Native Plants: Daly City vs South San Francisco
How do native plants 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
Native and drought-tolerant landscaping is encouraged in Daly City and protected by state preemption. Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 53087.7 prohibits any city, county, or city-county from enforcing an ordinance that bans the installation of drought-tolerant landscaping using living plant material on residential property. Cal. Civil Code Sec. 4735 voids HOA rules prohibiting low-water-using plants. Any new or rehabilitated landscape over 500 sq. ft. (residential developer projects) or 2,500 sq. ft. (homeowner DIY) must comply with the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), 23 CCR Sec. 490 et seq.
View full Daly City rules →South San Francisco, CA
San Mateo County
Unincorporated San Mateo County encourages native and drought-tolerant landscaping rather than mandating it for homeowners. The Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program promotes natives for pollinators and watershed health, and BAWSCA's Lawn Be Gone rebate pays up to $4 per square foot to replace lawn with low-water plants. WELO indirectly favors natives through plant-factor rules.
View full South San Francisco rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | South San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| State preemption | Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 53087.7 | - |
| HOA preemption | Cal. Civ. Code Sec. 4735 | - |
| MWELO threshold (DIY) | 2,500 sq. ft. | - |
| Lawn rebate | $1-$4/sq ft via BAWSCA | - |
| Homeowner mandate | - | None - voluntary/incentivized |
| Lawn replacement rebate | - | Up to $4 per square foot |
| Rain garden bonus | - | $300 |
| WELO plant factor | - | WUCOLS 0.3 favors natives |
| Program | - | Flows To Bay / BAWSCA / Office of Sustainability |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Can Daly City stop me from planting California natives?
No. Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 53087.7 prohibits local agencies from banning drought-tolerant landscaping using living plant material on residential property.
Can my HOA require a green lawn?
No. Cal. Civ. Code Sec. 4735 voids HOA provisions that prohibit low-water-using plants or that require lawn at the expense of drought-tolerant alternatives.
Are there rebates for replacing lawn with natives?
Yes - BAWSCA's lawn-replacement rebate offers $1-$4 per square foot for qualifying Daly City water customers, plus $300 for rain garden installations.
South San Francisco FAQ
Am I required to plant native plants in unincorporated San Mateo County?
No. Native planting is encouraged and incentivized, not mandated. WELO's low-water plant-factor standard for regulated projects, however, effectively steers new landscapes toward natives and other drought-tolerant species.
Is there money to replace my lawn with natives?
Yes. BAWSCA's Lawn Be Gone rebate pays up to $4 per square foot to swap lawn for drought-tolerant plants, with an extra $300 if you add a rain garden, through the County's water-pollution-prevention partners.
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