Landscaping Rules in Daly City, CA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

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 8 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of landscaping rules, and some of them might surprise you.

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.

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

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting on residential property is broadly permitted under California's Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (Cal. Water Code Sec. 10574), which allows property owners to install and operate rainwater catchment systems from their own rooftops without an appropriative water-rights permit from the State Water Board. Daly City has no separate prohibition. Rain barrels (under 360 gallons / 50 inches high) typically do not require a building permit; larger cisterns must meet California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5, Chapter 17) for non-potable on-site water reuse.

Key details: State authority: Cal. Water Code Sec. 10574. BAWSCA rebate: Up to $200 / select rain barrels. Permit threshold: Cisterns >360 gal need plumbing review. Indoor reuse: Cal. Plumbing Code Ch. 17.

Plumbing-code violations for non-permitted indoor reuse may require system disconnection and a corrective permit. Vector-control complaints (standing water without screening) can be cited by San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District.

The rules around rainwater harvesting in Daly City lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Native Plants

Native and drought-tolerant landscaping is encouraged in Daly City and protected by state preemption. Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 53087.7 prohibits any city, county, or city-county from enforcing an ordinance that bans the installation of drought-tolerant landscaping using living plant material on residential property. Cal. Civil Code Sec. 4735 voids HOA rules prohibiting low-water-using plants. Any new or rehabilitated landscape over 500 sq. ft. (residential developer projects) or 2,500 sq. ft. (homeowner DIY) must comply with the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), 23 CCR Sec. 490 et seq.

Key details: State preemption: Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 53087.7. HOA preemption: Cal. Civ. Code Sec. 4735. MWELO threshold (DIY): 2,500 sq. ft.. Lawn rebate: $1-$4/sq ft via BAWSCA.

MWELO non-compliance can delay certificate of occupancy. Local agencies that fail to enforce MWELO default to the State's model ordinance under Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 65595.

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

Weed Ordinances

Daly City requires property owners to abate any overgrowth of foliage on or around their property. Overgrown, dead, or hazardous weeds and vegetation are declared public nuisances under Municipal Code section 8.16.030 and are enforced by the Code Enforcement Division with abatement, fines, and cost recovery.

Key details: Owner duty: Abate any overgrowth of foliage on or around property. Administrative penalty: Up to $2,500/day, $10,000 cap per series. Infraction fines: $100 / $250 / $500 within one year. Repeat findings: Treble abatement costs within two years. Enforcement: Code Enforcement Division, 650-991-8260.

Administrative penalties can reach $2,500 per day, capped at $10,000 per related series of violations, plus administrative costs (section 8.16.160). Violations may be charged as misdemeanors or as infractions with fines of $100 for a first violation, $250 for a second, and $500 for additional violations within a year, with each day a separate offense (section 8.16.510). A second nuisance finding within two years can make the owner liable for treble abatement costs, and unpaid abatement costs may be recorded as a lien on the property.

Grass Height Limits

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.

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

Compared to many U.S. cities, Daly City gives residents more room on landscaping rules. 3 of the 8 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

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.