Outdoor Music: Daly City vs South San Francisco
How do outdoor music rules compare between Daly City, CA and South San Francisco, CA?
South San Francisco has fewer restrictions than Daly City.
Daly City, CA
San Mateo County
Daly City Municipal Code § 9.22.020 requires a written permit from the Chief of Police BEFORE operating any loudspeaker or sound amplifier that projects sound outside a building or outdoors anywhere in the city. The permit must state the permittee, authorized purpose, time/place, and termination date. Operating outdoor amplification without this permit is a prosecutable offense.
View full Daly City rules →South San Francisco, CA
San Mateo County
Outdoor music in unincorporated San Mateo County must comply with the exterior decibel limits in County Code 4.88.330 and must not be unreasonably loud under 4.88.350. The County noise code has no special outdoor-music exemption, so evening and late-night events face the stricter 10 p.m.-7 a.m. nighttime limits.
View full South San Francisco rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | South San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Permit requirement | Yes — § 9.22.020, Chief of Police, in writing | - |
| Permit must specify | Permittee, purpose, time/place, termination date | - |
| Nighttime cutoff | 10 p.m. (§ 9.22.030 audibility rule) | - |
| Loud-gathering fine | $1,500 / $2,000 / $53,000 (§ 9.23.030) | - |
| Cost recovery | Police response cost billed to host (§ 9.23.030(b)) | - |
| Governing chapter | - | County Code Chapter 4.88 |
| Exterior limits | - | Section 4.88.330 (Table I) |
| Nuisance standard | - | Section 4.88.350 |
| Special outdoor-music exemption | - | None in noise code |
| Nighttime threshold | - | Stricter after 10:00 p.m. |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Do I need a permit for a backyard wedding DJ in Daly City?
Yes if amplified sound projects outdoors. § 9.22.020 requires a written permit from the Chief of Police BEFORE any outdoor loudspeaker/amplifier operation, regardless of event type.
Can a restaurant play music on its patio?
Only with a § 9.22.020 permit. The permit must specify the time/place and termination date. After 10 p.m., even permitted sound must not be audible across the property line under § 9.22.030.
What if I host a loud party with alcohol and minors?
Chapter 9.23 applies. First violation: $1,500 civil citation. Second: $2,000. Third: $53,000. Plus cost recovery for police, fire, and ambulance response. The host and parents/guardians of any juvenile organizer are jointly liable.
South San Francisco FAQ
Can I host an outdoor concert past 10 p.m. in unincorporated San Mateo County?
Music can continue, but after 10:00 p.m. it must meet the lower nighttime exterior limits in 4.88.330 and not be unreasonably loud under 4.88.350 - thresholds amplified music usually cannot satisfy near homes.
Is there a noise exemption for outdoor parties?
The County noise code does not include a special exemption for parties or outdoor music; the standard Table I limits and the general nuisance rule apply.
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