Tree Protection in Daly City, CA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

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

Tree Replacement Requirements

Daly City requires replacement of street trees removed from the public right-of-way as a condition of any removal authorization issued by Public Works under Title 11. Trees removed as part of a planning project (subdivision, design review, multi-family or commercial development) must be replaced per landscape plan and conditions of approval under Title 14, with the city's adopted street tree list and the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) controlling species selection.

Key details: Right-of-way replacement: Required under Title 11 authorization. Project replacement: Per Title 14 conditions of approval. Species control: City approved street tree list. MWELO threshold: Landscape > 500 sq ft (CCR Title 23 Sec. 490).

Failure to plant required replacement trees can trigger withholding of certificate of occupancy on a development project, code enforcement, and forfeiture of performance bonds posted with the city. Planting non-approved species in the right-of-way can require replanting at the owner's expense.

Protected Tree Species

Daly City does not designate specific tree species (e.g., coast live oak, California buckeye, redwood) as locally protected on private property. State law provides species-level protection only for trees on Timberland Production Zone lands, in State Responsibility Areas, and for federally listed plant species. Within Daly City, the only species-level protection mechanism is the city's approved street tree list, which governs what may be planted in the right-of-way.

Key details: Locally protected species: None on private property. Right-of-way species control: City approved street tree list. State protected species: Listed under Fish & Game Code Sec. 1900+. Common Daly City trees: Monterey cypress, eucalyptus, Magnolia.

Planting prohibited species in the public right-of-way can require removal and replacement at the property owner's expense. Damaging or harvesting federally listed plant species violates the federal Endangered Species Act with potential civil and criminal penalties.

Daly City is more permissive than most cities when it comes to protected tree species. That said, there are still limits.

Heritage & Protected Trees

Daly City does not have a standalone heritage-tree or landmark-tree ordinance protecting specimen trees on private property. Tree protections in Daly City are limited to trees in the public right-of-way (Title 11) and to trees identified as protected through specific planning approvals under Title 14. San Mateo County's Significant Tree Ordinance applies only in unincorporated county areas, not within Daly City limits.

Key details: Heritage tree ordinance: None citywide. Closest comparable: San Mateo County (unincorporated only). Protection vehicle: Conditions of approval (Title 14). Right-of-way trees: Always protected under Title 11.

Because no general heritage-tree ordinance exists in Daly City, removal of large private-property trees outside a planning project typically does not trigger code enforcement. However, if a tree was specifically protected by a recorded condition of approval, by an HOA CC&R, or by being within the right-of-way, removal can trigger code enforcement, civil penalties, or HOA action.

The rules around heritage & protected trees in Daly City lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Parkway Planting

The parkway (the strip of land between sidewalk and curb) is part of the public right-of-way in Daly City. Planting any tree there requires authorization from the Department of Public Works under Title 11 (Streets and Sidewalks), and species must come from the city's approved street tree list. Adjacent property owners are typically responsible for watering and basic maintenance of parkway trees, while the city retains responsibility for major pruning, structural work, and authorization to remove.

Key details: Permit required: Yes, from Public Works. Species list: City approved street tree list. Sidewalk clearance: 8 ft minimum above sidewalk. Adjacent owner duty: Streets & Highways Code Sec. 5610. Dig Alert: Required (Gov. Code Sec. 4216, 811).

Planting without authorization can require removal at the property owner's expense. Failure to maintain sidewalk safety around a parkway tree can shift liability for trip-and-fall injuries to the abutting owner under Streets and Highways Code Section 5610. Damaging a city street tree (e.g., poisoning, deep root cutting) can result in restitution based on ISA appraised tree value plus replacement costs.

Tree Removal Permits

Daly City regulates removal of trees in the public right-of-way (parkway/street trees) under Title 11 (Streets and Sidewalks) of the Municipal Code; a permit from the Department of Public Works is required before any street tree is pruned heavily, topped, or removed. Trees on private residential property are not subject to a citywide heritage-tree permit ordinance, but tree work tied to a planning entitlement (subdivision, design review, or new construction) is governed through Title 14 conditions of approval.

Key details: Permit authority: Public Works (right-of-way trees). Governing title: Title 11 Streets and Sidewalks. Private property: No general heritage-tree permit ordinance. State backstop: Streets & Highways Code, Gov. Code 53067.

Removing or topping a street tree without Public Works authorization can result in code enforcement action, restitution for tree value (typically using ISA trunk-formula valuation), and replacement requirements at the property owner's expense. Violation of a planning-approval condition that protected a private tree can trigger building permit revocation, stop-work orders, and administrative penalties under Title 1 of the Daly City Municipal Code.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Daly City gives residents more room on tree protection. 2 of the 5 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.