Flood Zones: Daly City vs South San Francisco
How do flood zones rules compare between Daly City, CA and South San Francisco, CA?
Daly City and South San Francisco have similar restriction levels.
Daly City, CA
San Mateo County
Daly City participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and adopts FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for San Mateo County. The city sits on coastal hills with no major riverine Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs); the primary water-related hazards are coastal cliff erosion at Mussel Rock / Northridge and tsunami inundation along the Pacific shoreline rather than 100-year floodplains.
View full Daly City rules →South San Francisco, CA
San Mateo County
Parts of South San Francisco near the Bay shoreline and low-lying industrial areas are in FEMA flood zones. New construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas requires elevation and a floodplain development permit. Sea level rise is a key risk.
View full South San Francisco rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | South San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| FIRM jurisdiction | San Mateo County countywide FIRM panels | - |
| Predominant zone | Zone X - outside 100-yr/500-yr SFHA for most of city | - |
| Primary hazard | Coastal bluff erosion & tsunami, not riverine flooding | - |
| Elevation standard | Cal. Building Code Appendix G + ASCE 24 | - |
| NFIP status | Participating community | - |
| NFIP Participant | - | Yes |
| Risk Areas | - | Bay shoreline, industrial/biotech corridor lowlands |
| Flood Permit | - | Required for construction in SFHA |
| Check Map | - | msc.fema.gov |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Do I need flood insurance in Daly City?
Federally backed mortgages require flood insurance only for properties in a Special Flood Hazard Area (Zones A/AE/VE). Most of Daly City is Zone X, so insurance is optional - but coastal-bluff and low-lying parcels should be verified on the effective FEMA FIRM at msc.fema.gov before assuming.
How do I find my flood zone?
Use the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov) and enter your Daly City address, or request a flood-zone determination from the Daly City Engineering or Building Division.
What about cliff and landslide risk?
FEMA flood maps do not regulate landslides. Mussel Rock and the Westlake bluff fall under California Geologic Hazard Zones (Cal. PRC §2690 et seq.) and the city's geologic-report and grading-permit review, not the NFIP.
South San Francisco FAQ
Is my property in a flood zone in South San Francisco?
Parts of South San Francisco near the Bay shoreline and low-lying industrial areas are in FEMA flood zones. New construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas requires elevation and a floodplain development permit. Sea level rise is a key risk.
Do I need flood insurance in South San Francisco?
NFIP Participant: Yes. Risk Areas: Bay shoreline, industrial/biotech corridor lowlands. Flood Permit: Required for construction in SFHA. Check Map: msc.fema.gov.
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