Landscaping Rules in Daly City, CA

If you live in Daly City or are thinking about moving there, landscaping rules 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 landscaping rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Weed Ordinances

Daly City has no single citywide numeric lawn-height limit, but Municipal Code section 8.16.030(F) declares overgrown vegetation a public nuisance, including grass, weeds, and brush over 12 inches in height on steep or hillside terrain and gorse plants of any size.

Key details: Hillside limit: 12 inches for grass, weeds, brush on steep terrain. Gorse plants: Nuisance at any size. Flat-lot standard: No fixed height; vermin/fire/blight test applies. Code section: DCMC 8.16.030(F), (G).

Code Enforcement may issue a notification of nuisance and pursue administrative penalties of up to $2,500 per day (capped at $10,000 per related series of violations) under section 8.16.160. Violations may alternatively be prosecuted as misdemeanors or infractions with fines of $100, $250, and $500 for successive violations within a year (section 8.16.510), and the city may abate the condition and recover costs, including by lien.

Artificial Turf

No Daly City ordinance prohibits artificial turf on residential property. California Government Code section 53087.7 bars cities from prohibiting drought-tolerant landscaping using living plants, but since a 2024 amendment that protection no longer extends to synthetic grass or artificial turf.

Key details: City ban on artificial turf: None. Living drought-tolerant plants: Protected by Gov. Code sec. 53087.7. Synthetic turf protection: Removed by SB 676, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Small projects: MWELO Appendix D prescriptive option (2,500 sq ft or less).

No Daly City-specific penalty applies to installing artificial turf on residential property. Landscape projects subject to Chapter 17.41 that fail its water-efficiency requirements receive a 90-day notice of correction and may face administrative enforcement under Municipal Code section 8.16.100 et seq.

Water Restrictions

Daly City enforces California's permanent water-waste prohibitions, including no irrigation runoff onto sidewalks and no outdoor watering within 48 hours of a quarter inch of rain. For landscape projects regulated under Daly City Municipal Code Chapter 17.41, overhead irrigation must be scheduled between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.

Key details: Overhead irrigation window: 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. (regulated projects). Rain rule: No outdoor watering within 48 hours of 1/4 inch of rain. Runoff: No watering that lets water run onto sidewalks. Correction period: 90 days after notice of correction. Local code: DCMC Chapter 17.41 (Ord. 1407, 2016).

Under section 17.41.210, the city may serve a notice of correction giving the property owner 90 days to take corrective action, and may enforce violations through administrative orders under the process in Municipal Code section 8.16.100 et seq., which allows administrative penalties of up to $2,500 per day (capped at $10,000 per related series of violations). Statewide water-waste prohibitions are separately enforceable as infractions under state law.

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.

Key details: Permit issuer: Director of Public Works. Applies to: Trees in rights-of-way, medians, parks, city easements. Topping: Prohibited (DCMC 12.40.160). Unauthorized pruning: Billed to responsible property owner. Private trees: Owner must prevent hazards and sight obstructions.

Unauthorized pruning of city trees without the Public Works Director's written approval is billed to the responsible property owner for all expenses incurred in correcting the damage. Under section 12.40.070, damaging or mutilating public trees may be pursued through the enforcement and damage-recovery provisions of sections 12.40.030 and 12.40.100.

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

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

It is unlawful to cut down or remove any tree on a Daly City parkway, easement, or right-of-way without a Public Works permit under Municipal Code section 12.40.120. Removal of a live, healthy tree is at the requester's cost; trees that die of natural causes are removed and replaced by the city at no cost to the owner.

Key details: Permit issuer: Director of Public Works. Live healthy tree: Requester pays removal cost plus cash deposit. Natural death/damage: City removes and replaces at no cost. Unnatural causes: Owner pays removal and replacement. Code chapter: DCMC 12.40.120-12.40.140.

Unpermitted removal or destruction of a public tree is unlawful and may be pursued through enforcement, appeals, and damage-recovery provisions (sections 12.40.030 and 12.40.100), including billing the responsible party for damages. An owner whose street tree died of unnatural causes is served a correction notice and pays removal and replacement costs.

Compared to other cities, Daly City takes a harder line on tree removal & heritage trees. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Daly City is tougher than many cities when it comes to landscaping rules. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 2 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.

All of the above reflects Daly City's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.