Material Restrictions: Daly City vs South San Francisco
How do material restrictions 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's fence ordinance imposes no general material prohibitions on residential fences. Material rules apply only in special cases: 10-foot fences on non-residential parcels must use decorative materials, and wood retaining walls under 48 inches must be pressure-treated or decay-resistant lumber.
View full Daly City rules →South San Francisco, CA
San Mateo County
San Mateo County's countywide fence ordinance (Ch. 8.332) regulates fence height and placement rather than materials, and expressly recognizes wood and cyclone fencing. Some specific districts and design-review overlays restrict materials like chain link, corrugated metal, and masonry near street frontages.
View full South San Francisco rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | South San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Residential fence materials | No specific prohibitions in DCMC 17.40.020 | - |
| Barbed/razor wire | Not addressed by the fence ordinance | - |
| 8-10 ft non-residential fences | Decorative material required (tubular metal, vinyl cladding, or similar) | - |
| Wood retaining walls under 48 in. | Pressure-treated or naturally decay-resistant lumber only | - |
| Countywide rule | - | Regulates height/placement, not materials |
| Wood / cyclone | - | Recognized standard materials |
| District street-facing limits | - | Some ban chain link, corrugated metal, masonry |
| Masonry walls | - | Building permit required |
| Exception conditions | - | Materials/colors may be conditioned |
| Varies by | - | District, Design Review, Coastal overlay |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Can I build a chain-link fence in Daly City?
Yes. DCMC 17.40.020 regulates fence height, not materials, on residential parcels. Standard height limits (6 feet side/rear, 3 feet front yard) still apply.
Can I use wood for a retaining wall?
Only for walls less than 48 inches tall that hold nothing but landscaping backfill soil, and the wood must be pressure-treated lumber or a species naturally resistant to decay, per the City's Fences and Retaining Walls handout.
Are there material rules for tall commercial fences?
Yes. Fencing between 8 and 10 feet on non-residential parcels requires administrative design review and must incorporate a decorative material such as tubular metal or vinyl cladding (DCMC 17.40.020(A)).
South San Francisco FAQ
Can I build a chain-link fence in unincorporated San Mateo County?
Generally yes — cyclone (chain-link) fencing is a recognized standard material under the county's fence guidance. However, some specific districts prohibit chain link and corrugated metal within 15 feet of street-facing property lines, so confirm your zoning district.
Does the county restrict fence materials?
The countywide ordinance (Ch. 8.332) regulates height and placement, not materials. Material limits — such as bans on masonry, chain link, or corrugated metal near street frontages — appear only in certain district and design-review standards.
Compare other topics
See how Daly City and South San Francisco compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool