Wildfire Zones: Daly City vs San Mateo
How do wildfire zones rules compare between Daly City, CA and San Mateo, CA?
Daly City and San Mateo have similar restriction levels.
Daly City, CA
San Mateo County
Daly City is a Local Responsibility Area (LRA), not a State Responsibility Area. CAL FIRE's Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps identify Moderate and High hazard pockets along San Bruno Mountain ridgelines and coastal hillsides; the urban core sits in non-VHFHSZ. Properties in mapped zones face PRC §4291 defensible space, AB 38 disclosure, and Chapter 7A building code requirements.
View full Daly City rules →San Mateo, CA
San Mateo County
Portions of western San Mateo are mapped in CAL FIRE's Fire Hazard Severity Zones. New construction in these areas must meet Chapter 7A of the California Building Code for ignition-resistant construction. The San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department enforces fire hazard zone requirements.
View full San Mateo rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | San Mateo |
|---|---|---|
| Responsibility area | Local Responsibility Area (LRA) | - |
| Hazard zones | Moderate/High pockets along hillsides | - |
| Urban core | Not in any FHSZ | - |
| Defensible space | 100 ft if in VHFHSZ (PRC §4291) | - |
| Building code | CBC Chapter 7A (new construction in FHSZ) | - |
| Disclosure | AB 38 at sale | - |
| Fire Hazard Zones | - | Western hillsides — Moderate to High |
| Chapter 7A | - | Ignition-resistant construction required |
| Roofing | - | Class A fire-rated required |
| Eastern City | - | Not in fire hazard zones |
| Fire Dept | - | SM Consolidated Fire |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Is my Daly City home in a wildfire hazard zone?
Most central and northern Daly City parcels are not in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Hillside parcels adjacent to San Bruno Mountain or the coastal bluffs may be in Moderate or High FHSZ — check the CAL FIRE FHSZ viewer by address.
Does AB 38 affect selling my home?
Only if your property is in a designated High or Very High FHSZ. In that case you must provide the buyer with documentation of defensible space compliance and disclose home-hardening features.
San Mateo FAQ
Is my San Mateo property in a wildfire zone?
Western hillside areas are in CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The flat eastern areas near the bay are not. Check CAL FIRE maps or contact the fire department.
What building requirements apply in fire zones?
New construction must meet Chapter 7A of the California Building Code including fire-rated roofing, non-combustible exterior walls, ember-resistant vents, and tempered glass.
Do existing homes need to comply with Chapter 7A?
Chapter 7A applies to new construction and major remodels. Existing homes must maintain defensible space under PRC 4291.
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