South San Francisco, CA
Pop. 67,271 · San Mateo County
We're expanding coverage for South San Francisco, CA
We currently have 6 ordinances verified for South San Francisco, CA. Our research team is actively working to add more categories including noise rules, parking restrictions, fence regulations, building permits, and other local ordinances that affect daily life.
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Most looked-up rules in South San Francisco
The topics readers look up most across the site, as they apply in South San Francisco.
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🏡 Home & Property
🌿 Yard & Garden
🏠 Renting & Housing
🔊 Noise & Neighbors
🐾 Animals & Farming
🔥 Fire & Safety
🚗 Parking & Streets
💼 Business & Licensing
📋 Permits, Signs & Events
🌎 Environment & Utilities
🛡️ Privacy & Civic
📋 Other
🏊 Swimming Pools & Spas
Pool Permits
Some RestrictionsAbove-ground pools over 18 inches in depth in South San Francisco require a building permit and must meet California pool safety fencing requirements. Temporary inflatable pools under…
Fencing & Safety Requirements
Some RestrictionsPool fences in South San Francisco must comply with California H&S §115920: minimum 60-inch barrier, self-closing/self-latching gates, ground clearance under 2 inches, no gaps over 4…
🏠 Short-Term Rentals
Occupancy Limits
Some RestrictionsSouth San Francisco Municipal Code Section 20.350.037 caps short-term vacation rental occupancy by stay type. Hosted stays (host present in the dwelling) are limited to a maximum of 2…
Repeat Violator Strikes
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySan Mateo County treats short-term rental violations as strikes: once a permitted unit racks up more than two documented violations in any 12-month period, the Department of Planning…
Short-Term Rental Permits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyAnyone renting a home or room to guests for 30 days or less in unincorporated San Mateo County must register with the Tax Collector.
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Light RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySection 6401.3(6)(b) requires each single-family STR to provide at least one on-site parking space (garage, driveway, or other on-site area), or at least two spaces if maximum…
Insurance Requirements
Some RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia requires hosting platforms to warn hosts to check their lease and insurance before listing (Business and Professions Code 22592), and AB 537 requires short-term lodging…
🐔 Animal Ordinances
Exotic Pets
Some RestrictionsSouth San Francisco follows California CDFW regulations banning many exotic species. Local animal code may restrict wild or dangerous animals. Contact Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA…
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyCats and dogs over six months old in unincorporated San Mateo County must be spayed or neutered unless the owner instead obtains an unaltered-animal license or breeding permit under §…
Bird Protection
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn San Mateo County parks and the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, feeding, hunting, trapping or disturbing any wild bird or other wildlife is banned under the county's park rules.
Pet Store Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySelling or offering cats, dogs or wolf hybrids on a public street, sidewalk or park in unincorporated San Mateo County requires a pet-sales business license under § 6.12.040(c), unless…
Pet Limits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County caps casual pet-keeping at four animals. Ordinance Code Section 6.20.020 makes it unlawful to keep five or more dogs, five or more cats, or five or more…
Cat Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County requires an annual license for every cat over three months old, with lower fees for altered cats and a lifetime tag.
Chickens & Livestock
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County R-1 lots may keep a small number of chickens and ducks by right, up to six on parcels of 2,500 sq ft or more, ten on parcels over 7,500 sq ft, but…
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County's C-1 Neighborhood Business Districts, a veterinary hospital for small animals needs a discretionary use permit before it can open, not just a…
Breed Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County has no breed-specific ban. The County Ordinance Code regulates individual dogs as dangerous or vicious based on behavior, not breed. California state…
Dog Leash Laws
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County requires every dog off its owner's enclosed property to be on a leash. Ordinance Code Section 6.04.060(a) bars any owner or caretaker from letting an…
Beekeeping
Significant RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia law requires every beekeeper, apiary owner, broker, or person possessing an apiary in the state to register each colony's number and location by January 1 each year with the…
Wildlife Feeding
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia law makes it illegal to knowingly feed big game mammals, deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, black bear, and Nelson bighorn sheep, anywhere in the state. The California…
🌿 Landscaping Rules
Tree Trimming
Some RestrictionsPrivate tree trimming in South San Francisco does not require a city permit. Street trees (public right-of-way) require Public Works approval. Trees near PG&E lines must be managed per…
Composting
Few RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySingle-family organic waste generators in the county's densely populated unincorporated areas may compost yard and food waste on site instead of subscribing to hauler collection, per…
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn San Mateo County's Design Review zoning districts, removing a protected tree requires planting at least three replacement trees of the same species, backed by a maintenance surety.
Weed Ordinances
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County abates hazardous fire vegetation through its fire districts under California Health & Safety Code 14875 et seq. and Government Code 25845. Programs such…
Artificial Turf
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County does not ban or specifically permit-regulate artificial turf on private property, and the County's WELO governs water budgets without mandating or…
Native Plants
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County encourages native and drought-tolerant landscaping rather than mandating it for homeowners. The Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program promotes…
Water Restrictions
Light RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County requires new-development and open-area landscape plans to build in water-saving design under Ordinance Code § 4.36.120: plant choice, irrigation…
Rainwater Harvesting
Few RestrictionsCaliforniaThe 2012 Rainwater Capture Act allows California residents to capture rainwater from rooftops for non-potable outdoor use without a state water-right permit, preempting most local…
🧱 Fence Regulations
Neighbor Fence Rules
Few RestrictionsFence cost sharing between neighbors in South San Francisco is governed by California Civil Code §841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act). Written notice of 30 days is required before…
Fence Permit Requirements
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyTo build a fence or hedge more than two feet above the standard height limit in unincorporated San Mateo County, owners outside the Coastal Zone must get a discretionary exception…
Material Restrictions
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn the North Fair Oaks NMU commercial district, chain-link and corrugated metal fences are banned within 15 feet of the street, and visible street-facing fences top out at 4 feet.
Height Limits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County, front-yard fences top out at 4 feet and side/rear fences at 6 feet, with a 4-foot cap near corner-lot intersections.
🚗 Parking Rules
Abandoned Vehicles
Light RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnder County Ordinance Code Chapter 7.60, it is unlawful and an infraction to abandon, park, store, or leave any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle on public or…
Curb Color Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County, the Director of Public Works assigns red, yellow, white, green and blue curb colors, each with a specific legal meaning drivers must follow.
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyTwo Ordinance Code sections limit truck and trailer parking on unincorporated San Mateo County streets. Section 7.28.070 lets the Board of Supervisors designate parking zones that bar…
Loading Zones
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County, parking in a designated loading zone beyond the time needed to load or unload passengers or freight is prohibited.
Street Parking Limits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyCounty-posted signs and curb markings set stopping, standing and parking limits on unincorporated San Mateo County streets.
EV Charging
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyFor new construction in unincorporated San Mateo County, the County's local amendments to the California Building and Energy Codes require EV charging infrastructure. Adopted February…
Overnight Parking
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County has no blanket overnight on-street parking ban. The County Ordinance Code instead targets oversized vehicles and trailers on designated streets (Section…
Driveway Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyFront-yard vehicle, boat and camper-shell parking is banned outside the driveway in the Broadmoor Police Protection District.
Towing & Impound Rights
Some RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia doesn't ban private-property towing, but Vehicle Code Section 22658 controls how it happens. A posted sign at least 17 by 22 inches must warn drivers before a tow company…
🔊 Noise Ordinances
Decibel Limits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County, exterior noise reaching a home, school, hospital, church or library cannot exceed the numeric limits in Table I of Code Section 4.88.330: as low as…
Quiet Hours
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County it's unlawful to make unreasonably loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise that disturbs a neighborhood's peace and quiet or annoys a person of normal…
Leaf Blower Rules
Heavy RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County has no dedicated gas-powered leaf blower ban or specific leaf-blower ordinance; the recent leaf-blower bans and electric-blower rebate programs are…
Barking Dogs
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County, letting a dog or cat habitually bark, meow, or disturb residents is banned as a public nuisance under County Ordinance Code § 6.04.060(c), enforced…
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyOperating sound amplifying equipment in a San Mateo County park or recreation area is unlawful without a Parks and Recreation Department permit under Section 3.68.130(b).
Construction Hours
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County, construction noise is only exempt from the noise code between set weekday, Saturday, and blackout-day hours.
Aircraft Noise
Some RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia sets statewide airport noise limits under Title 21 CCR, with the state preempting most local aviation noise control because federal FAA authority dominates aircraft…
🔥 Fire Regulations
Smoke Detectors
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyBefore San Mateo County issues a short-term rental permit in the unincorporated county, the owner must install smoke alarms complying with UL 217 in every bedroom, just outside each…
Brush Clearance
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyProperties in the Wildland-Urban Interface of unincorporated San Mateo County must maintain defensible space under California Public Resources Code 4291: 100 feet of clearance around…
Wildfire Zones
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County contains Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, with the Santa Cruz Mountains and coastal hills (La Honda, Pescadero, and similar) at…
Fireworks
Heavy RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyPossessing, selling, or exploding any fireworks is unlawful in unincorporated San Mateo County unless a Fire Warden permits a supervised public display.
Outdoor Burning
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia requires permits for most outdoor burning, with statewide CAL FIRE and Air Resources Board rules that uniformly apply alongside local air district restrictions.
Propane Storage
Some RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia uniformly applies the State Fire Marshal's propane storage standards through the California Fire Code, which all local jurisdictions must enforce as a minimum.
💼 Home Business
Home Daycare
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyBy California state law (Health & Safety Code 1597.40-1597.46, as amended by SB 234), small and large family day care homes are a residential use by right in unincorporated San Mateo…
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County allows home occupations by right in residential zones like R-1 and R-E, but caps them at a quarter of the ground floor with no retail sales or outside…
Cottage Food Operations
Few RestrictionsCaliforniaGovernment Code section 51035 forbids any California city, county, or city and county from prohibiting a cottage food operation in a residential dwelling. The local agency must pick…
Home Kitchen Operations
Significant RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia lets home cooks sell meals from their own kitchen under a microenterprise home kitchen operation (MEHKO) permit, capped at 30 meals a day, 90 a week, and $100,000 in annual…
🏗️ Accessory Structures
ADU Owner Occupancy
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County requires the parcel owner to live in one unit whenever a junior accessory dwelling unit is built, secured by a recorded deed restriction.
ADU Impact Fees
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySan Mateo County waives development impact fees entirely for accessory dwelling units under 750 square feet, and for larger ADUs charges only a prorated share: Zoning Regulations…
ADU Rental Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySan Mateo County bars accessory dwelling units built under its ADU chapter from short-term rental: Zoning Regulations Section 8.392.050(22) requires any ADU that is rented to be rented…
ADU Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySan Mateo County allows accessory dwelling units by right in the R-1, R-2, R-3, PC, CMU, NMU, R-E, RH, RM and TPZ districts and any other residential district under Zoning Regulations…
Garage Conversions
Few RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyConverting an attached or detached garage into an accessory dwelling unit in unincorporated San Mateo County does not require replacing the lost parking spot: Zoning Regulations…
Shed & Carport Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County, a detached one-story accessory building in a residential district is capped at 30% of the rear yard, 1,000 square feet, and must sit at least 3 feet…
🌍 Environmental Rules
Coastal Development
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySan Mateo County administers its own certified Local Coastal Program (LCP) and issues Coastal Development Permits (CDPs) for projects in the Coastal Zone, which covers roughly 240 sq…
Stormwater Management
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County bans dumping anything but rainwater into the county storm drain system under its Stormwater Pollution Prevention Ordinance.
Flood Elevation Requirements
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County requires the lowest floor of any new or substantially improved structure in an Area of Special Flood Hazard to sit at or above the regulatory…
Erosion Control
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyGrading and construction sites in unincorporated San Mateo County must keep BMPs in place to stop erosion and sediment from reaching roads or storm drains.
Flood Zones
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County bars grading, filling, new construction or any other development in a mapped Area of Special Flood Hazard, Floodway or Coastal High Hazard Area until…
🏚️ Property Maintenance
Snow & Sidewalk Clearing
Few RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySnow sidewalk clearing is not a regular concern in unincorporated San Mateo County's Mediterranean coastal climate, and the County has no dedicated snow-clearance ordinance. On the…
Property Blight
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County, the Planning and Building Code Compliance Section enforces property-maintenance standards and abates public nuisances such as accumulated refuse…
🔧 Building Safety
Building Permits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County, the Planning Director can exempt interior remodels, repairs and minor exterior work from the discretionary site development permit, though a…
Childcare Center Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County child care centers eligible for a ministerial permit must pass a fire safety inspection to Building Inspection Section standards before opening.
🌱 Cannabis Regulations
Dispensary Zoning
Heavy RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County bars almost every kind of cannabis business outright. County Code Section 5.148.050 lets the Planning and Building Department license only Mixed-Light…
Buffer Zones
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyLicensed cannabis cultivation sites in unincorporated San Mateo County must sit at least 600 feet from schools, day cares, youth centers and playgrounds.
Home Cultivation
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County allows adults 21+ to cultivate up to 6 cannabis plants per residence for personal, non-medical use under County Code Chapter 5.148 (Personal…
☀️ Solar Energy
Panel Permits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County uses expedited solar permitting under California AB 2188 (Solar Rights Act). Residential rooftop systems under 10 kW qualify for same-day online permits…
HOA Restrictions
Few RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyCalifornia Civil Code §714 (Solar Rights Act) strongly limits HOA authority to restrict solar panels. HOAs in unincorporated San Mateo County (Emerald Hills, West Menlo Park…
🚪 Soliciting & Door-to-Door
No-Knock Registry
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyMany San Mateo County cities (Redwood City, San Carlos, others) maintain 'Do Not Knock' registries that residents can join free of charge, and the County Sheriff requires all licensed…
Solicitor Permits
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County requires commercial peddlers and solicitors to obtain a Peddler/Solicitor License from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, including a…
🔑 Rental Property Rules
Just Cause Eviction
Heavy RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County applies California's statewide just-cause eviction protections under AB 1482 (Civil Code §1946.2). After 12 months of tenancy, landlords must state an…
Rent Increase Notice
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County, a mobilehome park owner seeking a space-rent increase above the standard CPI cap must file a petition with the County Hearing Officer 60 days…
Repairs & Habitability
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County landlords must pay relocation benefits to tenants displaced when code enforcement declares their rental unit substandard or unsafe, under Chapter 3.108.
Rental Registration
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County does NOT have a rental registration program. Landlords must comply with state habitability laws (Civil Code §1941.1) and the California Building Code…
Rent Control
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County has NO local rent control. State law AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act, Civil Code §1946.2 and §1947.12) caps annual rent increases at 5% plus CPI (maximum…
Eviction Notice & Process
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia evictions run through the unlawful detainer process. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 1161, nonpayment requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit (excluding weekends and…
Landlord Entry & Notice
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia Civil Code § 1954 limits when a landlord may enter a rented home. Except in emergencies, abandonment, or with tenant consent, the landlord must give reasonable written…
Late Fees & Grace Periods
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia sets no fixed dollar or percentage cap on rent late fees, but a late fee in a residential lease is treated as liquidated damages. Under Civil Code § 1671, such a fee is…
Lease Termination & Notice to Vacate
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaTo end a California month-to-month tenancy, a tenant gives 30 days' written notice. A landlord gives 30 days if the tenant has lived there under a year, or 60 days if a year or more…
Security Deposit Rules
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaAs of July 1, 2024, California landlords may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit, regardless of whether the unit is furnished. The deposit, minus any lawful…
Squatter's Rights & Adverse Possession
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia adverse possession requires five years of continuous, open, hostile possession AND payment of all property taxes during that period under Code of Civil Procedure § 325. A…
🛴 Mobility & Curb Rules
Bike Lane Rules
Light RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySection 7.80.010 lets San Mateo County's Director of Public Works, once the Board of Supervisors authorizes it, designate bicycle lanes on unincorporated county roads and post signs…
Golf Carts & Low-Speed Vehicles
Light RestrictionsCaliforniaA low-speed vehicle in California may not be driven on any roadway with a speed limit above 35 miles per hour. Vehicle Code section 21260 permits it to cross a faster road only where…
🏪 Business Licensing & Operations
Pawnbrokers
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyAnyone running a pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, junk dealer, or junk collector business in unincorporated San Mateo County must hold an annual License Board license under County Code…
Towing Companies
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County bans tow operators from soliciting business at crash scenes and keeps tow trucks 500 feet away.
Tattoo & Body Modification
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyTattoo and piercing shops in unincorporated San Mateo County need an annual LEA permit, and every practitioner must hold a current registration.
Massage Establishments
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySince July 1, 2012, every massage practitioner working for compensation in unincorporated San Mateo County must hold current CAMTC certification, and every massage business must…
Tobacco Retail License
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyRetailers in unincorporated San Mateo County need an annual county Tobacco Retailer Permit for every location selling tobacco products.
Secondhand Dealers
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySecondhand dealers and flea market operators in unincorporated San Mateo County must license with the County and hold purchased goods 15 days before resale.
🎪 Special Events & Permits
Block Party Permits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyThe Director of Public Works may temporarily close County highways in unincorporated areas for block parties, celebrations and parades.
Park Event Permits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyAny group meeting, rally, or similar gathering in a San Mateo County park needs a Parks and Recreation Department permit obtained at least ten days ahead under Section 3.68.140.
🚬 Tobacco & Vaping
Flavored Tobacco Bans
Heavy RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnder Ordinance Code Section 4.98.160(c), no tobacco retailer in San Mateo County's permit program may sell or offer for sale any Flavored Tobacco Product or Tobacco Product Flavor…
Tobacco Age Restrictions
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia prohibits sale of tobacco and vapor products to anyone under 21 statewide under Business and Professions Code 22958, enacted by SBX2-7 in 2016. The Tobacco 21 standard…
🗑️ Trash & Recycling
Collection Schedule
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County properties must dispose of solid waste at least once a week and, where a hauler serves the area, must subscribe to that hauler's weekly collection…
Illegal Dumping
Heavy RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County treats illegal dumping as a misdemeanor and littering as an infraction, with major violations, mattresses, appliances, commercial quantities, drawing…
Dumpster Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyNew commercial and mixed-use development in San Mateo County's CMU-1 (Commercial Mixed Use-1) zoning district, the unincorporated North Fair Oaks area, must build at least one refuse…
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn the unincorporated Service Area, County Code Chapter 4.04 establishes mandatory minimum residential collection: garbage, recycling, and organics carts picked up once a week…
Mandatory Organics Recycling
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySingle-family homes in San Mateo County's densely-populated unincorporated areas must subscribe to their hauler's organic waste collection service under Ordinance Code Sec. 4.04.140…
Recycling Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyRecycling is part of the mandatory minimum residential service under County Code Chapter 4.04, with single-stream recyclables collected weekly alongside garbage and organics. The…
Bin Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County residents may set carts out no more than 24 hours before pickup and must store them out of sight within 24 hours after the hauler empties them.
🚷 Public Conduct
Loitering Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County, it is a misdemeanor to loiter in, on, or about any building or place open to the public where alcoholic beverages are sold. The Ordinance Code…
Public Alcohol Use
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySan Mateo County parks generally ban liquor other than beer or wine; hard alcohol is allowed only in designated areas of Coyote Point County Park under Section 3.68.080(t).
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySan Mateo County bans smoking, including e-cigarettes and vaping, throughout its unincorporated area and on every county-owned or leased building wherever located. Section 4.96.040(c)…
Loud Party Ordinance
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County, hosting a loud or unruly gathering of four or more people where a minor drinks, uses cannabis, or is served alcohol triggers social-host liability…
🚶 Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules
Obstruction Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn unincorporated San Mateo County, blocking a sidewalk or public right-of-way with an obstruction or excavation is declared a nuisance under Ordinance Code Chapter 1.12. The County…
Encroachment Permits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County requires a Public Works permit for fences, sidewalks, driveways or landscaping placed in the county right-of-way, and fines unpermitted encroachments…
💡 Outdoor Lighting
Light Trespass & Shielding
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn the unincorporated Midcoast (El Granada, Miramar, Moss Beach, Montara), county design review rules require new home exterior lighting to be directed away from neighbors and confined…
Dark Sky Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyDevelopment in unincorporated North Fair Oaks' CMU-1 commercial district must use dark-sky-compliant lighting confined to the property, and flood lights are banned absent a safety…
🪧 Sign Regulations
Window Signs
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn the NMU-ECR District along El Camino Real in unincorporated North Fair Oaks, San Mateo County caps window signs at 25 percent of the window's glass area under Zoning Regulations…
Political Signs
Few RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia Civil Code Section 4710 universally prohibits homeowner associations from banning noncommercial political signs on owner-occupied separate interest property, overriding any…
📐 Building Setbacks & Zoning
Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn the S-50 Combining District, layered onto R-2 (two-family) and R-3 (multi-family) parcels in unincorporated North Fair Oaks, San Mateo County requires a 20-foot front setback and a…
Structure Height Limits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn the county's RH (Residential Hillside) zoning district, homes are capped at 28 feet measured from natural grade, with a lower 10-foot plate height for any part of a building that…
Lot Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyIn the unincorporated North Fair Oaks S-50 combining district, buildings, accessory structures and raised patios or decks together cannot cover more than 50% of the lot.
🩺 Public Health Rules
Restaurant Grade Cards
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountySan Mateo County Environmental Health posts a compliance placard at every inspected food facility under Ordinance Code § 4.56.070, and it is unlawful to operate without the placard…
Rodent Control
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County property owners may not maintain a building, lot, vehicle or premises in a condition that lets rodents or other vermin breed or harbor there, under…
Food Handler Certification
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyAfter a hearing finds repeated critical food-safety violations or unsafe staff practices, County Environmental Health can order a food facility to send all food-prep staff to an…
🍔 Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors
Vending Zones
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County does not designate specific food truck vending zones but restricts operations through general zoning and parking rules. Food trucks may not vend from…
Sidewalk & Mobile Vending
Heavy RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County bans anyone from erecting, placing or maintaining a stand, vehicle, or any object on the public right-of-way of a county highway for peddling, under…
Food Truck Permits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyMobile food facilities operating in unincorporated San Mateo County must obtain a Mobile Food Facility (MFF) permit from San Mateo County Health Environmental Health Services (EHS)…
🗺️ Zoning Overlays & Bonuses
🎬 Filming & Production
🛏️ Homelessness & Encampment Rules
🚜 Right to Farm
Agricultural Zoning Protection
Light RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyUnincorporated San Mateo County's Agricultural Awareness ordinance declares normal farm impacts on neighboring property acceptable and routes disputes to a grievance committee instead…
Farm Nuisance Protection
Some RestrictionsCaliforniaThe California Right to Farm Act under Civil Code 3482.5 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits brought by neighbors who moved in after farming began. The…
🌳 Tree Protection
Parkway Planting
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo CountyNew commercial development in North Fair Oaks' CMU-1 (Commercial Mixed Use-1) zoning district must plant street trees along any public sidewalk the project abuts, under Zoning…
Heritage & Protected Trees
Some RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia provides statewide protections for native oak woodlands and heritage trees through CEQA review, Public Resources Code, and Forest Practice Rules that apply uniformly.
💼 Employment Preemption
Minimum Wage Preemption
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia sets a statewide minimum wage floor under Labor Code 1182.12, $16.90 per hour for all employers as of January 2026. Local governments are not preempted and may set higher…
Paid Leave Preemption
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia's Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act under Labor Code 245-249 mandates paid sick leave for nearly all employees statewide. SB 616 (2023) raised the minimum to 40 hours…
🔫 Firearms
Concealed Carry
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia regulates concealed carry weapons licenses statewide under Penal Code 26150 through 26225. Senate Bill 2 (2023) imposes uniform sensitive-place restrictions and applicant…
Local Firearms Preemption
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia preempts most local firearm regulation under Government Code 53071 and Penal Code 25605, reserving licensing, registration, and manufacture authority to the state. However…
Open Carry
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia broadly prohibits open carry of firearms statewide under Penal Code 25850 (loaded firearms in public) and Penal Code 26350 (open carry of unloaded handguns). The prohibition…
Firearms in Vehicles
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia prohibits carrying loaded firearms in vehicles statewide under Penal Code 25400 and 25850. Unloaded handguns transported in private vehicles must be in a locked container or…
🎰 Gambling & Gaming
Card Room Licensing
Significant RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia's Gambling Control Act bars any city or county from issuing a gambling license to a cardroom unless a local ordinance authorizes it first: one adopted by voters after…
Charitable Bingo and Raffles
Significant RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia Penal Code § 326.5 lets only tax-exempt nonprofits, mobilehome park associations, senior groups, and school-affiliated charities run bingo, and only under a local city or…
Social Gambling Rules
Few RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia law exempts private home card games from gambling regulation entirely. Penal Code § 337j(e)(2)(D) excludes any card game played in a private home or residence from the…
Sports Betting Law
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia has no legal sports betting, in stores or online. Penal Code section 337a criminalizes bookmaking, pool-selling, and placing or accepting any bet on the result of a sporting…
🏘️ HOA Rules
Assessment & Dues
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia HOAs may levy regular and special assessments, charge late fees and interest, record liens, and ultimately foreclose on delinquent owners under the Davis-Stirling Act. State…
Board Procedures
Some RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia's Davis-Stirling Act gives every HOA member the right to inspect and copy association records under Civil Code § 5205. Boards must produce current-year records within 10…
CC&R Enforcement
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia overrides HOA governing documents on several owner protections. The Davis-Stirling Act and related Civil Code sections bar HOAs from prohibiting solar systems, U.S. flag…
Clotheslines & Energy Devices
Light RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia voids any HOA governing-document clause that effectively bans or unreasonably restricts a clothesline or drying rack in an owner's exclusive-use backyard. Civil Code Section…
Drought Landscaping Rights
Significant RestrictionsCaliforniaCivil Code section 4735 voids any HOA rule that bans low-water plants, turf replacement, or artificial turf, and bars fines for cutting back watering during a declared drought…
EV Charger Rights
Light RestrictionsCaliforniaCivil Code § 4745 voids any HOA covenant or governing-document rule that prohibits or unreasonably restricts installing an EV charging station in an owner's unit or designated parking…
Flag Display Rights
Few RestrictionsCaliforniaCivil Code § 4705 bars every California homeowners association from limiting a member's display of the United States flag on their own lot or within their exclusive-use common area…
HOA Fines & Enforcement
Some RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia law caps homeowners association fines at $100 per violation or the amount listed in the association's published penalty schedule, whichever is less. Civil Code section 5850…
Lien & Foreclosure Limits
Light RestrictionsCaliforniaA California homeowners association cannot foreclose on a member’s home over unpaid dues until the delinquent assessments alone reach $1,800, or until the assessments secured by the…
Rental Restriction Limits
Some RestrictionsCaliforniaCivil Code § 4741 bars every California homeowners association from adopting or enforcing a rule that prohibits, or unreasonably restricts, renting out a separate interest, and sets a…
⚖️ Know Your Rights
DUI Checkpoint Legality
Some RestrictionsCaliforniaSobriety checkpoints are lawful in California and stopping at one is a statutory obligation, not a courtesy. Vehicle Code § 2814.2(a) requires a driver to stop and submit to a sobriety…
Recording Police
Few RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia is one of the few states that answers this by statute rather than by case law alone. Penal Code § 148(g) says that photographing or making an audio or video recording of a…
Stop & Identify Laws
Light RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia has no general stop-and-identify statute. The old Penal Code § 647(e), which required a person lawfully detained to give "credible and reliable" identification, was held…
Vehicle Search & Consent
Some RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia has no statute that requires you to consent to a search of your car, and none that requires an officer to warn you that you may refuse. What the Legislature and the voters…
🛍️ Single-Use Items
Plastic Bag Rules
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia prohibits grocery stores and large retailers from providing single-use plastic carryout bags under Public Resources Code 42280-42288, enacted by SB 270 (2014) and ratified…
Polystyrene Foam Rules
Heavy RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia restricts expanded polystyrene food containers statewide through SB 54 (2022) packaging requirements under Public Resources Code 42040-42081. The law mandates that…
Plastic Straw Rules
Some RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia Public Resources Code 42270-42273, enacted by AB 1884 (2018), prohibits full-service restaurants from providing single-use plastic straws unless requested by the customer…
🚗 Vehicle Equipment Laws
Underglow & Auxiliary Lighting
Significant RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia works from a closed list: Vehicle Code section 24003 says no vehicle may carry any lamp or illuminating device not required or permitted by the code, so an accessory light…
Dash Cam & Windshield Mounting
Light RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia measures dash cam placement in square inches. Vehicle Code section 26708(b)(13) lets a video event recorder occupy a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield…
Lane Splitting & Filtering
Few RestrictionsCaliforniaLane splitting is lawful in California. Vehicle Code section 21658.1, added by AB 51 in 2016, defines it as driving a motorcycle with two wheels in contact with the ground between rows…
Plate Covers & Obstruction
Significant RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia does not let you put a cover over your license plate. Vehicle Code section 5201(c) allows exactly two things: a full car cover on a lawfully parked vehicle, and a license…
Radar Detector Rules
Few RestrictionsCaliforniaNo section of the California Vehicle Code makes it an offense for a private motorist to own, carry or use a radar detector. The prohibition in Vehicle Code section 28150 reaches only…
Studded Tire & Chain Rules
Light RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia permits metal studded tires only between November 1 and April 30, and only where the studs are tungsten carbide or another suitable material and the metal touching the road…
Window Tint Limits
Significant RestrictionsCaliforniaCalifornia never publishes a "legal VLT" for front side windows because it does not permit aftermarket darkening there at all. Vehicle Code section 26708(d) allows only clear…