Gutters and Roofing for Newark
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Newark, in short
Who puts out a fire at my house in Newark?
The Alameda County Fire Department. Its About page names Newark among the cities it serves with “all-risk emergency services”, and its list of communities that consolidated with it shows “May 1, 2010 City of Newark”. Three of its stations stand in Newark, and the department’s stations page calls each one a former Newark fire station.
The story of Newark
Newark, a railroad town by the Bay, incorporated in September 1955.
The City’s history page says, “The roots of our community are 150 years old.” It dates Newark’s incorporation to September 1955, and names Mayhew’s Landing, where in 1853 there were “warehouses for wheat, hay, and coal”.
The museum’s 2017 walking-tour booklet says, “By California’s statehood in 1850, landings along the Bay in the vicinity of today’s City of Newark had already begun to appear.”
The City’s history page says, “In 1853, Mayhew’s Landing included warehouses for wheat, hay, and coal.”
The booklet says the name was chosen by J. Barr Robertson, a Scotsman hired to oversee an English capitalist’s interests, who named the town after the castle of Newark in Port Glasgow, Scotland, and it adds that there are several different stories about the origin of the name.
The booklet says that soon after the railroad arrived, “a railroad station, roundhouse, and railroad shop buildings were being erected in the center of Newark”, and that the enterprises that followed “joined the salt industry, which had been underway in the Newark area since the 1850s”.
The booklet says Thomas and Martin Carter “opened their Newark plant in 1876” and were “builders of some of the cable cars that still ply the streets of San Francisco”. The museum’s township history says, “Newark became famous for the Carter rail cars manufactured there.”
The booklet says Newark’s covered depot was built in 1877 and burned in 1902: “Narrow gauge trains were able to stop under the cover of its roof.”
The booklet says Watkins Hall, built in 1889, “served as the center of commercial, civic activity, and social functions for 19th and early 20th century Newark.”
The museum’s Then and Now page quotes an 1898 verse about the township’s towns: “There’s busy Newark, with her buzzing saws”.
The booklet says the State Bank building was “Built in 1926 as home of the first, if not too successful, financial institution in Newark.” It adds, in its 2017 words, “The vault is still in the building.”
The Swiss club’s history page says the Aelpler Gruppe Swiss Club “was founded in 1925”, that “the meetings moved to Newark” in 1934, and that “The first meeting in the new Swiss Park Hall was held on February 3, 1935.”
The City’s history page dates the incorporation of Newark to September 1955.
The museum’s page says the area is “commonly referred to as the Tri-City Area, the southern portion of the East Bay”.
Fire safety
The Fire Department’s clearing guidance
The department’s defensible-space page says, “Clear dead weeds, grass and debris. Check roofs, gutters, and outdoor areas” and “Clear and remove all dead leaves, plants, weeds, grass and pine needles from your yard, roofs and gutters”. The page does not say whether these are rules. The City’s Weed Abatement page (read in a browser Nov 3 2026) says it has a Weed Abatement Program: each year the Fire Marshal prepares a list of properties where the weeds are a fire hazard, the owners are notified to have the weeds controlled by a certain date, and if they are not, the City has them mowed and bills the owner for the cost. The page says most of the properties tagged are undeveloped.
Page undated; read Nov 3 2026
Complaints about a fire hazard
The department’s FAQ page, which speaks for every community it serves and does not name Newark, says, “A complaint is forwarded to the ACFD by a citizen or other city or county entity. The ACFD will investigate the complaint, prepare and communicate actions, monitor and assure compliance and forward to the appropriate law enforcement agency for further intervention as appropriate.”
Page undated; read Nov 3 2026
Need a hand with this? Gutter guards
Newark this month
Storm season: the City’s Flooding and Sandbags page says residents can get sandbags at the Newark Service Center, up to ten bags each, when flood warnings are issued or flooding is occurring, with proof of residency.
The Newark blog starts when there is enough local news to keep it current.
Culture and history
Newark Days
The organiser’s page says, “Newark Days is a four-day festival held to commemorate the birthday of the City of Newark, California, held every year in September.”
Organiser’s page undated, read Nov 3 2026
Swiss Park
The Swiss club that owns Swiss Park, the Aelpler Gruppe, says on its history page that its meetings moved to Newark in 1934. More in The story of Newark, below.
Club’s page undated, read Nov 3 2026
See 2 more
The railroad
The Washington Township Museum of Local History’s short history says, “The town of Newark was started by the South Pacific Coast Railroad which built a narrow gauge line south to Santa Cruz and north to Alameda.” More in The story of Newark, below.
Page undated; read Nov 3 2026
The name
The museum’s 2017 booklet says the name Newark was chosen by a Scotsman, who named the town after a castle in Port Glasgow, Scotland. More in The story of Newark, below.
Booklet copyright 2017, read Nov 3 2026
Community
Afro-American Cultural & Historical Society
The Society’s own page lists “Kwanzaa”, a “Martin Luther King Jr. Program”, a “Black History Month Celebration” and an “Annual Scholarship”, and says it serves students from “the Tri-City area” and Hayward.
Page undated; read Nov 3 2026
Washington Township Museum of Local History
The museum, which is in Fremont, says on its home page, “The mission of the museum is to preserve Southern Alameda County (Fremont, Newark and Union City) memories, documents, artifacts, and structures from the past and share them with present and future generations.”
Page undated; read Nov 3 2026
See 1 more
Newark Library League
The Alameda County Library’s page for its Newark branch lists the branch’s friends group, the “Newark Library League”.
Page undated; read Nov 3 2026
City rules and regulations
Re-roofs
A re-roof is a permit job in Newark that does not need plans. The City’s Applying for a Permit page says, “Some building permits do not require plans. If you are not sure, please contact the Building Inspection office.” It lists “Re-roofing” among “Some of the residential exceptions”.
Page undated; read in a browser Nov 3 2026
How to apply
The page says to “Email the completed permit application to” the Building Inspection office’s permit address, which the page prints. After that, “you will be sent an invoice and payment instructions to process payment of the permit fees”, and “Once the permit is signed, it must be emailed back to the Building Inspection staff for further processing prior to scheduling inspections.”
Page undated; read in a browser Nov 3 2026
See 3 more
Roof water and the sewer
The Union Sanitary District’s sewer ordinance bars “Storm water, groundwater, rainwater, street drainage, subsurface drainage or yard drainage” from “direct or indirect connections to a community sewer unless a permit is issued by the Agency.” The District serves Newark.
Ordinance read Nov 3 2026 from a text-recognised copy; its adoption date is not printed on the pages read
Street trees are the City’s
The City’s Tree Maintenance page says, “The current City of Newark’s Street Tree Management Program (TMP) was adopted in 1988.” It adds, “The City is responsible for trees in the parks, within the public right-of-way and at public facilities.” and “Most City Street Trees are scheduled for routine pruning every 8 years.”, with “approximately 2000 trees” pruned each year by contract.
Page undated; read in a browser Nov 3 2026
A tree in front of your property
The same page says, “If a resident or a business has an empty tree pocket in front of their property and would like a tree planted, they can request one and the City will plant one as soon as the budget allows.” It also names the Maintenance Division as the place to report a dead, dying or hazardous tree.
Page undated; read in a browser Nov 3 2026
Need a hand with this? Roofing
Storms, flood and drainage
Flooding, in the City’s words
The City’s Flooding and Sandbags page says, “Generally, Newark doesn’t experience flood waters that reach homes. However, if it is raining heavily at the same time as a high tide, there could be localized flooding because the system cannot drain to the Bay.”
Page undated; read in a browser Nov 3 2026
Sandbags
The page says, “In the event that you feel your residence or business is threatened by flooding, the City has a stockpile of sand and sandbags available at” the Newark Service Center, 37440 Filbert Street (the City’s address; page read Nov 3 2026). “Each resident may be issued up to ten (10) bags to protect their doorways if flood warnings are issued or if flooding is occurring in Newark.” and “Verification of residency and a signature will be required for issuance of the sandbags.” “Filling and handling of the sandbags will be the responsibility of the resident.”
Page undated; read in a browser Nov 3 2026
See 1 more
Storm patrol
The page says, “During heavy rain, the Maintenance Division staff is on storm patrol. Crews circulate throughout the City cleaning storm drain inlets and removing any debris that could cause localized flooding conditions.” Those are the street’s storm drains, not your roof’s gutters.
Page undated; read in a browser Nov 3 2026
Need a hand with this? Gutter cleaning
Programs, loans and insurance
County-wide Check back Minor Home Repair Program (Healthy Homes): check back
The Alameda County Healthy Homes Department’s Homeowner Minor Home Repair Program, its page says, “serves the cities of Albany, Dublin, Emeryville, Oakland, Newark, Union City”, and some unincorporated areas. You need “a household income at or below the HUD income limits”, and its services are “available only once in a two year period”. The City’s housing site says, “Grants are available for minor home repairs, including the removal of lead hazards. These programs are available to qualified Newark households.” and “Call (510) 567-8280 to learn more and request an application”. The City’s page names no roof or gutter item, and neither page says whether funding is open.
Program pages undated; read Nov 3 2026
County-wide Lead hazard repair grants
The County’s page says, “Lead Hazard Repair grants are available for owners of pre-1960 rental and owner-occupied residential properties throughout Alameda County.” It adds, “Service includes free lead testing, up to $12,000 per unit for lead hazard repairs, and project assistance to help make your home or property lead-safe.” Roofs and gutters are not named.
Page undated; read Nov 3 2026
See 6 more
County-wide Check back Habitat for Humanity home repair: check back
Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley’s Home Repair page says, “Services are currently available in select cities in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties.” Newark is an option in the page’s city menu for Alameda County. Its “Critical Repairs” list includes “roof repairs, upgrading electrical systems, replumbing, flooring replacement, replacing windows”. The page does not say whether it is taking applications now.
Program page undated; read Nov 3 2026
County-wide Check back Renew Alameda County home improvement loans: check back
The City’s housing site lists Renew Alameda County for Newark households and says the program “is operated by Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley.” The program offers “1% interest loans”, and its page of eligible repairs names “Re-roofing and gutter replacement” and “Property Drainage Improvements”. Its page says, “Renew Alameda County’s application is currently closed, but you can still join the interest list.”
Program pages undated; read Nov 3 2026
Rain barrel rebate (Alameda County Water District)
The District says it is “currently offering customers a rebate of up to $50 per rain barrel, (up to two rain barrels)”. Its page says, “Customers can apply for and receive a rain barrel rebate every 10 years.” and that “All rebates are subject to availability of funds.” The rebate can go toward accessories for “modifying a downspout to connect a barrel (does not apply to new or replaced gutters or downspouts)”. The application “must be postmarked within 90 days of rain barrel purchase date”.
Page undated; read Nov 3 2026
Check back Earthquake Brace + Bolt: check back
Earthquake Brace + Bolt is a program of the California Residential Mitigation Program, a joint body, not a State program. The program’s 2025 Northern California ZIP list has an entry for Newark, 94560, and says, “Eligibility based on ZIP Code only, city provided as reference.” Its page says, “An EBB seismic retrofit is only done on wood-framed, pre-1980 homes with a raised foundation.” and “EBB program registration is open for a limited time each year.” The pages do not say whether registration is open now.
Program pages undated; ZIP list printed 2025; read Nov 3 2026
Check back Earthquake Soft-Story: check back
The same joint body’s Earthquake Soft-Story program has a Newark entry, 94560, in its own 2025 ZIP list. Its page says it “strengthens older houses (pre-2000) that have a living space above the garage”. The pages do not say whether registration is open now.
Program pages undated; ZIP list printed 2025; read Nov 3 2026
County-wide Low-income weatherization (Spectrum Community Services)
Spectrum Community Services’ page says applicants must “Live in Alameda County.” It offers “Heater, water heater, and weatherization services every five years”, and its list includes “Attic and Floor Insulation” and “Window and Exterior Door Repair or Replacement”, with no roof or gutter item.
Page last updated Dec 30 2025 by its own line; read Nov 3 2026
Who serves your home in Newark
- Fire: The Alameda County Fire Department. Its Divisions page says its Fire Prevention Branch is responsible for “the enforcement of all applicable State and local fire codes and standards, and fire investigations”, and its Fire Prevention page says that “under contract with each community, Fire Code Administration provides services” to Newark among others.
- Water: The Alameda County Water District. Its rain barrel rebate page puts Newark inside its service area: the installation site must be within “ACWD’s service area (Fremont, Newark, and Union City)”.
- Sewer: The Union Sanitary District. Its home page says it provides “wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal services to Fremont, Newark, and Union City, CA.” Its page on sewer laterals says, “USD maintains all public sanitary sewer mains within Fremont, Newark, and Union City.” and “it is the property owner’s responsibility to maintain and repair their own sewer lateral from the house up to the point of connection with the public sanitary sewer main.”
- Garbage, recycling and compost: Republic Services. The City’s Recycling and Waste Reduction page says, “In Newark, garbage, recycling, and compost collection services are provided by Republic Services.”
- Electricity supply: Ava Community Energy. Its Newark page says, “The City of Newark joined Ava in 2021.” and “Its residential, municipal, and commercial accounts are automatically enrolled in Ava’s Bright Choice service.”
- Electricity delivery and gas: Pacific Gas and Electric. Its service-area page lists Newark under Alameda County twice, in two lists under the tab labels “Electric Service Territory” and “Gas Service Territory”; the page’s text does not show which list sits under which tab.
- Flood control: The Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. Its list of watersheds shows Newark among the cities of three of them: the Mowry Slough, Newark Slough and Plummer Creek watersheds.
Useful links: Alameda County Fire Department · Alameda County Fire Department: Defensible Space · City of Newark: Applying for a Permit (Building Inspection) · City of Newark: Master Fee Schedule · City of Newark: Flooding and Sandbags · City of Newark: Tree Maintenance · City of Newark: Recycling and Waste Reduction · City of Newark: Newark History · Union Sanitary District · Alameda County Water District: Rain Barrel Rebate · Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District: Watersheds · Republic Services · Ava Community Energy: Newark · Alameda County Healthy Homes Department: Minor Home Repair · Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley: Home Repair · Renew Alameda County (RenewAC) · Earthquake Brace + Bolt · Newark Days · Washington Township Museum of Local History
The homes of Newark
Newark’s median home was built in 1975, by the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 survey. Newark has about 16,000 to 16,700 homes, depending on the count: the survey’s tables give 16,015 housing units and the State’s January 2026 estimate 16,659. By the survey’s tables about 68 percent of the homes are detached houses and about 69 percent of the occupied homes are owner-occupied, our own calculations.
1960 to 1979
The biggest building decades
By the Census survey’s tables, about 7,000 of Newark’s homes, roughly 44 percent, were built from 1960 to 1979, and about 4,100 of them in the 1960s alone, our own calculations.
Before 1980
Older homes
The City’s Housing Element summary says, “Given that over 50 percent of housing in Newark was built before 1980, there will also be a need to upgrade older homes.” By the survey’s table the share is about 59 percent, our own calculation.
Today
Size of a single-family home
The City’s July 28, 2026 Planning Commission slides say, “Average single-family home size is approximately 1,720 ft2.”
Older roofs and gutters need a different hand: Gutter Repair · Roof Repair · Gutter Installation
The story of Newark
History and character
The museum’s 2017 walking-tour booklet says, “By California’s statehood in 1850, landings along the Bay in the vicinity of today’s City of Newark had already begun to appear.”
The City’s history page says, “In 1853, Mayhew’s Landing included warehouses for wheat, hay, and coal.”
The booklet says the name was chosen by J. Barr Robertson, a Scotsman hired to oversee an English capitalist’s interests, who named the town after the castle of Newark in Port Glasgow, Scotland, and it adds that there are several different stories about the origin of the name.
The booklet says that soon after the railroad arrived, “a railroad station, roundhouse, and railroad shop buildings were being erected in the center of Newark”, and that the enterprises that followed “joined the salt industry, which had been underway in the Newark area since the 1850s”.
The booklet says Thomas and Martin Carter “opened their Newark plant in 1876” and were “builders of some of the cable cars that still ply the streets of San Francisco”. The museum’s township history says, “Newark became famous for the Carter rail cars manufactured there.”
The booklet says Newark’s covered depot was built in 1877 and burned in 1902: “Narrow gauge trains were able to stop under the cover of its roof.”
The booklet says Watkins Hall, built in 1889, “served as the center of commercial, civic activity, and social functions for 19th and early 20th century Newark.”
The museum’s Then and Now page quotes an 1898 verse about the township’s towns: “There’s busy Newark, with her buzzing saws”.
The booklet says the State Bank building was “Built in 1926 as home of the first, if not too successful, financial institution in Newark.” It adds, in its 2017 words, “The vault is still in the building.”
The Swiss club’s history page says the Aelpler Gruppe Swiss Club “was founded in 1925”, that “the meetings moved to Newark” in 1934, and that “The first meeting in the new Swiss Park Hall was held on February 3, 1935.”
The City’s history page dates the incorporation of Newark to September 1955.
The museum’s page says the area is “commonly referred to as the Tri-City Area, the southern portion of the East Bay”.
Newark, roof and gutters
The Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District says its Newark Slough Watershed “drains 4.9 square miles of urban flatlands near the Dumbarton Bridge in Newark and part of Fremont into Newark Slough via a system of underground culverts and engineered channels.” Of its Mowry Slough Watershed, which lies in Newark and Fremont, it says, “There are no longer any natural creeks” and “Today all water is carried through culverts and engineered channels to Mowry Slough.”
Yearly rain here averages about 15.16 inches: the average of NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals for the Fremont station, 15.94 inches, and the Newark station, 14.37 inches (its daily record ends in January 2021), our own calculation. By those normals November through April brings about 90 percent of the year’s rain, our own calculation.
Water leaving a Newark roof has a long, flat way to go, so a look at the roof and gutters before the rains is a good habit. If yours hasn’t had one in a while, we’d be glad to come by.
Landmarks and parks
Watkins Hall
The museum’s 2017 booklet calls Watkins Hall “An imposing landmark at the heart of the original town”.
Candy Annie’s Store
The booklet says the store on Ash Street, built about 1890, “was the only place where ice cream could be purchased for miles around.”
Swiss Park
The park is owned by the Aelpler Gruppe Swiss Club, whose history page says the hall opened in 1935.
Graham Foundry
The booklet says the foundry was moved from Alvarado in 1880 and began using the Wedgewood name for its stoves in 1910.
How we can help in Newark
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 Newark
| February | February is the wettest month, by NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals at the Newark and Fremont stations, our own calculation |
|---|---|
| June | June through September together bring only about 0.28 inch of rain at each of the two stations, by NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals |
| July | July is the driest month, 0.00 inch at both stations, by NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals |
| September | Newark Days, the City’s birthday festival, is held every year in September, its organiser’s page says |
| November | The rains pick up: by NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals November averages about 1.5 inches against about 0.7 in October, our own calculation |
| December | December through February is the wettest stretch, about 58 percent of the year’s rain by NOAA’s normals, our own calculation |
Newark questions
What Newark homeowners ask us
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Newark?
A re-roof is a permit job in Newark that does not need plans: the City’s Applying for a Permit page lists “Re-roofing” among its residential exceptions to the plan requirement. You apply by email to the City’s Building Inspection office. If you wish, we can also pull the permit for you, as most of our customers ask us to.
Will my home flood in Newark?
The City says floodwater generally does not reach homes, but heavy rain at the same time as a high tide can flood a spot locally, because the system cannot drain to the Bay then. The City keeps sandbags at the Newark Service Center, up to ten bags per resident when flood warnings are issued or flooding is occurring.
Can I connect my roof downspout or yard drain to the sewer in Newark?
Not without a permit from the Union Sanitary District, which serves Newark. Its sewer ordinance bars rainwater and yard drainage from direct or indirect connections to a community sewer unless the District issues a permit.
Who looks after the street tree in front of my house in Newark?
The City does. Its Tree Maintenance page says it is responsible for trees in the parks, the public right-of-way and public facilities, and that most street trees are pruned every 8 years. A resident can ask for a tree in an empty tree pocket, and a dead, dying or hazardous tree goes to the Maintenance Division.
What our customers say
Get a free estimate
We usually respond promptly within the day. Phone first for emergencies: (510) 525-0880.
Where we work
Newark neighbourhoods we serve
Old Town
A City zoning table, printed in a July 2026 Planning Commission memo, names the “Old Town Specific Plan area”, and the museum’s booklet places Watkins Hall at the heart of the original town.
Also serving nearby: Fremont