Landscaping Rules in Daly City, CA (2026)
8 verified landscaping rules for Daly City, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
12-inch limit for grass and brush on hillside terrain
Some RestrictionsDaly City Municipal Code sec. 8.16.030(F)(4)
Flammable or potentially flammable vegetation, debris or other combustible growth including, but not limited to grass, weeds, and brush over twelve inches in height on steep or hillside terrain and gorse plants of any size.
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.
Permit required to trim street or city trees
Heavy RestrictionsCity of Daly City, Tree Maintenance & Permitting (implementing DCMC Ch. 12.40)
Daly City is responsible for the maintenance of the urban forest in City rights-of-ways, medians, parks, and City-owned easements. The City may prune, thin, and reduce the head weight of trees during the pruning process. The City does not top or lower the crown of City trees unless they pose a safety hazard. Unauthorized pruning of City trees, without the written approval of the City of Daly Ci...
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.
Permit, fee, and deposit to remove public trees
Heavy RestrictionsDaly City Municipal Code sec. 12.40.120(A)
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to cut down, remove or destroy any tree growing upon any parkway, easement, right-of-ways or other publicly owned area without first securing a permit to do so from the director of public works.
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.
Owners must abate overgrown foliage and weeds
Some RestrictionsCity of Daly City, Weed Abatement/Garbage & Debris Accumulation (Code Enforcement)
Property owners are required to abate any overgrowth of foliage on or around their property.
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.
Landscape watering rules and statewide waste bans
Some RestrictionsCity of Daly City, Water Conservation (statewide restrictions)
No watering decorative grass in commercial, industrial, and institutional areas. No outdoor watering that lets water run onto sidewalks or other areas. No washing hard surfaces that don't absorb water, like driveways or sidewalks. No washing vehicles without using an automatic shutoff nozzle. No outdoor watering within 48 hours after at least 1/4 inch of rainfall. No using drinking water for st...
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.
Rainwater Harvesting in Daly City
Few RestrictionsNative 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.
Native and Drought-Tolerant Landscaping in Daly City
Few RestrictionsArtificial 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.
No city turf ban; state protects drought planting
Few RestrictionsCal. Gov. Code sec. 53087.7 (as amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 498)
(a) A city, including a charter city, county, or city and county, shall not enact any ordinance or regulation, or enforce any existing ordinance or regulation, that prohibits the installation of drought-tolerant landscaping using living plant material on residential property. (b) For the purposes of this section, "drought-tolerant landscaping" shall not include the installation of synthetic gra...
Looking for San Mateo County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Daly City city rules.
Landscaping Rules in San Mateo County →