Coastal Development: Daly City vs San Mateo
How do coastal development rules compare between Daly City, CA and San Mateo, CA?
San Mateo has fewer restrictions than Daly City.
Daly City, CA
San Mateo County
A narrow strip of western Daly City along the Pacific coast (Mussel Rock area, west of Skyline Boulevard) falls within the California Coastal Zone established by the California Coastal Act of 1976 (Cal. Public Resources Code §30000 et seq.). Development in the Coastal Zone requires either a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) issued under a certified Local Coastal Program (LCP) or, in the absence of a certified LCP, a CDP issued directly by the California Coastal Commission.
View full Daly City rules →San Mateo, CA
San Mateo County
The City of San Mateo is located on the eastern (bay) side of the San Francisco Peninsula and is not within the California Coastal Zone. The California Coastal Commission has no jurisdiction in San Mateo, and no Coastal Development Permit is required for projects in the city.
View full San Mateo rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | San Mateo |
|---|---|---|
| Statute | California Coastal Act, Cal. PRC §30000 et seq. | - |
| Zone extent in Daly City | Pacific bluff west of Skyline Blvd (Mussel Rock area) | - |
| CDP required for | Grading, construction, intensification, major vegetation removal | - |
| Bluff standard | PRC §30253 - no future shoreline armoring needed | - |
| Civil penalty cap | Up to $30,000/day for knowing violations (PRC §30820) | - |
| Coastal Zone | - | NOT in California Coastal Zone |
| CCC Jurisdiction | - | None — bayside location |
| Coastal Permit | - | Not required |
| BCDC | - | May apply near bay shoreline |
| Bay Shoreline | - | BCDC 100 ft jurisdiction |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Is my Daly City property in the Coastal Zone?
Only properties along the Pacific bluff west of Skyline Boulevard near Mussel Rock and Thornton State Beach are within the Coastal Zone. Inland Daly City (Westlake, Top of the Hill, Bayshore, Original Daly City) is not. Verify your parcel on the Coastal Commission's official Coastal Zone Boundary map.
Do I need a Coastal Development Permit for a remodel?
If the property is in the Coastal Zone, even interior remodels can be exempt under PRC §30610 but additions, demolition, grading, or removal of major vegetation generally require a CDP. Confirm with Daly City Planning and the California Coastal Commission's North Central Coast District office.
Can I build a seawall to protect my coastal bluff?
Cal. PRC §30253 requires new development to be sited so that future shoreline protective devices are NOT needed. Retroactive seawalls are heavily restricted; the Coastal Commission has been increasingly denying or conditioning armoring of single-family homes built after January 1, 1977.
San Mateo FAQ
Does San Mateo have coastal development rules?
No. San Mateo is on the bay side of the Peninsula and is not within the California Coastal Zone. The Coastal Commission has no jurisdiction.
What about development near the bay?
Development within 100 feet of the San Francisco Bay shoreline may be subject to Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) jurisdiction.
Do I need a Coastal Development Permit?
No. CDPs only apply within the California Coastal Zone, which does not include San Mateo.
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