Gutters and Roofing for Sunol
Gutter and roof installation, cleaning, repairs and rejuvenation. Family-owned since 2002, trusted by thousands of returning Bay Area homeowners.
Sunol, in short
Does Sunol have a city government?
No. Sunol is an unincorporated community of Alameda County. The County’s page for Sunol’s advisory council says, “As an unincorporated community the County is responsible for direct government in these areas.” So the County, not a city, issues Sunol’s building permits.
The story of Sunol
Sunol, an unincorporated community of Alameda County, at the eastern end of Niles Canyon Road.
Sunol is not a city, so the County handles its building permits and its fire code. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission says its Sunol Water Temple marks where three sources of water meet in the Sunol Valley.
The East Bay Regional Park District’s Sunol page says, “Bedrock mortars used by Native Americans for pounding acorns that were found in the area are reminders of Sunol’s first inhabitants.”
The Pacific Locomotive Association’s history says the first passenger excursion entered Niles Canyon on October 2, 1866, and that in September 1869 the Central Pacific “completed the transcontinental rail link between Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay, finishing the track through the canyon.”
The church’s own history page says its first worship service was held on October 4, 1884, “at what was then called the Congregational Church of Sunol”, and that in 1954 it was painted brown and renamed “The Little Brown Church of Sunol”. The National Park Service’s listing sheet for the Bachelder Barn gives 1885: “In 1885 a two-story schoolhouse and the towered wooden Congregational Church were built in the village.”
The Sunol Water Temple, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission says, was built in 1910 by the Spring Valley Water Company and “modeled after the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, Italy”. Its “red tile roof rests on 12 Corinthian columns”, and the American Society of Civil Engineers designated it “a California Historical Engineering Landmark in 1976”.
The Sunol Repertory Theatre’s page says the group “was founded in 1982” and that “SRT has donated over $200,000 to the School”.
The railway’s history says that in 1984 the Southern Pacific “ceased operating trains on the right-of-way” and deeded the land to Alameda County, and that on May 21, 1988, the Pacific Locomotive Association “brought railroad passenger operations back to life in Niles Canyon.”
The National Park Service’s listing sheet describes the Thomas Foxwell Bachelder Barn as “a two-and-a-half story, detached stone structure” on Kilkare Road, built of “honey colored sandstone from Sinbad Creek”, and says it was converted in the 1970s “to mixed residential and commercial use”. The barn was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on April 15, 1994.
Fire safety
Your fire agency
The Alameda County Fire Department’s Station 14 page says, “Fire services for the unincorporated area around and including Sunol are provided under contract with Cal Fire (the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection). The station is the property of Cal Fire and the ACFD owns the Type I fire engine.” The department’s Fire Code Administration lists Sunol among the unincorporated places it is responsible for.
Pages read Nov 3 2026
CAL FIRE’s defensible space inspections
CAL FIRE’s own Defensible Space page says, “CAL FIRE and our partners conduct defensible space inspections in State Responsibility Area (SRA) where CAL FIRE has primary responsibility for wildfire protection.” The page does not name Sunol or say which addresses are in that area.
Page read in Chrome Nov 3 2026, 04:13
See 1 more
The State’s separate Zone 0 rule: where it stands
The State’s rule for the first five feet around a home, also called Zone 0: adopted by the Board; in final review with the Office of Administrative Law; no effective date known.
Standing check of Nov 7 2026, and the Board’s page read again Nov 3 2026 (03:41)
Need a hand with this? Gutter guards
Sunol this month
Storm season: the County’s Public Works Agency says residents of unincorporated Alameda County can get free sandbags, five per household, at pickup sites that include three in Sunol, once the first major storm of the season is forecast.
The Sunol blog starts when there is enough local news to keep it current.
Culture and history
Niles Canyon Railway
The Pacific Locomotive Association “operates Niles Canyon Railway as a living history museum”, and its page says it provides “train rides to the public year-round between Sunol, California and Niles in Fremont, California”. Check the railway’s calendar for the day you want.
Page undated; read Nov 3 2026
Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve
The East Bay Regional Park District runs the 6,859-acre preserve; its page lists biking, camping, hiking, horseback riding and picnicking, and says, “The Sunol naturalist staff provides additional opportunities to enjoy the park by leading nature hikes and coordinating special events.”
Page undated; read Nov 3 2026
See 4 more
Sunol Repertory Theatre
“The Sunol Repertory Theatre, an all volunteer group, produces a melodrama play each spring.” The group’s page says it plays at the Sunol Glen School theatre.
Page read Nov 3 2026
The Water Temple
A 1910 landmark with a red tile roof, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission says. More in The story of Sunol, below.
The Little Brown Church
A church whose first worship service, its own history page says, was in 1884. More in The story of Sunol, below.
The Bachelder Barn
A stone barn on Kilkare Road that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. More in The story of Sunol, below.
Community
Sunol Citizens’ Advisory Council
“The community and County established the Sunol Citizens’ Advisory Council (SCAC) to provide increased local community involvement in decision making and governance,” the County’s page for it says. Its 2026 meeting schedule lists Sunol Glen School as the location.
Page and calendar read Nov 3 2026
Sunol Glen School
The school district’s story page calls it “a unique one-school district” and says it is “serving around 250 students from kindergarten through eighth grade”.
Page undated; read Nov 3 2026
City rules and regulations
Building permits come from the County
The County’s permit portal has a page headed “Building Permits – Serving Alameda County’s Unincorporated Areas”, and it names Sunol: “(Community incl. Ashland, Castlewood, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview, Happy Valley, Hillcrest Knolls, San Lorenzo, and Sunol)”. For fees, the County’s Permit Resources page lists a “Building Permit Fee Schedule – Schedule A”.
Pages read Nov 3 2026
A tree in the street right-of-way
The County’s planning page says street trees and other trees in the public right-of-way are protected by the “Tree Ordinance (number O-2016-66)”. The Public Works Agency’s Tree Program page adds, “Property owners are responsible for maintaining trees within county road right of way.”
Pages undated; read Nov 3 2026
Need a hand with this? Roofing
Storms, flood and drainage
Free sandbags from the County
The Public Works Agency’s page says, “The Alameda County Public Works Agency has free sandbags available for residents of the unincorporated Alameda County only.” They are “available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week outside of the corporation yard gates at the locations below, and are made available upon forecast of the first major storm of the season.” The page adds, “Sandbags are limited to five (5) per household.” and “Please bring your own shovel and a way to transport bags.” Its list names three places in Sunol, as read on Nov 3 2026: Station 14 at 11345 Pleasanton Sunol Rd, The Little Brown Church of Sunol at 141 Kilkare Rd, and the corner of Kilkare Road and Singalong Way. The page is for the 2026-27 season, so look at its list before you go.
Page undated; read Nov 3 2026
Who manages flood control around Sunol
Zone 7 Water Agency, not the County Flood Control District’s own zones. Zone 7’s flood protection page lists “Pleasanton/Happy Valley/Sunol Area Maps” among the documents of its Flood Management Plan.
Pages read 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 names Sunol among the places it serves: “the unincorporated areas of Ashland, Cherryland, Castro Valley, Hayward Acres, Hillcrest Knolls, Fairview, San Lorenzo, and Sunol”. You need “a household income at or below the HUD income limits”. The page says, “This grant can be used to make minor plumbing, carpentry, electrical repairs and can be used for railings, grab bars, toilets, water heaters, doors, locks and more.” It names no roof or gutter item, and it does not say whether funding is open for Sunol. Services are “available only once in a two year period”, and the page says, “To apply for a minor home repair grant, call 510-567-8280. You do not need to complete an application.”
Program page read Nov 3 2026
County-wide Check back Habitat for Humanity home repair: check back
Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley’s Home Repair page lists Sunol in its city selector for Alameda County, and says, “Services are currently available in select cities in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties.” Its repairs include “roof repairs, upgrading electrical systems, replumbing, flooring replacement, replacing windows”. The page does not say which listed cities are served now, or whether requests are open.
Program page read Nov 3 2026
See 5 more
County-wide Check back Renew Alameda County home improvement loans: check back
The program’s eligible-repairs page lists “Re-roofing and gutter replacement” and “Property Drainage Improvements” among the repairs its funds may apply to. Its qualifications page asks that you “Own and live in an insured Alameda County home”, and it does not list the cities of its “20-city territory”. The program’s home page says, “Renew Alameda County’s application is currently closed, but you can still join the interest list.”
Program pages read Nov 3 2026
County-wide Check back Diablo Firesafe Council cost-share: check back
The Council’s cost-share page says, “Up to $3,500 of cost-share funds is available to reduce your fire risk.” Its notice dated May 2025 says, “DFSC has temporarily closed the applications for the Partners in Wildfire Prevention fuel reduction grant match. No new applications can be submitted at this time.” The page says the Council “may assist Alameda County or Contra Costa County property owners with vegetation management projects that will lead to compliance with their local fire department’s defensible space requirements in areas designated as Priority Hazard Zones”; it does not say whether any part of Sunol is in them.
Program page read Nov 3 2026; the notice on it is dated May 2025
State-wide Check back California Safe Homes: check back
California Safe Homes, the State’s home-hardening grant program run through the Department of Insurance, is not open: no dated State page says it is, and the Department’s 2026 press-release index lists no Safe Homes item.
Press-release index: our saved copy, read Nov 3 2026; the standing check of Oct 8 2026 reads “Not open”
County-wide Weatherization Assistance Program (Spectrum Community Services)
Spectrum Community Services runs a Weatherization Assistance Program; its page says applicants must “Live in Alameda County.” and “Own the residence or get approval from the owner for weatherization services.” It offers “Heater, water heater, and weatherization services every five years.” The services it lists include “Heater Replacement” and “Water Heater Replacement”, with no roof, gutter or drainage item. The page gives no open or closed word.
Program page 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. Its 2025 Northern California ZIP list has the entry “Sunol 94586”. The program’s page says, “An EBB seismic retrofit is only done on wood-framed, pre-1980 homes with a raised foundation.” and “When EBB registration is open, you can complete the registration form online.” The page does not say whether registration is open now.
Program page read Nov 3 2026
Who serves your home in Sunol
- Fire: The Alameda County Fire Department, which says it provides “all-risk emergency services to the unincorporated areas of Alameda County (excluding Fairview)”.
- Electricity and gas: Pacific Gas and Electric; its service-area page lists Sunol under Alameda County, in both its electric and its gas lists. Ava Community Energy says it was set up to serve unincorporated Alameda County, “including Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview, San Lorenzo, and Sunol”.
- Flood control: The Zone 7 Water Agency; the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District’s page says Zone 7 serves “nearby unincorporated areas (including Sunol) in eastern Alameda County”.
- Permits: Alameda County issues the building permits for Sunol through its permit portal, because Sunol has no city government.
- Schools: The Sunol Glen Unified School District, which says it “serves a single school attendance area through Sunol Glen School, which enrolls students in transitional kindergarten through eighth grade”.
Useful links: Alameda County Fire Department (Station 14 and Fire Code Administration) · CAL FIRE: Defensible Space · Board of Forestry and Fire Protection: Defensible Space Zones · Alameda County Permit Portal (building permits for the unincorporated areas) · Alameda County Public Works Agency: Prepare for Winter Storms (sandbags) · Alameda County Public Works Agency: Tree Program · Alameda County Planning Department: Trees on Private Property · Sunol Citizens’ Advisory Council · Sunol Glen Unified School District · Zone 7 Water Agency: Flood Protection · East Bay Regional Park District: Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve · San Francisco Public Utilities Commission: Sunol Water Temple · Niles Canyon Railway · The Little Brown Church of Sunol · Sunol Repertory Theatre · Renew Alameda County (RenewAC) · Alameda County Healthy Homes Department: Minor Home Repair · Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley: Home Repair · Spectrum Community Services: Weatherization · Diablo Firesafe Council · Earthquake Brace + Bolt · Ava Community Energy · Pacific Gas and Electric: service area
The homes of Sunol
Sunol’s median year built is 1958, with a margin of error of 14 years, and about half of its homes were built before 1960, our own calculation from the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 survey tables. Almost all are houses on their own lot, and about four in five of the occupied homes are lived in by their owners. This is a small place, about 330 homes by the survey with a margin of error of 67, so these figures are rounded.
1939 or earlier
The largest group
Roughly four in ten of Sunol’s homes were built in 1939 or earlier, the largest single group, our own calculation from the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 survey tables; the estimate for this group has a wide margin of error.
1960 to 1999
About one in three
About one home in three was built between 1960 and 1999, our own calculation from the same tables.
2000 or later
About one in six
About one home in six was built in 2000 or later, our own calculation from the same tables.
Older roofs and gutters need a different hand: Gutter Repair · Roof Repair · Gutter Installation
The story of Sunol
History and character
The East Bay Regional Park District’s Sunol page says, “Bedrock mortars used by Native Americans for pounding acorns that were found in the area are reminders of Sunol’s first inhabitants.”
The Pacific Locomotive Association’s history says the first passenger excursion entered Niles Canyon on October 2, 1866, and that in September 1869 the Central Pacific “completed the transcontinental rail link between Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay, finishing the track through the canyon.”
The church’s own history page says its first worship service was held on October 4, 1884, “at what was then called the Congregational Church of Sunol”, and that in 1954 it was painted brown and renamed “The Little Brown Church of Sunol”. The National Park Service’s listing sheet for the Bachelder Barn gives 1885: “In 1885 a two-story schoolhouse and the towered wooden Congregational Church were built in the village.”
The Sunol Water Temple, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission says, was built in 1910 by the Spring Valley Water Company and “modeled after the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, Italy”. Its “red tile roof rests on 12 Corinthian columns”, and the American Society of Civil Engineers designated it “a California Historical Engineering Landmark in 1976”.
The Sunol Repertory Theatre’s page says the group “was founded in 1982” and that “SRT has donated over $200,000 to the School”.
The railway’s history says that in 1984 the Southern Pacific “ceased operating trains on the right-of-way” and deeded the land to Alameda County, and that on May 21, 1988, the Pacific Locomotive Association “brought railroad passenger operations back to life in Niles Canyon.”
The National Park Service’s listing sheet describes the Thomas Foxwell Bachelder Barn as “a two-and-a-half story, detached stone structure” on Kilkare Road, built of “honey colored sandstone from Sinbad Creek”, and says it was converted in the 1970s “to mixed residential and commercial use”. The barn was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on April 15, 1994.
Sunol, roof and gutters
The County’s page for the Sunol Citizens’ Advisory Council says Sunol is home to “many natural and historic community resources such as Alameda Creek, the largest watershed in the Southern San Francisco Bay”, and calls it “the eastern terminus for the scenic Niles Canyon Road”.
Yearly rain averages about 15 inches at the two nearest federal weather stations with a 1991-2020 normal, Fremont (15.94 inches) and Livermore (14.60 inches), each about 13 kilometers away, by NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals and our own calculation, measured from the Census Bureau’s center point for Sunol. November through April brings about 90 percent of the year’s rain, and June through September together bring about a quarter of an inch, our own calculation too.
The County’s tree-canopy table, which cites a vegetation map dated 4/1/2023, puts Sunol’s tree canopy cover, the share of the ground the tree crowns cover when seen from above, at 28 percent, against 22 percent for unincorporated Alameda County as a whole.
Before the rains is the easy time to clear a Sunol roof and its gutters of leaves and other debris, and the County’s winter-storm page asks the same of every household. If yours hasn’t been cleared in a while, we’d be glad to come by.
Landmarks and parks
Sunol Water Temple
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s page says the grounds “remain closed to the general public until the end of construction”.
The Little Brown Church of Sunol
The church’s own history page says that between 1916 and 1949 it “appeared in several feature films of the Silent Picture Era”.
Bachelder Barn
The listing sheet places it “at the bottom of a hill on the easterly side of Kilkare Road”.
Sunol Depot
The Pacific Locomotive Association says it has “railroad artifacts on display and interpretive educational exhibits at the Sunol Depot.”
How we can help in Sunol
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 Sunol
| January | The wettest month at Livermore, 2.78 inches, and 3.00 at Fremont |
|---|---|
| February | The wettest month at Fremont, 3.17 inches, and 2.72 at Livermore |
| April | Down to 1.22 and 1.10 inches, the last month of the wet season |
| July | No rain in the normals, 0.00 inches at both stations |
| October | The first real rain of the season: 0.69 inches at Fremont and 0.77 at Livermore, against 0.10 and 0.09 in September (NOAA’s 1991-2020 monthly normals) |
| November | The monthly normal climbs to 1.59 inches at Fremont and 1.54 at Livermore |
| December | Up to 2.97 inches at Fremont and 2.73 at Livermore |
Sunol questions
What Sunol homeowners ask us
Who issues building permits for roof work in Sunol?
Alameda County. Sunol has no city building department. The County’s Public Works Agency says to “Apply for building permits, submit plans, schedule inspections and check permit status through the Alameda County Permit Portal.” If you wish, we can also pull the permit for you, as most of our customers ask us to.
Do I need a County permit to prune or remove a tree on my own property in Sunol?
Generally no, the County’s planning page says: “There are currently no countywide ordinances regulating trees on private property in unincorporated Alameda County. Generally, property owners in unincorporated Alameda County can plant, prune, and remove trees on their own property without a permit from the County.” The one private-tree rule the page names, a view-and-sunlight ordinance, is for Fairview only.
Can I trim the tree between my property line and the street in Sunol?
If the tree stands in the County road right-of-way, the Public Works Agency’s Tree Program page says, “Permits must be obtained before pruning trees in any right-of-way areas.” It adds, “Trimming branches that are less than one inch in diameter does not require a permit.” It also says, “If you think a tree in the county road right-of way is sick or dead, you can request that an arborist assess the tree for potential removal.”
What does the County say to do about my gutters before the winter storms?
The County’s winter-storm page lists, under “Prepare your home”: “Clean your rain gutters, storm drains and downspouts from leaves and debris”, “Direct downspouts away from your foundation” and “Inspect your roof, drainage systems & sump pump, and make necessary repairs”. It is the County’s preparation list for the 2026-27 rainy season, read Nov 3 2026.
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
Sunol neighbourhoods we serve
Downtown Sunol
The County’s page says, “The small downtown area along Main Street includes a few commercial businesses, including a U.S. Post Office, and Sunol Glen School.”
Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve
Also serving nearby: Fremont · Pleasanton · Hayward