Alameda's homes
The city of Alameda has about 77,238 residents2 in about 32,291 housing units, and about 29,988 units are occupied,2 per Census estimates. The 1960s and 1970s together account for about 29 percent of Alameda's housing units and 1939 or earlier for about 32 percent;3 the median year built is about 1965.3
Who lives in Alameda homes
By Census estimates, about 51 percent of the city of Alameda's occupied homes are owner-occupied, about 15,194,4 and renters hold about 49 percent, about 14,794. For Alameda's renter households, about 18 percent are in detached houses and about 51 percent in buildings of five or more units,5 with about 1,178 owner households in those larger buildings.
About 5,377 of Alameda's renter households, about 36 percent, arrived in 2020 or later,6 Census estimates show, compared with about 13 percent of owner households. The average household holds about 2.53 people;7 about 33 percent of households include someone under 18,7 about 31 percent have someone 65 or older,7 and about 27 percent are one person on their own.7
Moving in and out of an Alameda rental
Alameda's code, section 21-2.9, has multi-family buildings give new tenants sorting information before or within 14 days of the tenancy starting,8 and buildings must also give it at least 14 days ahead of a tenant's move-out unless the tenant's own notice is shorter. Multi-family buildings must also provide containers for organics and recyclables in all common areas where those materials are generated and disposal containers are provided for tenants,8 the code says.
The Rent Ordinance prevents landlords from terminating a tenancy except for certain allowable grounds, the City of Alameda's Rent Program says.9 The Alameda City Attorney's Office launched a Mobile Housing and Victim Services Clinic in 2026 to bring housing information and community resources directly to residents,9 in a notice dated July 16, 2026.
Alameda's carts
Alameda's code has the occupant of each premises keep solid waste, recyclables and organics in approved containers that stay closed with a close-fitting cover when not in use.8 Single-family and multi-plex occupants are responsible for placing their carts or bags curbside,8 while multi-family (five or more units) occupants place containers at a spot on the premises agreed with the hauler, the code says.
What goes where in Alameda
StopWaste's Alameda guide puts food scraps, yard trimmings, soiled paper egg cartons, paper towels, napkins and greasy pizza boxes in the compost bin.10 StopWaste's Alameda landfill list includes synthetic sponges, plastic to-go containers and styrofoam packing peanuts.10
Alameda's on-call cleanup
The City of Alameda says its franchised hauler offers all residential customers, single family, multi-plex and multi-family, one on-call cleanup per household every twelve months.11
Household hazardous waste in Alameda
StopWaste says Alameda County residents can drop off household hazardous waste at any of four facilities with no appointment,12 bringing a valid ID showing a county address, such as a driver's license, utility bill or lease. Each container should be 5 gallons or 50 pounds at most, with a maximum of 15 gallons total or 125 pounds, and chemicals stay separate, StopWaste says.12 Household cleaners such as drain cleaners, oven cleaners, ammonia and bleach are among what the facilities accept,12 by StopWaste's list.
Storm drains and lagoons in Alameda
Alameda's Municipal Code, section 18-22.1, prohibits non-storm water discharges to the City storm sewer system,13 and says all discharges of material other than storm water must comply with a permit; section 18-22.2 lists exceptions. Alameda's code puts the job of keeping a paved sidewalk clear of dirt or litter on the occupant or tenant first, then the owner, to the maximum extent practicable, and it keeps sweepings out of the gutter and roadway.13
The Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program says storm drains do not connect to the sewer or a water treatment plant, and that water in them flows directly to creeks, wetlands and the Bay.14 The City of Alameda says the five connected South Shore lagoons are privately owned, and that the system is also a storm drainage retention and treatment pond for portions of Alameda Island.15
Tap water in Alameda
East Bay Municipal Utility District's 2025 report lists hardness in ppm by treatment plant across the District: 15 to 21 at Walnut Creek, 14 to 27 at Lafayette, 14 to 40 at Orinda, 64 to 98 at Sobrante and 140 to 160 at Upper San Leandro,16 from individual sample results in Table 4; these are ranges for the District's plants, not figures for Alameda. That same report says knowing the amount of hardness can help improve the function of a dishwasher, and points to the appliance manual for the optimum grains per gallon level.16