Grass Height Limits: Daly City vs San Mateo
How do grass height limits 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 does not publish a numeric grass-height ceiling in the municipal code. Overgrown grass and weeds are regulated as a public nuisance under Daly City Municipal Code Title 8 (Public Peace, Morals and Welfare), which adopts the California-standard nuisance-abatement framework permitting Code Enforcement to order abatement of vegetation that endangers public health, harbors vermin, or constitutes a fire hazard. State backstop: Gov. Code Sec. 38771-38773 lets cities declare weeds a nuisance and recover abatement costs as a lien.
View full Daly City rules →San Mateo, CA
San Mateo County
San Mateo requires property owners to maintain their lots free of excessive weeds and overgrown grass. Overgrowth that constitutes a fire hazard or public nuisance is subject to code enforcement and potential city abatement.
View full San Mateo rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | San Mateo |
|---|---|---|
| Numeric inch limit | No - nuisance standard | - |
| Enforcing agency | Daly City Code Enforcement | - |
| State lien authority | Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 38773.5 | - |
| Defensible space | PRC 4291 only in mapped VHFHSZ | - |
| Standard | - | No hazardous overgrowth |
| Enforcement | - | Code Enforcement (650) 522-7150 |
| City Abatement | - | At owner's cost if not remedied |
| Season | - | Fire hazard most acute spring–fall |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Is there a maximum lawn height in Daly City?
No specific inch threshold appears in the published code. Grass becomes a violation when it constitutes a public nuisance (fire fuel, harborage, visibility hazard) under Title 8 of the Daly City Municipal Code.
Who responds to overgrown-yard complaints?
The Daly City Police Department's Code Enforcement unit (Community Services Bureau) at 333 90th Street, 650-991-8000.
Can the City mow my yard and bill me?
Yes. Under Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 38773.5 and Daly City's nuisance-abatement procedure, abatement costs unpaid by the owner become a special assessment and lien on the parcel.
San Mateo FAQ
How tall can my grass get before I get fined in San Mateo?
San Mateo requires property owners to maintain their lots free of excessive weeds and overgrown grass. Overgrowth that constitutes a fire hazard or public nuisance is subject to code enforcement and potential city abatement.
What is the maximum grass height in San Mateo?
Standard: No hazardous overgrowth. Enforcement: Code Enforcement (650) 522-7150. City Abatement: At owner's cost if not remedied. Season: Fire hazard most acute spring–fall.
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