Daly City, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Hillside limit
- 12 inches for grass, weeds, brush on steep terrain
- Gorse plants
- Nuisance at any size
- Flat-lot standard
- No fixed height; vermin/fire/blight test applies
- Code section
- DCMC 8.16.030(F), (G)
Summary
Daly City has no single citywide numeric lawn-height limit, but Municipal Code section 8.16.030(F) declares overgrown vegetation a public nuisance, including grass, weeds, and brush over 12 inches in height on steep or hillside terrain and gorse plants of any size.
Flammable or potentially flammable vegetation, debris or other combustible growth including, but not limited to grass, weeds, and brush over twelve inches in height on steep or hillside terrain and gorse plants of any size.
Full Breakdown
Under Daly City Municipal Code section 8.16.030 (Property Maintenance and Nuisance Abatement, Ord. 1196 (1994) as amended), it is a public nuisance to maintain overgrown vegetation that is likely to harbor rats or vermin, causes detriment to neighboring properties, or causes or adds to a fire hazard. The fire-hazard prong sets the only numeric standard: flammable or potentially flammable growth including grass, weeds, and brush over twelve inches in height on steep or hillside terrain, and gorse plants of any size. Subsection (G) separately declares dead, decayed, diseased, or hazardous trees, weeds, and other vegetation a nuisance when they endanger public health, safety, and welfare, harm nearby property, or add to fire hazard. On flat residential lots there is no fixed inch limit, but lawns left to grow until they harbor vermin or blight neighboring properties can still be cited as a nuisance.
Violations & Fines
Code Enforcement may issue a notification of nuisance and pursue administrative penalties of up to $2,500 per day (capped at $10,000 per related series of violations) under section 8.16.160. Violations may alternatively be prosecuted as misdemeanors or infractions with fines of $100, $250, and $500 for successive violations within a year (section 8.16.510), and the city may abate the condition and recover costs, including by lien.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my grass be in Daly City?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Daly City
How Daly City compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Daly City to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
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