What Daly City Regulates: A Complete Ordinance Overview

Daly City is a mid-sized city in San Mateo County, California, with about 105000 residents. Like most cities its size, it has a set of local rules that may differ significantly from neighboring municipalities. Here is an overview of 102 ordinances across 15 categories that affect daily life in Daly City.

Noise Ordinances

Outdoor Music: Daly City Municipal Code § 9.22.020 requires a written permit from the Chief of Police BEFORE operating any loudspeaker or sound amplifier that projects sound outside a building or outdoors anywhere in the city. The permit must state the permittee, authorized purpose, time/place, and termination date.

Also covered: Decibel Limits (moderate), Industrial Noise (moderate), Vehicle Noise (permissive). See the full noise ordinances guide for Daly City for details.

Short-Term Rentals

Permit Requirements: Daly City requires both a Short-Term Rental Permit from the Planning Department and a business license (with a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate) from the Finance Department before renting any home for 30 consecutive days or less. The new-permit fee is $750.00 and both credentials expire September 30 each year..

Also covered: Extended Home Share (moderate), Parking Rules (moderate), Host Presence Rule (moderate). See the full short-term rentals guide for Daly City for details.

Fire Regulations

Brush Clearance: Daly City requires property owners in the designated Southern Hills fire hazard area, abutting San Bruno Mountain, to clear all flammable vegetation including gorse, grass, weeds, and brush. The fire chief designates the hazard area and clearance duties under Municipal Code section 15.32.260..

Also covered: Wildfire Zones (moderate), Propane Storage (moderate), Backyard Fires (moderate). See the full fire regulations guide for Daly City for details.

Parking Rules

Commercial Vehicle Restrictions: Commercial vehicles cannot park on Daly City residential streets overnight (5 p.m.-7 a.m.); qualifying residents and businesses may buy an annual Commercial Vehicle Parking Permit ($210 as of July 1, 2024, maximum two per applicant) to park overnight in one of four designated Commercial Vehicle Parking Zones..

Also covered: EV Charging (permissive), Abandoned Vehicles (moderate), Driveway Rules (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Daly City for details.

Animal Ordinances

Animal Hoarding: Daly City does not have a stand-alone 'animal-hoarding' ordinance, but the conduct is reachable through Daly City Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals), Title 7 (Health and Sanitation), and Title 8 (Public Peace, Morals and Welfare), and is heavily backstopped by California state law. Cal.

Also covered: Chickens & Livestock (strict), Wildlife Feeding (strict), Pet Limits (permissive). See the full animal ordinances guide for Daly City for details.

Fence Regulations

Pool Barriers: All new and remodeled residential pools and spas in Daly City must comply with the California Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health and Safety Code Section 115922, as amended by SB 442 / SB 552). The owner must install at least two of seven listed drowning-prevention safety features, one of which is an enclosure meeting HSC 115923 standards..

Also covered: Approved Materials (moderate), Height Limits (moderate), Permit Requirements (permissive). See the full fence regulations guide for Daly City for details.

Landscaping Rules

Tree Trimming: No one may prune, spray, plant, or otherwise work on any public right-of-way or street tree in Daly City without a permit from the Director of Public Works under Municipal Code section 12.40.110. Unauthorized pruning of city trees is billed to the responsible property owner, and topping street trees is unlawful..

Also covered: Artificial Turf (permissive), Rainwater Harvesting (permissive), Native Plants (permissive). See the full landscaping rules guide for Daly City for details.

Tree Protection

Parkway Planting: The parkway (the strip of land between sidewalk and curb) is part of the public right-of-way in Daly City. Planting any tree there requires authorization from the Department of Public Works under Title 11 (Streets and Sidewalks), and species must come from the city's approved street tree list.

Also covered: Tree Replacement Requirements (moderate), Protected Tree Species (permissive), Heritage & Protected Trees (permissive). See the full tree protection guide for Daly City for details.

Accessory Structures

ADU Impact Fees: ADUs under 750 sq ft in Daly City are fully exempt from impact fees by state mandate (Cal. Gov.

Also covered: ADU Owner Occupancy (permissive), ADU Permits (moderate), ADU Rental Restrictions (moderate). See the full accessory structures guide for Daly City for details.

Home Business

Customer Traffic Restrictions: Daly City prohibits customer or goods pickup and deliveries at a home business, bars employees from reporting to the house, limits traffic to no more than one additional vehicle per hour, and allows service occupations such as tutoring or tax preparation only one customer or student at a time..

Also covered: Home Daycare (permissive), Signage Rules (strict), Cottage Food Operations (moderate). See the full home business guide for Daly City for details.

Environmental Rules

Stormwater Management: Daly City is a co-permittee under the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board Municipal Regional Stormwater NPDES Permit (Order R2-2015-0049, as amended by R2-2019-0049) and a member of the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program (SMCWPPP / Flows To Bay). Discharges of anything other than rainwater into the storm drain system are prohibited..

Also covered: Coastal Development (moderate), Erosion Control (strict), Grading & Drainage (strict). See the full environmental rules guide for Daly City for details.

Trash & Recycling

Illegal Dumping: Daly City Municipal Code Chapter 8.32 (Illegal Dumping and Littering), repealed and replaced December 14, 2020, sets escalating administrative fines: littering $250 / $500 / $1,000 and illegal dumping $1,000 / $2,500 / $5,000 within 12 months. Major violations reach $10,000.

Also covered: Bin Placement Rules (moderate), Bulk Item Disposal (permissive), Pickup Rules & Schedules (moderate). See the full trash & recycling guide for Daly City for details.

Sign Regulations

Political Signs: Daly City regulates signs through Municipal Code Chapter 17.32 (Title 17, Zoning). Temporary noncommercial and political signs on private residential property are broadly protected under California Civil Code 1940.4 (tenant right to display) and Civil Code 4710 (HOA owners), and posting on public property or in the public right-of-way is restricted under DCMC 17.32.160 (general regulations) and Caltrans rules near state highways (Bus.

Also covered: Garage Sale Signs (moderate), Holiday Displays (permissive). See the full sign regulations guide for Daly City for details.

Drone Rules

Park Drone Restrictions: Daly City Municipal Code Title 8 (Public Peace, Morals and Welfare) does not enumerate a drone-specific park-takeoff ordinance, but Daly City Parks and Recreation rules prohibit activities that interfere with park use or pose a hazard. Adjacent National Park Service lands (Golden Gate National Recreation Area - Fort Funston, Mussel Rock-adjacent GGNRA parcels, Sweeney Ridge) prohibit launching, landing, or operating drones under 36 CFR Section 1.5 / NPS Director's Policy Memorandum 14-05.

Also covered: Recreational Drones (moderate), Commercial Drones (moderate). See the full drone rules guide for Daly City for details.

Swimming Pools & Spas

Fencing Requirements: Daly City enforces the California Swimming Pool Safety Act through its building permit process: any new or remodeled residential pool or spa must include at least two of seven drowning-prevention safety features, most commonly a 60-inch isolation enclosure with a self-closing, self-latching gate..

Also covered: Pool Permits (moderate), Hot Tub Rules (moderate), Safety Rules (strict). See the full swimming pools & spas guide for Daly City for details.

What to Do With This Information

Whether you are renting, buying, or renovating in Daly City, knowing the local rules upfront saves headaches later. Dig into the individual ordinance pages linked above for the complete picture, including fines and exemptions.