Fence Regulations in Daly City, CA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Daly City or are thinking about moving there, fence regulations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Daly City has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of fence regulations, and some of them might surprise you.

Height Limits

Daly City caps fences at 6 feet on residential parcels and 3 feet in any required front yard or within 35 feet of the street corner on a corner lot. Non-residential and mixed-use parcels may have 8-foot fences, or up to 10 feet with administrative design review.

Key details: Residential max (side/rear): 6 feet. Front yard max: 3 feet. Corner lots: 3 ft max within 35 ft of street corner. Non-residential/mixed-use max: 8 ft (10 ft with administrative design review). Code section: DCMC 17.40.020.

Fences exceeding the height limits are code violations handled by Daly City Code Enforcement, which the City directs residents to contact at (650) 991-8260 for fences more than 6 feet high. Over-height fences can be ordered shortened or removed, and continued non-compliance can result in administrative citations under the municipal code.

Retaining Walls

Retaining walls in Daly City over 48 inches tall - or shorter walls supporting a surcharge or excavated uphill slope - require a building permit and design by a licensed professional engineer. Walls under 48 inches holding only landscaping backfill may be wood.

Key details: Permit threshold: Over 48 in., or any height with surcharge/uphill slope. Engineering: Licensed professional engineer design + structural review. Height measurement: Bottom of footing to top of wall. Wood walls: Allowed under 48 in. for landscaping backfill only. Easement walls: Subject to removal if blocking utility access.

Unpermitted retaining walls over 48 inches or walls carrying a surcharge can receive stop-work orders and must be retroactively permitted with engineered plans or removed. Permanent retaining walls blocking utility easement access are subject to removal at the owner's expense.

Material Restrictions

Daly City's fence ordinance imposes no general material prohibitions on residential fences. Material rules apply only in special cases: 10-foot fences on non-residential parcels must use decorative materials, and wood retaining walls under 48 inches must be pressure-treated or decay-resistant lumber.

Key details: Residential fence materials: No specific prohibitions in DCMC 17.40.020. Barbed/razor wire: Not addressed by the fence ordinance. 8-10 ft non-residential fences: Decorative material required (tubular metal, vinyl cladding, or similar). Wood retaining walls under 48 in.: Pressure-treated or naturally decay-resistant lumber only.

Non-decay-resistant wood retaining walls or non-decorative over-8-foot fencing on non-residential parcels can fail plan check or design review. Code Enforcement ((650) 991-8260) handles complaints about non-conforming fences; corrections typically require replacement or removal at the owner's expense.

Fence Permit Requirements

Daly City does not require a building permit to build a fence 6 feet tall or less. Permits come into play only for front-yard approval, encroachment permits in the right-of-way, and retaining walls over 48 inches or supporting a surcharge.

Key details: Fence 6 ft or under: No building permit required. Front-yard fences: City approval required for visibility/utility clearances. Right-of-way/easement: Encroachment permit may be required (Engineering, (650) 991-8064). Retaining wall over 48 in. or surcharged: Building permit + licensed engineer design required. Building Division: (650) 991-8061.

Building a fence over 6 feet without approval is enforced by Code Enforcement ((650) 991-8260). Unpermitted retaining walls over 48 inches or walls supporting a surcharge can draw stop-work orders and require retroactive engineering and permits. Fences in the right-of-way without an encroachment permit can be ordered removed.

Neighbor Fence Rules

Daly City treats boundary fences as a 'good neighbor' matter - the City neither requires fences nor referees disputes. Cost sharing between adjoining owners is governed by California's Good Neighbor Fence Act (Civil Code Section 841), which presumes equal responsibility.

Key details: City policy: Good neighbor policy - fences not required, disputes not refereed. State law: CA Civil Code Sec. 841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act of 2013). Cost presumption: Adjoining owners share costs equally. Notice requirement: 30-day written notice before fence work. City fence requirement: None - building a fence is optional.

The City does not enforce private fence cost-sharing disputes; remedies under Civil Code Section 841 are civil, through small claims or superior court. City Code Enforcement only becomes involved if a boundary fence violates the municipal code, such as exceeding the 6-foot height limit (contact (650) 991-8260).

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Daly City gives residents more flexibility on neighbor fence rules.

The Bottom Line

Daly City's fence regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Daly City is broadly strict or permissive.

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.