recent it recorded, 2012.
Page undated; read Oct 7 2026
A first name
Albany was first the City of Ocean View, from 1908 to 1909. More in The story of Albany, below.
Page undated; read Oct 7 2026
Community
Albany Historical Society
The society says its purpose is to discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge about the history of the Albany area, and the City says it publishes historical materials, hosts lectures and discussions, and works with local schools.
Pages undated; read Oct 7 2026
Solano Avenue Association
A non-profit founded in 1974, it says, of professionals, restaurateurs, retailers, organizations and individuals within one block of Solano Avenue in Albany or Berkeley, and San Pablo Avenue in Albany.
Page undated; read Oct 7 2026
See 3 more
Friends of Albany Parks
A City program that encourages residents to form a stronger connection with their favorite city parks, with clean-up days at Memorial, Terrace, Oceanview and Creekside parks.
Page undated; read Oct 7 2026
Friends of Albany Hill and Urban Tilth
The City’s Albany Hill Field Guide names Friends of Albany Hill, a decades-old community group dedicated to the preservation of nature at Albany Hill; the City says the Hill’s stewardship is shared by its Public Works and Fire Departments in partnership with the nonprofit Urban Tilth.
Pages undated; read Oct 7 2026
Everything Albany
A joint project of the Albany Chamber of Commerce and the City, meant as a resource for residents and visitors with news on everything going on in Albany.
Page undated; read Oct 7 2026
City rules and regulations
Re-roofs
The City’s Building Permits page lists “Re-Roofs” among its examples of over-the-counter permits, with the fire code affidavit as an extra document, and says applications go in through the Cloudpermit online portal; the City’s fee schedule for fiscal year 2026-27 lists a flat Re-Roof fee, which you can find in the Master Fee Schedule.
Pages undated; the fee schedule for fiscal year 2026-27; read Oct 7 2026
Design review and gutters
The Municipal Code requires design review, the City’s planning approval, for buildings and structures built or modified in any district, except what it exempts, and the exempt list includes “Roof replacement materials, flashing, roof vents, gutters and downspouts, on residential buildings.” That exemption is from design review only; it says nothing about the building permit.
Code read Oct 7 2026
See 5 more
Where roof water may go
The City’s code says “It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any storm water, surface water, ground water, roof runoff, or subsurface drainage into any building sewer or public sewer.” It also prohibits illicit drainage connections to the City storm sewer system, so only storm water may go there. The City’s drainage policy for residential projects with one or two units, revised January 4, 2018, sets the face of the curb in the public right-of-way as the approved point of collection, and lists as its first way to convey the water an underground drain pipe placed outside the structure.
Code read Oct 7 2026; policy revised January 4, 2018
Work in the street
The City’s page says “Any work performed in the public right of way requires an Encroachment Permit in addition to a Building Permit, when required,” and its list includes dumpsters and portable outdoor storage units.
Page undated; read Oct 7 2026
Street trees
The City’s tree policy page says “Permits are required for any work on public trees”, and that pruning of any established tree in the public right-of-way requires approval from the Urban Forester and may require an encroachment permit from Public Works. A street tree may not be removed without a valid street tree removal permit, and an application is considered only if it meets the removal criteria.
Pages undated; read Oct 7 2026
Trees on your own lot
The code’s tree-removal chapter applies only to the Hillside Development and Hillside Combining districts, and only to living trees on unimproved lots there over five feet in height.
Code read Oct 7 2026
When you buy or sell Smoke alarms before a sale
The code says “Prior to the sale of any real property, a property owner shall upgrade the smoke alarm/smoke detector system to photoelectric-only-type devices.”
Code read Oct 7 2026
Need a hand with this? Roofing
Storms, flood and drainage
Sandbags and sand
As a courtesy during the rainy season, the City says, supplies for sandbags are available free of charge; with proof of Albany residency, up to 10 sandbags can be obtained at the City of Albany Fire Department, and sand can be obtained at the Ocean View Park parking lot, where you bring your own shovel. If you need help filling them, the City says, Albany CARES will assist you in getting pre-filled bags.
Page undated; read Oct 7 and again Oct 25 2026
Before the rains
The City’s Stormwater page says that prior to winter rains crews inspect problem flood areas and clear debris, and that crews systematically remove debris from the tops of storm drain inlets. It also says storm drains have limited capacity, so flooding may occur in low lying areas or at high tide during an initial downpour, and that residents can assist by removing leaves and debris from storm drain inlets near their property with a rake or shovel.
Page undated; read Oct 7 and again Oct 25 2026
See 2 more
Rain barrels and disconnected downspouts
The City’s Stormwater Treatment and Capture page links the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program’s “Detain the Rain” leaflet and invites home owners to capture roof water in a rain barrel for use during the dry months and to re-route drainage to reach landscaping. The program’s page says disconnected downspouts direct roof runoff away from the foundations toward a landscaped area where plants and soils can absorb flows, and its leaflet adds “Some of these systems require technical guidance. Please consult with your local jurisdiction before installation.”
Pages and leaflet undated; read Oct 7 2026
Check the flood map for your address
The City’s hazard plan describes the shoreline west of Interstate 80 as a FEMA-designated 100-year flood hazard area, and the areas along Codornices Creek and Cerrito Creek as FEMA-designated 100-year flood hazard areas too.
Plan of 2018; read Oct 7 2026
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Programs, loans and insurance
Habitat for Humanity home repairs, roof repairs included
Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley’s Home Repair page lists Albany among the Alameda County places where its services are available, and names “roof repairs” among the repairs it does, with upgrading electrical systems, replumbing, flooring replacement and replacing windows. The page says “Qualified Bay Area homeowners can find help with a variety of interior and exterior repairs.”
Pages read Oct 7 2026
County-wide Minor home repair grants (Alameda County Healthy Homes)
The Alameda County Healthy Homes Department’s Homeowner Minor Home Repair Program serves the cities of Albany, Dublin, Emeryville, Oakland, Newark and Union City, and some unincorporated areas, its page says, and calls the help a “grant” that can be used to make minor plumbing, carpentry and electrical repairs and for railings, grab bars, toilets, water heaters, doors, locks and more. To qualify you have a household income at or below the HUD income limits and own your own home in one of its service areas; the service is available only once in a two year period, and to apply you call 510-567-8280.
Page undated; read Oct 7 2026
See 12 more
Free street tree planting
The City says street tree planting is free for residents: individual property owners can apply to have a street tree planted by the City in the public right-of-way adjacent to their property.
Page published January 10, 2025; read Oct 7 2026
Parcel tax exemption for income-eligible homeowners
The City says there are six separate City of Albany parcel taxes, and an exemption is available for qualifying homeowners for all six taxes; income eligible homeowners must apply every year, and completed applications should be postmarked or dropped off directly to Albany CARES by December 31, 2026.
Application deadline December 31, 2026; page read Oct 7 and again Oct 25 2026
County-wide Lead paint hazard repair grants
The Healthy Homes Department’s page says “Grants of up to $12,000 per unit for lead paint hazard repair work” are available for pre-1960 residential property in Alameda County, and that owner-occupied units must be home to a child under six years old or a pregnant person, or be regularly visited by a child under six; income limits apply.
Page shows 2024 income limits; read Oct 7 2026
County-wide Low-income weatherization (Spectrum Community Services)
Spectrum Community Services’ weatherization program lists attic and floor insulation, window and exterior door repair or replacement, heater and water heater replacement, weather-stripping and more, with no roof, gutter or drainage item; to qualify you live in Alameda County, provide a utility bill and proof of the household’s monthly income, and own the residence or get the owner’s approval.
Page last updated 30 December 2025; read Oct 7 2026
County-wide BayREN EASE Home: weatherization for moderate-income homes
BayREN says it covers 80% of the cost for essential weatherization upgrades, including insulation and duct sealing; to qualify you have a household income under or at 120% of area median income, live in a single-family home (four or fewer units) built before 2010, and are a PG&E customer.
Page footer 2026; read Oct 7 2026
Home modification consultations (Center for Independent Living)
The Center for Independent Living’s Residential Access Program page says “In Oakland, Alameda, Emeryville, Piedmont and Albany we offer home modification consultations.”
Page read Oct 7 2026
Check back Heat pump rebates: check back
The City of Albany offers rebates for heat pump water heaters and heat pump heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; all Albany households are eligible for a heat pump water heater rebate, while moderate and low-income households can receive heat pump HVAC rebates. The installation must be in the City of Albany and receive a building permit, the rebate application goes in within 4 months of receiving a permit, and rebates are distributed first come, first serve. The page shows no open or closed word, and the latest dates on it are July 21 and September 19, 2025.
Page read Oct 7 and again Oct 25 2026; its latest dates are of 2025
Check back Earthquake Brace + Bolt: check back
The California Residential Mitigation Program runs Earthquake Brace + Bolt, which provides up to $3,000 toward a code-compliant seismic retrofit to a qualifying house; eligibility is by ZIP code, and the program’s 2025 list pairs Albany with 94706. The program page says an EBB seismic retrofit “is only done on wood-framed, pre-1980 homes with a raised foundation” and that registration “is open for a limited time each year”. The page invites you to sign up to be notified when registration opens.
ZIP list printed 082025; read Oct 7 2026
County-wide Check back PG&E Energy Savings Assistance: check back
PG&E’s page says the program upgrades or repairs heat pump water heaters, furnaces and lighting, even refrigerators, all at no charge, for renters and homeowners who live in a house, mobile home or apartment at least five years old, and its income guidelines are “Valid through May 31, 2027.” PG&E’s service-area page lists Albany among the Alameda County places it serves.
Valid through May 31, 2027; read Oct 7 2026
County-wide Check back RenewAC home improvement loans: check back
The county’s RenewAC loans are for people who own and live in an insured Alameda County home, and the eligible repairs include re-roofing and gutter replacement and property drainage improvements; its page reads “APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED”, with an interest list still open.
Pages undated; read Oct 7 2026
County-wide Check back Diablo Firesafe cost-share: check back
The Diablo Firesafe Council’s page says “DFSC has temporarily closed the applications for the Partners in Wildfire Prevention fuel reduction grant match” under the line “Update May 2025”, and says it may assist Alameda County or Contra Costa County property owners with vegetation management projects. The page says the application form will reopen when new funding is available.
Update May 2025; read Oct 7 2026
County-wide Check back Clean HEET wood stove and fireplace insert replacement: check back
The Air District’s page says “The Clean HEET Program application period closed on July 14, 2026” and “All Bay Area homeowners are eligible to apply”.
Closed July 14, 2026; page updated 7/14/2026
Who serves your home in Albany
- Fire: The City’s own Albany Fire Department.
- Water: EBMUD; its Orinda Water Treatment Plant serves all or parts of Albany, EBMUD’s page says.
- Sewer: The City of Albany’s Public Works collects the sewage and conveys it to EBMUD, which treats it.
- Garbage: Waste Management of Alameda County (WMAC Albany), the hauler StopWaste lists, which says on its own page that it serves single-family homes and buildings of one to four units; the City’s trash page names WM as the contact for residents’ carts.
- Electricity: Ava Community Energy, the default electricity provider for most of Alameda County, whose table of default service levels lists Albany first; PG&E, Ava’s FAQ says, still maintains and repairs the power lines.
- Air: The Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which regulates the nine counties around San Francisco Bay, Alameda among them.
- Storm drains: The City of Albany; its storm drain system is separate from the sanitary sewer and carries rain water to the Bay.
- Schools: Albany Unified School District, which says it serves the city of Albany: Albany High, Albany Middle, Cornell, Marin and Ocean View elementary schools, MacGregor Continuation and the ACC Preschool.
- Parks: The City’s Park Directory lists eight places: Albany Bulb, Neck and Waterfront Trail; Albany Hill and Creekside Park; Dartmouth Tot Lot; Jewel’s Terrace Park; Memorial Park; Ocean View Park; the Ohlone Greenway; and Peggy Thomsen Pierce Street Park.
Useful links: Albany Unified School District · Albany Fire Department · City of Albany: Building Permits and the Cloudpermit portal · City of Albany: Sand Bags and Storm Response · City of Albany: Stormwater · City of Albany: Urban Forestry (street trees) · City of Albany: Parks and Open Space · Alameda County Library, Albany branch · East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) · Ava Community Energy · StopWaste (Alameda County recycling and garbage contacts) · Albany Historical Society · Solano Avenue Association · Everything Albany (Albany Chamber of Commerce and the City) · McLaughlin Eastshore State Park (East Bay Regional Park District) · City of Albany: Stay Connected (AC Alert county emergency alerts)
The homes of Albany
Albany’s median home was built in 1951. About 38.5 percent of its homes were built in 1939 or earlier and about 78.8 percent before 1980, and about half of its housing units are detached single-family houses, our own calculations from the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 tables. About 53.1 percent of its occupied homes are owner-occupied and 46.9 percent renter-occupied, by our own calculation from the same tables.
1906
A one-story wood cottage on the National Register
The National Park Service lists the Peterson House, a detached one-story wood cottage built in or just after 1906, on the National Register of Historic Places (listed in 1982); the nomination form calls it notable for its expressed frame construction method, and says the house originally had a wood shingle roof, which has been restored.
Largely the 1920s
Spanish Revival, Craftsman, Tudor and Minimal Traditional
The City’s 2018 residential design guidelines say the housing stock was largely built in the 1920’s, with smaller homes reflecting a diverse range of architectural styles: Spanish Revival, Craftsman, Tudor, Minimal Traditional, and Modern/contemporary, with no one dominant style. Its photo captions describe the Tudor style by steeply sloped rooflines and cross gable details, and the Craftsman style by decorative brackets, rafter tails, a gable covered entry and a cross gable roofline.
The 1920s and 1930s
The MacGregor homes
The Albany Historical Society’s plaque for the builder’s office says Charles MacGregor built approximately 1,500 homes in Albany, mostly in the 1920’s and 1930’s, many featuring a Mediterranean style, and that they originally sold for under $5,000 and can still be seen around town, giving Albany its own distinctive look.
Older roofs and gutters need a different hand: Gutter Repair · Roof Repair · Gutter Installation
The story of Albany
History and character
The City’s history page says that in 1820 a large portion of the East Bay was granted to Don Luis Maria Peralta, who divided it among his three sons, and that Jose Domingo received the northern portion, which included the area of Berkeley and Albany, and used the land for cattle farming.
The discovery of gold and California’s entry into the United States ended the land grant economy, the City says, and the Peralta land was divided into small parcels and sold as farms or homesteads.
In 1879 the Giant Powder Company, supplier of dynamite to the gold miners of the Sierra, selected Fleming Point for its plant after frequent accidental explosions made it unwelcome in San Francisco, the City’s trail page says, and dynamite factories dominated the Albany waterfront until 1905.
The City’s Albany Hill Field Guide says the dynamite manufacturers planted non-native blue gum eucalyptus on the western sides of the Hill to reduce the impact of explosions in the surrounding area, and that now the Hill is mostly covered in tall eucalyptus.
After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, the City’s history page says, a large migration of families went from San Francisco to the East Bay.
In 1908, the City says, area residents protested the dumping of Berkeley garbage in their community by incorporating, and became the City of Ocean View.
In 1909 voters changed the name of the city, primarily to distinguish it from many other communities in the area with the name of Ocean View; on a vote of 38 to 6, Albany was chosen as the new name, in honor of the birthplace of the City’s first mayor.
In 1927, the City’s history page says, Albany voters adopted the City’s first Charter, giving the City full control over its own governance.
During World War II the federal government built a housing project called Codornices Village on land leased from the University of California, to accommodate the thousands of workers at the Richmond shipyards, and next to it Veterans Village provided temporary military housing for the Navy training base in the same area.
The City says the Golden Gate Fields racetrack, built in the early 1940s, did not begin successful operations until 1947 and was primarily used by the military during the war years.
After the war both villages operated as federal housing until 1956, when the 420 units went back to the University and came to be known as Albany Village, providing family student housing for those attending the University of California at Berkeley.
From the 1950s through the early 1980s, fill of construction debris and concrete rubble was placed to the north and northwest of the racetrack parking area, and those areas are known as the Albany Plateau, Neck and Bulb, the City’s General Plan says.
In 2002, the City’s history page says, the waterfront area was incorporated into the East Shore State Park, and with the exception of the Albany Bulb that land is now owned by the State of California; in 2012 the California State Park and Recreation Commission renamed the park McLaughlin Eastshore State Park.
In 2008 the City of Albany celebrated its Centennial.
In the fall of 2020, the City’s project page says, City staff noticed the decline of the blue gum eucalyptus trees on Albany Hill; in October of 2021 the City Council established a Capital Improvement Project to address the decline, and the Plan was adopted by the Council on March 3, 2025, by Resolution No. 2025-10.
In June 2024 Golden Gate Fields ended its operation as a horse racing track.
Albany, roof and gutters
Albany sits on a gentle, westward-sloping plain on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, the City’s General Plan says, and its principal natural features are the Bay, Albany Hill, Fleming Point and several creeks that run from the hills west to the Bay. More than 67 percent of the area inside the city limits is open Bay water, the City’s General Plan and hazard plan say.
Yearly rain averages about 25 inches at the two nearest federal weather stations, Berkeley (26.12 inches) and Richmond (24.41 inches), by NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals and our own calculation, measured from City Hall. The City’s hazard plan says storm patterns of warm moist air usually occur between early November and late March.
The City says its storm drain system is a network of structures, channels and underground pipes that carry rain water to the Bay, with about 11 miles of storm drain, and that five creeks flow within and along Albany’s borders: Cerrito, Codornices, Marin, Middle and Village. The Cerrito and Codornices Creeks, the City’s Creeks page says, serve as the northern and southern borders of Albany and traverse residential private properties from the eastern border to San Pablo Avenue in a combination of buried and open channels.
The City’s General Plan says coast live oak woodland covers the northern and eastern slopes of Albany Hill and the banks of the City’s creeks, with bigleaf maple, arroyo willow, California bay, California buckeye and coast redwood among the other trees, and that eucalyptus woodland is the dominant plant community on the west side of the Hill. The Forest Service says coast live oak sheds its old leaves from February to April, when the new ones come in, and that fall and early winter storms remove its acorns. An undated University of California magazine article says eucalyptus “drop leaves, peel bark and drop limbs”. The Street Tree Management Plan that the Council approved in 2025 says “Leaf and fruit litter from trees may frustrate residents due to messiness and potentially create tripping hazards.”
We have been working on Bay Area roofs and gutters since 2002. If yours hasn’t had a look in a while, we’d be glad to come by.
Landmarks and parks
Memorial Park
The City calls it the main city park in Albany; its centerpiece, the Veterans Memorial Building, was dedicated on August 14, 1932, the Historical Society’s plaque says.
Albany Hill
It rises 338 feet above sea level, the City says, and supports a seasonal monarch butterfly population.
McLaughlin Eastshore State Park
A parkland that extends 8.5 miles along the East Bay shoreline from the Bay Bridge to Richmond, the park district says; Albany Beach is a conditionally designated San Francisco Bay Water Trail trailhead.
Ohlone Greenway
An approximately 1-mile linear park running the length of the city, from El Cerrito to Berkeley, along the route of the old Santa Fe railroad, with BART’s elevated tracks above it.
Jewel’s Terrace Park
A small neighborhood park in southeastern Albany that the City’s park page says was probably the first park established in Albany; its tile mural, dedicated in 2007, was the park’s first piece of public art.
Ocean View Park
The only developed park in the western part of Albany, with sports fields, a redwood grove and picnic facilities.
Western Regional Research Center
The federal research center’s page says it received its second ACS National Historic Chemical Landmark on August 29, 2013.
How we can help in Albany
Why Sunshine Gutters and Roofing
- Family-owned since 2002, trusted by thousands of returning Bay Area homeowners
- Licensed (CSLB #1053780), bonded, with $2 million in general liability coverage
- Our own crew, never subcontractors
- We keep track of local regulations, fire safety rules and insurance programs
- We show you what we found, with photos, so you decide what happens next
The year in Albany
| February | Lunar New Year Celebration on Solano Avenue (2027: February 6) |
|---|---|
| March | The usual end of the City’s storm patterns of warm moist air, late March, its hazard plan says |
| September | Solano Avenue Stroll, the second Sunday in September (2027: September 12) |
| November | The usual start of the City’s storm patterns of warm moist air, early November, its hazard plan says |
| December | Winter on Solano (2026: Sunday, December 6) December is the wettest month at the two nearest federal weather stations |
Albany questions
What Albany homeowners ask us
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Albany?
The City’s Building Permits page lists “Re-Roofs” among its examples of over-the-counter permits, and its fee schedule lists a flat Re-Roof fee for fiscal year 2026-27; see the City’s Master Fee Schedule for the amount. If you wish, we can also pull the permit for you, as most of our customers ask us to.
Do I need design review to replace my roof or my gutters and downspouts in Albany?
The Municipal Code exempts it. Its exemptions from design review include “Roof replacement materials, flashing, roof vents, gutters and downspouts, on residential buildings.” Design review is the planning approval the code otherwise requires for buildings and structures built or modified in any district. The exemption is from design review only; it says nothing about the building permit.
Can I connect my roof downspout to the sewer in Albany?
No. The City’s code says “It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge any storm water, surface water, ground water, roof runoff, or subsurface drainage into any building sewer or public sewer.” The City says its storm drain system is not part of the wastewater (sanitary sewer) system, which carries water and waste from drains and toilets to EBMUD.
Will the City prune or remove the street tree in front of my house because it drops leaves into my gutters?
No. The City’s Urban Forestry page says “Street trees are not pruned or removed for views; to minimize fruit, seed, or leaf drop; to increase sunlight to a landscape or property; based solely on the presence of pests or disease; or for other discretionary purposes.” The code makes the owner of the lot responsible for keeping the trees along the street in non-dangerous condition, and adds “No maintenance to any tree within the public right-of-way may be performed without first obtaining an encroachment permit from the City.”
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Where we work
Albany neighbourhoods we serve
Albany Hill
The City calls Albany Hill a unique geological and ecological landmark on the west end of the city near the shoreline of San Francisco Bay, and its hazard plan notes single-family and multi-family homes on the east side of the hill.
Albany Terrace
The City’s parks plan puts Jewel’s Terrace Park in the Albany Terrace neighborhood, in southeastern Albany.
Ocean View
The City’s first name, from 1908 to 1909, which lives on in Ocean View Park and Ocean View Elementary School.
Solano Avenue
Albany’s “Main Street,” the City’s About page says, a pedestrian friendly business district of small shops, which the Solano Avenue Association says is an artery for both Albany and Berkeley.
San Pablo Avenue
The City’s park page calls it the major commercial artery that runs through several East Bay cities, Albany among them, and the City has a San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan of July 2022.
The Waterfront
The City says the Albany Waterfront is 190 acres on the eastern edge of the Bay, offering 88 acres of publicly owned parkland, including Albany Beach, the Bulb and the Plateau.
Also serving nearby: Berkeley · El Cerrito · Richmond · Kensington