Daly City, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential max (side/rear)
- 6 feet
- Front yard max
- 3 feet
- Corner lots
- 3 ft max within 35 ft of street corner
- Non-residential/mixed-use max
- 8 ft (10 ft with administrative design review)
- Code section
- DCMC 17.40.020
Summary
Daly City caps fences at 6 feet on residential parcels and 3 feet in any required front yard or within 35 feet of the street corner on a corner lot. Non-residential and mixed-use parcels may have 8-foot fences, or up to 10 feet with administrative design review.
Fences in all zoning districts shall not exceed six feet (6') in height in side and rear yards and shall not exceed three feet (3') in height in any required front yard or within thirty-five feet (35') of the street corner on any corner lot. The fence height is determined by measuring from the highest ground level adjoining the fence on either side (DCMC 17.40.020). The construction and installation of fences that is six feet (6') high or less does not require a building permit.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
020 (Fences), as amended by Ordinance No. 1412 (Feb. 13, 2017), prohibits fences exceeding 6 feet in height on any parcel whose sole use is residential, unless required by law or a condition of approval. Parcels containing a non-residential use, including mixed-use buildings, may have fences up to 8 feet, and fencing up to 10 feet may be allowed on such parcels subject to administrative design review if it incorporates a decorative material such as tubular metal or vinyl cladding. Irrespective of parcel use, no fence may exceed 3 feet in height in any required front yard or within 35 feet of the street corner on any corner lot in a residential zone.
Height is measured from the ground level at the property line of the highest abutting property immediately adjacent to either side of the fence; on sloping parcels, height is measured at the shortest fence post along any fence panel not exceeding 8 feet in length. 085. The City's official Fences and Retaining Walls handout summarizes the rule as 6 feet in side and rear yards and 3 feet in required front yards.
Violations & Fines
Fences exceeding the height limits are code violations handled by Daly City Code Enforcement, which the City directs residents to contact at (650) 991-8260 for fences more than 6 feet high. Over-height fences can be ordered shortened or removed, and continued non-compliance can result in administrative citations under the municipal code.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard fence be in Daly City?
How is fence height measured on a sloped lot?
Can I have a taller fence on a commercial property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Daly City
How Daly City compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Daly City to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Mateo County handle height limits.