Daly City, CA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- 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
Summary
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.
Retaining walls less than forty-eight inches (48") in height may be constructed of wood, provided: 1. They sustain no loads other than backfill soil mainly used for landscaping. 2. They are constructed of pressure treated lumber or species naturally resistant to decay
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
020 does not prohibit specific fencing materials such as chain link or wood on residential parcels, and contains no barbed-wire or razor-wire clause. Material requirements appear in two narrower contexts. 020(A) as amended by Ordinance No. 1412 (2017), fencing between 8 and 10 feet on parcels with non-residential uses is allowed only subject to administrative design review and must incorporate a decorative material such as tubular metal, vinyl cladding, or similar material. Second, the City's official Fences and Retaining Walls handout allows retaining walls less than 48 inches tall to be built of wood only if they sustain no loads other than landscaping backfill soil and are constructed of pressure-treated lumber or species naturally resistant to decay; taller or surcharged walls must be designed by a licensed professional engineer.
Fences and walls extending into the front yard must also be approved by the City for visibility to incoming traffic and clearances to fire hydrants, gas and water valves, and utility boxes, which can affect material and placement choices.
Violations & Fines
Non-decay-resistant wood retaining walls or non-decorative over-8-foot fencing on non-residential parcels can fail plan check or design review. Code Enforcement ((650) 991-8260) handles complaints about non-conforming fences; corrections typically require replacement or removal at the owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a chain-link fence in Daly City?
Can I use wood for a retaining wall?
Are there material rules for tall commercial fences?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Daly City
California rules heatmap·Compare Daly City to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Material Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Mateo County handle material restrictions.