Daly City's Parking Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles parking rules a little differently. In Daly City, California, there are 6 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Driveway Rules

Daly City Municipal Code Section 17.34 requires two to six off-street parking spaces for single-family homes based on habitable square footage, sets minimum garage and driveway dimensions (8.5 ft wide driveway, 19 ft length), and Section 10.32.165 prohibits parking on front yards with a $60 fine.

Key details: Spaces required: 2 (under 1,500 sq ft habitable) up to 6 (over 2,500 sq ft). Minimum driveway width: 8.5 ft. Driveway depth option: 19 ft from back of sidewalk can substitute for garage depth. Front-yard parking: Prohibited - $60 fine (Sec. 10.32.165). Garage door: Min 8 ft (single) / 14 ft (double); automatic opener required.

Parking on a front yard (grass/dirt) is cited at $60 under Section 10.32.165, and parking on someone's private property without consent at $40 under Section 10.32.160, per the city's Citation Fees Schedule. Garage conversions or additions that remove required parking will not receive Planning Division approval.

Overnight Parking

Daly City has no citywide overnight parking ban for ordinary passenger vehicles, but oversized and commercial vehicles are barred from all streets 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. without a permit, and designated Commercial Vehicle Parking Zones operate as permit-only zones during those same overnight hours every day of the year.

Key details: Passenger cars: No citywide overnight ban; 72-hour limit applies. Oversized vehicles: Banned on all streets 5 p.m.-7 a.m.. Commercial zones overnight: Permit-only 5 p.m.-7 a.m., every day incl. holidays. Commercial zones daytime: 2-hour limit, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon-Fri.

Oversized vehicles parked overnight on any street face a $260 citation (Sec. 10.32.150). A commercial vehicle parked in a Commercial Vehicle Parking Zone without a city permit is cited $110, and a non-commercial vehicle parked in a posted commercial-only zone is cited $40 (Sec. 10.32.155).

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

Preferential Parking Districts

Daly City operates a residential preferential parking permit program under Municipal Code Chapter 10.40 in four zones near transit hubs (Zones A-D, including the original Daly City BART area). Parking without a displayed permit in a posted zone is a $45 citation.

Key details: Zones: A (BART area), B (Irvington/Brunswick), C (Westlake NE), D (County Street). No-permit fine: $45 (Sec. 10.40.190). Expired-permit fine: $40 (Sec. 10.40.200). Apply: dalycity.getapermit.net or by mail; ~2 weeks processing. State authority: California Vehicle Code sec. 22507.

Per the city's Citation Fees Schedule: $45 for no preferential permit displayed or a fake permit (Sec. 10.40.190) and $40 for displaying an expired preferential parking permit (Sec. 10.40.200).

Street Parking Limits

On-street parking in Daly City is governed by Municipal Code Chapter 10.32 (Stopping, Standing and Parking), with metered zones under Chapter 10.36 and residential permit zones under Chapter 10.40. Vehicles left in one spot more than 72 hours can be cited $50 and treated as abandoned.

Key details: Governing code: Daly City Municipal Code ch. 10.32, 10.36, 10.40. 72-hour rule: Sec. 10.32.200 - $50, treated as abandoned vehicle. Street sweeping fine: $40 (Sec. 10.32.050), enforceable entire posted window. Meter hours: Mon-Sat 8 a.m.-6 p.m., $1/hour; free Sundays and holidays. Appeal window: 21 calendar days via PTicket.

Per the city's Citation Fees Schedule: $40 for street-sweeping/posted no-parking violations (Section 10.32.050), $40 for overstaying a posted time limit (Section 10.32.060), $50 for parking over 72 hours (Section 10.32.200), $45 for painted-zone violations (Section 10.32.010), $270 for blue-zone disabled parking violations (Section 10.32.090), and $40 meter violations (Section 10.36.090). Citations are paid or appealed through PTicket within 21 calendar days.

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles

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.

Key details: Annual permit fee: $210 (effective July 1, 2024); valid Jan 1-Dec 31. Permit limit: Max 2 permits per qualified resident or business. Zones: Zone 1 Bayshore, Zone 2 Civic Center, Zones 3A/3B Serramonte. Overnight zone hours: 5 p.m.-7 a.m. daily, incl. weekends and holidays. No-permit fine in zone: $110 (Sec. 10.32.155).

Per the Citation Fees Schedule: a commercial vehicle in a Commercial Vehicle Parking Zone without a city permit is cited $110 (Sec. 10.32.155(X)(A)), a non-commercial vehicle in a posted commercial-only zone $40 (Sec. 10.32.155(X)(B)), and an oversized/commercial vehicle parked overnight outside a zone $260 (Sec. 10.32.150). The city's permit page states citation amounts under Resolution No. 23-112 range from $124 to $585 depending on violation type. Fraudulent permits and illegal dumping result in permit revocation and a permanent program bar.

RV & Boat Parking

Daly City Municipal Code Section 10.32.150, as amended by Ordinance 1467 (2023), bans parking any oversized vehicle - expressly including boats, mobile homes, house trailers and recreational vehicles - on any city street between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. The fine is $260, and RVs and boats are not eligible for the commercial parking permit that exempts work vehicles.

Key details: Restricted hours: 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., every street citywide. Size thresholds: 22 ft or more long, 6 ft 6 in or more wide, or 10,000 lb GVWR. RVs and boats: Expressly included in the definition of vehicle. Fine: $260 (Sec. 10.32.150). Permit exemption: Not available - RVs, boats, towing trailers excluded.

The Citation Fees Schedule lists the oversized vehicle violation (Section 10.32.150) at $260 per citation. Each night parked in violation can draw a new citation, and vehicles left over 72 hours can also be processed as abandoned under Section 10.32.200.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Daly City actively enforces its rv & boat parking requirements.

The Bottom Line

Daly City's parking rules 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.

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.