How Daly City Handles Environmental Rules: A Practical Guide

Daly City maintains 102 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with environmental rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Daly City falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

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.

Key details: NPDES permit: MRP Order R2-2015-0049 (amended 2019). Countywide program: SMCWPPP / Flows To Bay (20 cities). C.3 threshold: 10,000 sq ft impervious (2,500 sq ft special uses). Construction permit: Statewide CGP if >=1 acre disturbed. Receiving waters: San Francisco Bay & Pacific Ocean.

Illicit discharges to the storm drain system (including wash water, paint, concrete slurry, soaps, and pool/spa water) are prohibited under both the MRP and local code. Violations can trigger Notices to Comply, Stop Work Orders, administrative fines, and Water Board enforcement up to $10,000+ per day per Cal. Water Code §13385. Failing to install required C.3 treatment for a Regulated Project blocks final inspection and certificate of occupancy.

This is one of the stricter rules in Daly City's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Coastal Development

A narrow strip of western Daly City along the Pacific coast (Mussel Rock area, west of Skyline Boulevard) falls within the California Coastal Zone established by the California Coastal Act of 1976 (Cal. Public Resources Code §30000 et seq.). Development in the Coastal Zone requires either a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) issued under a certified Local Coastal Program (LCP) or, in the absence of a certified LCP, a CDP issued directly by the California Coastal Commission.

Key details: Statute: California Coastal Act, Cal. PRC §30000 et seq.. Zone extent in Daly City: Pacific bluff west of Skyline Blvd (Mussel Rock area). CDP required for: Grading, construction, intensification, major vegetation removal. Bluff standard: PRC §30253 - no future shoreline armoring needed. Civil penalty cap: Up to $30,000/day for knowing violations (PRC §30820).

Unpermitted development in the Coastal Zone violates Cal. PRC §30600 and can result in Coastal Commission cease-and-desist orders, restoration orders, civil penalties under PRC §30820 of up to $15,000 per violation (and $11,250-$30,000 per day for intentional/knowing violations), and required removal of unpermitted improvements at owner expense.

Erosion Control

Erosion and sediment control on Daly City construction sites is required by the Bay Area Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit (Order R2-2015-0049 Provision C.6), the statewide Construction General Permit (Order 2009-0009-DWQ) for projects disturbing 1 acre or more, and the California Building Code Appendix J grading provisions adopted in Title 12.

Key details: Wet season: October 1 - April 30 (heightened BMP requirements). CGP threshold: 1 acre disturbed (or common plan of development). Local authority: MRP Provision C.6 + CBC Appendix J grading. Required BMPs: Silt fence, wattles, inlet protection, slope stabilization. SWPPP: Required if CGP applies; signed by QSD.

Sediment-laden discharges into the city storm drain system are illicit discharges under the MRP. Penalties include stop-work orders, daily administrative fines, Water Board enforcement up to $10,000/day per Cal. Water Code §13385, and SWPPP non-compliance citations. Repeat offenders can lose CGP coverage.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Daly City actively enforces its erosion control requirements.

Grading & Drainage

Grading and drainage in Daly City are governed by California Building Code Appendix J (grading) as adopted in Title 12 of the Municipal Code. A grading permit from the Daly City Building/Engineering Division is required for cuts or fills exceeding the Appendix J thresholds, and all sites must direct drainage to an approved point of discharge without creating runoff onto neighboring properties.

Key details: Code basis: California Building Code Appendix J (adopted Title 12). Permit trigger: Cuts >5 ft or >50 cy; fills >1 ft supporting structures. Foundation slope: 5% min slope-away within 10 ft (CBC §1804.4). Hillside reports: Geotech + engineering geology on landslide complex. Discharge: Must reach approved storm drain or watercourse.

Grading without a permit, working outside permitted limits, or failing to direct drainage to an approved discharge point are violations of Title 12 / CBC Appendix J. Penalties include stop-work orders, requirement to restore the site, double permit fees for unpermitted work, and possible civil action by downhill neighbors for runoff damage.

Compared to other cities, Daly City takes a harder line on grading & drainage. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Flood Zones

Daly City participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and adopts FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for San Mateo County. The city sits on coastal hills with no major riverine Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs); the primary water-related hazards are coastal cliff erosion at Mussel Rock / Northridge and tsunami inundation along the Pacific shoreline rather than 100-year floodplains.

Key details: FIRM jurisdiction: San Mateo County countywide FIRM panels. Predominant zone: Zone X - outside 100-yr/500-yr SFHA for most of city. Primary hazard: Coastal bluff erosion & tsunami, not riverine flooding. Elevation standard: Cal. Building Code Appendix G + ASCE 24. NFIP status: Participating community.

Construction within an SFHA without a floodplain-development permit, or below BFE, violates the local floodplain ordinance and can trigger Section 1316 of the National Flood Insurance Act (denial of flood insurance to the structure). Penalties include stop-work orders and removal of non-compliant improvements. Owners can verify zone with a FEMA Elevation Certificate.

The Bottom Line

Daly City is tougher than many cities when it comes to environmental rules. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Daly City, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Daly City's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.