South San Francisco, CA

South San Francisco regulates noise under SSFMC Chapter 8.32 (Noise Regulations). The ordinance prohibits loud, unnecessary noise disturbing neighborhood peace. Quiet hours for…

South San Francisco prohibits nuisance barking under the general noise ordinance (SSFMC Ch. 8.32). Animal control in SSF is provided by Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. Habitual…

South San Francisco permits construction with a valid city permit weekdays 8 AM–8 PM, Saturdays 9 AM–8 PM, and Sundays/holidays 10 AM–6 PM. Equipment noise cannot exceed 90 dB at 25…

Unincorporated 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…

Amplified music in unincorporated San Mateo County is regulated by County Code Chapter 4.88: it must stay within the exterior dBA limits of Section 4.88.330 and must not be…

Noise from motor vehicles operated on public roads in unincorporated San Mateo County is primarily controlled by the California Vehicle Code, which requires an adequate muffler and…

County Code 4.88.330 sets exterior noise limits at residences, schools, hospitals, churches and libraries on a sliding scale by how long the noise lasts in an hour. Daytime (7 a.m.-10…

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…

Industrial and commercial noise in unincorporated San Mateo County is controlled through the exterior noise standards of County Code 4.88.330 (measured at nearby residences, schools…

Aircraft noise is regulated by the FAA under federal law, not by the County's local noise ordinance. The County of San Mateo operates San Carlos and Half Moon Bay airports and runs a…

South San Francisco enforces CVC 72-hour abandonment rule, street sweeping restrictions, and residential time-limit zones. The city is densely developed (biotech/industrial hub) with…

South San Francisco requires vehicles to be parked on legal paved parking areas. Blocking public sidewalks is prohibited. Garage conversion ADUs do not require replacement parking…

South San Francisco restricts large commercial vehicles from parking in residential zones. South San Francisco's industrial character means commercial vehicles are common, but…

South San Francisco restricts RVs and oversized vehicles from long-term parking on residential streets. CVC 72-hour rule applies. Private property storage is generally allowed subject…

Unincorporated 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…

County Ordinance Code Section 7.28.070 ("No Oversized Vehicle Parking") lets the Board of Supervisors bar oversized vehicles over six feet high from designated residential streets and…

For 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…

On unincorporated County streets, yellow curbs are freight loading zones for active loading and unloading only (not for parking commercial-plated vehicles), and white curbs are…

Curb markings on unincorporated County roads are installed by the Department of Public Works and only after Board of Supervisors approval. Standard California curb colors apply: red…

Under 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…

South San Francisco requires property owners to maintain lots free of excessive weeds and overgrown vegetation. Overgrowth creating fire hazards or nuisances is subject to code…

South San Francisco water is supplied by Cal Water (South San Francisco District) primarily from SFPUC's Hetch Hetchy system. BAWSCA and state drought regulations may limit outdoor…

Private tree removal on private property in South San Francisco generally does not require a city permit. Street tree removal requires Public Works approval. Trees in special overlay…

Private 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…

Unincorporated 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…

Residential rainwater harvesting is encouraged in unincorporated San Mateo County. Under California's Rainwater Capture Act, rooftop rain barrels and cisterns under 360 gallons for…

Unincorporated San Mateo County encourages native and drought-tolerant landscaping rather than mandating it for homeowners. The Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program promotes…

California's SB 1383 organics law requires unincorporated San Mateo County residents to keep food scraps, yard trimmings, and food-soiled paper out of the trash. Single-family homes…

Unincorporated 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…

South San Francisco Municipal Code Section 20.350.037 and the Planning Division's Short-Term Rental program do not specify a dollar-amount liability insurance requirement for STR…

South 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…

South San Francisco requires STR properties to provide at least one designated off-street parking space. Guests must comply with all city parking rules. Oversized vehicles and…

STR guests in South San Francisco must comply with SSFMC Ch. 8.32 noise regulations. Hosts are responsible for guest conduct. The local contact must be reachable within 1 hour to…

South San Francisco charges TOT under SSFMC Ch. 4.20 starting at 11% general + 1% special, automatically increasing 1%/year up to a 14% maximum. A Conference Center Tax (CCT) also…

South San Francisco requires a Short-Term Rental Permit under SSFMC §20.350.036. STRs allowed only in single-family homes by permanent residents. ADUs ineligible. Unhosted stays capped…

Registration is handled through a Short-Term Rental Permit application to the Planning and Building Department plus a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate from the Tax…

San Mateo County's Coastal Zone STR ordinance does not require the rental to be the owner's primary residence. Non-owner-occupied (whole-home) short-term rentals are allowed, subject…

Owner presence is not required, but Section 6401.3(6)(c) requires a designated local contact person within a 20-mile radius, available at all times during occupancy, able to physically…

Under Section 6401.3(2)(c), a Coastal Zone STR cannot be rented for more than 180 nights per calendar year. Any night the property owner is present at the address does not count…

South San Francisco Municipal Code Chapter 20.300 (Lot and Development Standards) and Chapter 20.330 (On-Site Parking and Loading) govern carports as accessory structures. Unlike many…

South San Francisco allows ADUs per California state law (SSFMC Title 20). Detached ADUs up to 1,200 sq ft max; minimum 800 sq ft and 16 ft allowed by right. 4-ft setbacks. ADUs cannot…

Small accessory structures (sheds) in South San Francisco must comply with SSFMC Title 20 setbacks. Sheds under 120 sq ft and under 8 feet generally do not require a building permit…

Garage conversions to ADUs are permitted in South San Francisco per California ADU law. Building permit required. No replacement parking needed when converting a garage to an ADU under…

Unincorporated San Mateo County has no separate tiny-home ordinance. A tiny home on a permanent foundation can qualify as an ADU under Development Code Chapter 8.392. California ADU…

Open burning is banned in South San Francisco under BAAQMD Regulation 5. Wood-burning devices (fireplaces, stoves, fire pits) are prohibited on Spare the Air Alert days under BAAQMD…

All fireworks are illegal in South San Francisco — including 'Safe and Sane' fireworks. The Police Chief has confirmed that even safe and sane fireworks result in fines. San Mateo…

Wood-burning fire pits are prohibited on Spare the Air Alert days throughout South San Francisco under BAAQMD Regulation 6, Rule 3. With 19–41 annual alert days, outdoor wood burning…

Properties 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…

Small recreational backyard fires are allowed in unincorporated San Mateo County under California Fire Code section 307.4 with required setbacks and constant attendance, but all…

Smoke alarms in unincorporated San Mateo County dwellings are governed by California Health & Safety Code section 13113.7 and the California Fire/Building Codes. Newer battery-only…

Propane (LPG) storage in unincorporated San Mateo County follows the California Fire Code Chapter 61 and NFPA 58, enforced by CAL FIRE / San Mateo County Fire. Residential aggregate…

Unincorporated 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…

South San Francisco fence heights are governed by SSFMC Title 20 (Zoning Code). Standard residential limits are 3–4 ft in front yards and up to 6 ft in side/rear yards. The updated…

Standard residential fences within height limits in South San Francisco generally do not require a building permit. Fences over 6 feet, masonry fences, or fences requiring footings may…

Fence 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…

A building permit is required for a fence built on top of a retaining wall in unincorporated San Mateo County. Under the California Building Code, retaining walls over 4 feet high…

Fences in unincorporated San Mateo County must comply with Chapter 8.332 height limits, corner-lot sight-distance rules, and grade-based measurement. Pool fencing, right-of-way…

San Mateo County's countywide fence ordinance (Ch. 8.332) regulates fence height and placement rather than materials, and expressly recognizes wood and cyclone fencing. Some specific…

Wood and cyclone (chain-link) fences are the standard, permit-exempt materials in unincorporated San Mateo County when built within height limits. Masonry fences require a building…

Unincorporated San Mateo County enforces California Swimming Pool Safety Act (H&S Code §115920-115929) and CBC Chapter 31B. Minimum 60-inch barrier, self-closing/self-latching gates…

South San Francisco requires dogs to be leashed on public property. No voice-control exemption exists in San Mateo County. Animal control is provided by Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA…

South San Francisco does not have a breed-specific ban. All dogs must be licensed with San Mateo County. Dogs deemed dangerous after an incident may face enhanced restrictions…

South San Francisco does not have a specific beekeeping ordinance. Beekeeping in residential zones may be subject to nuisance provisions. Contact the Planning Division before…

South San Francisco follows California CDFW regulations banning many exotic species. Local animal code may restrict wild or dangerous animals. Contact Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA…

Unincorporated San Mateo County allows backyard chickens and ducks on residential parcels of at least 2,500 square feet. Up to 6 birds are allowed on lots of 2,500 to 7,499 square feet…

In unincorporated San Mateo County, a household keeping more dogs or cats needs a permit. An animal fanciers permit covers up to a total of ten dogs and/or cats, and a kennel or…

Keeping livestock in unincorporated San Mateo County depends on the parcel's zoning district. Animal control under Title 6 covers dogs, cats, exotic animals, and poultry, while…

Cats over three months old in unincorporated San Mateo County must be licensed and rabies-vaccinated. The County Ordinance Code also requires that unaltered cats over six months be…

The County Ordinance Code does not contain a specific prohibition on feeding wildlife in unincorporated San Mateo County. County agencies strongly advise against feeding deer, coyotes…

Unincorporated San Mateo County has no separate 'hoarding' ordinance, but its permit tiers cap how many animals a household may keep and its animal-care standard prohibits neglect…

Above-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…

New pools in South San Francisco require a building permit. All pools must comply with California Swimming Pool Safety Act. Pool equipment noise must meet Ch. 8.32 standards (per the…

Pool 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…

Spas and hot tubs in unincorporated San Mateo County require a County pool/spa building permit and are subject to California's Swimming Pool Safety Act. A spa equipped with an approved…

In unincorporated San Mateo County, building a swimming pool or spa requires a building permit and a boundary survey from the Planning and Building Department. Applicants submit plot…

Home-based businesses in South San Francisco require a Home Occupation Permit under SSFMC Title 20. The business must be incidental to the residential use with no exterior evidence or…

No exterior business signage is permitted for home-based businesses in South San Francisco residential zones. Any commercial identification visible from the street violates Home…

Customer visits to home businesses in South San Francisco are restricted to incidental levels consistent with residential uses. Retail sales, regular appointments creating parking…

Unincorporated San Mateo County does not require a separate home-occupation permit. A customary, incidental home occupation is allowed by right in residential zones as long as all the…

Cottage food operations in unincorporated San Mateo County are regulated under California's Homemade Food Act. San Mateo County Environmental Health registers Class A operations and…

By 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…

Parts of South San Francisco near the Bay shoreline and low-lying industrial areas are in FEMA flood zones. New construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas requires elevation and a…

San Mateo County Planning & Building Department requires submittal of an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan prior to issuance of any demolition, grading, or building permit that…

Unincorporated San Mateo County is a permittee under the San Francisco Bay Area Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit (MRP 3.0, Order R2-2022-0018) which imposes NPDES Phase I…

San 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…

San Mateo County requires a Grading Permit from Planning & Building for projects involving more than 250 cubic yards of cut and/or fill, or any grading on slopes over 20%, or grading…

Cannabis retail dispensaries are PROHIBITED in unincorporated San Mateo County. The Board of Supervisors has adopted a ban on all commercial cannabis retail licenses under MAUCRSA…

Unincorporated 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…

Unincorporated San Mateo County does not codify a specific numeric annual cap on garage sales per household, but treats sales as permissible incidental residential use when occasional…

Unincorporated San Mateo County garage sales must stay within reasonable daylight hours, typically 8 AM to 6 PM, and remain within the Chapter 4.88 Noise Control exterior limits at the…

Unincorporated San Mateo County does not require a permit for occasional residential garage/yard sales. Sales are treated as incidental residential activity, not commercial operations…

The San Mateo County Protected Tree Ordinance (No. 4895) requires replacement planting when a Significant or Heritage Tree is removed under permit. Standard replacement ratios range…

The unincorporated County's Protected Tree Ordinance (Chapter 8.400, Ordinance 4895, 2024) requires a Protected Tree Removal Permit before removing protected trees, with replacement…

Under the 2024 Protected Tree Ordinance (No. 4895), San Mateo County designates Heritage Trees based on exceptional size, species rarity, historical significance, or ecological value…

Residential building height limits in unincorporated San Mateo County are set by district. The Planned Agricultural District caps structures at 3 stories or 36 feet, with a 28-foot…

In unincorporated San Mateo County, residential side yards are generally at least 5 feet and rear yards at least 20 feet, while the required front yard is set by the combining 'S'…

Lot coverage and floor-area limits in unincorporated San Mateo County are district-specific. Several residential districts cap building site coverage at 25 percent and floor-area ratio…

Unincorporated 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…

California 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…

Mobile 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)…

Unincorporated 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…

San Mateo County Code Chapter 3.04 (Juvenile Curfew Regulations) prohibits minors under 18 from being in public places within unincorporated areas of the County between 11:30 PM and…

San Mateo County parks open at 8:00 A.M. and close at a preset time prior to sunset. Under County Code Section 3.68.080, it is unlawful to remain in any County park or recreation area…

Outdoor cooking with BBQ grills and propane is generally allowed at residences in unincorporated San Mateo County and is not restricted by the open-burning or Spare the Air wood rules…

Backyard smokers and wood/charcoal BBQs are allowed at residences in unincorporated San Mateo County as cooking devices, not regulated open burning. But because smokers burn wood or…

In unincorporated San Mateo County, the Planning and Building Code Compliance Section enforces property-maintenance standards and abates public nuisances such as accumulated refuse…

Unincorporated San Mateo County does not publish a lawn-height number in its general code, but the County's Notice of Violation forms apply an International Property Maintenance Code…

San Mateo County does not appear to publish a dedicated garage-sale ordinance for unincorporated areas, and no County permit requirement for occasional residential sales could be…

Snow 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…

Unincorporated San Mateo County properties used for residential purposes within the Service Area receive a minimum curbside service set by County Code Section 4.04.220, which includes…

There is no special vacant-lot ordinance unique to unincorporated San Mateo County; vacant parcels meet the same public-nuisance and property-maintenance standards Code Compliance…

Recology San Mateo County residential customers receive two free curbside Bulky Item Collection appointments per calendar year, scheduled February 1 through December 31 on the regular…

In the unincorporated Service Area, County Code Chapter 4.04 establishes mandatory minimum residential collection — garbage, recycling, and organics carts picked up once a week…

Setout rules in unincorporated San Mateo County are set mainly by the franchised hauler. Recology instructs residents to place carts curbside before 6 a.m. on the service day, wheels…

Recycling 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…

California SB 1383 requires residents and businesses to subscribe to and participate in organics (compost) collection. San Mateo County implements it for the unincorporated area by…

Unincorporated San Mateo County's Development Code does not set a stand-alone political-sign chapter; temporary signs are addressed within district sign standards. Along state…

Unincorporated San Mateo County's Development Code has no separate garage-sale-sign ordinance; signs are addressed through district sign standards that prohibit off-premises and…

Unincorporated San Mateo County permits residential holiday decorations without permits. Displays must comply with electrical code, not obstruct public rights-of-way, and respect noise…

Unincorporated San Mateo County has no countywide dark-sky ordinance, but the Development Code's design standards require exterior lighting to be designed and located so that direct…

Unincorporated San Mateo County's Development Code requires exterior and interior lighting to be designed and located so that direct rays and glare are confined to the premises. The…

Many 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…

Unincorporated San Mateo County requires commercial peddlers and solicitors to obtain a Peddler/Solicitor License from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, including a…

Unincorporated 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…

Unincorporated 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…

Unincorporated 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…

California 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…

California landlords must keep rentals fit to live in. Civil Code §§ 1941 and 1941.1, reinforced by Green v. Superior Court, imply a warranty of habitability covering plumbing, heat…

California 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…

California 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…

To 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…

California requires written notice before raising a month-to-month tenant's rent. Under Civ. Code § 827, increases of 10% or less in 12 months need 30 days' notice; increases above 10%…

As 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…

California 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…

Commercial drone operations in unincorporated San Mateo County require an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (14 CFR Part 107), LAANC authorization for controlled airspace (most of…

Recreational drone flight in unincorporated San Mateo County is governed by FAA rules (49 USC §44809, 14 CFR Part 107 exemption) plus a countywide Park Orders ban: drones are…

San Mateo County has no data center ordinance, and its unincorporated land is largely rural, residential, coastal, and agricultural with little industrial zoning. A data center on…

San Mateo County's Noise Control ordinance (County Code Chapter 4.88) sets exterior noise limits at affected homes: 60 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime may not be exceeded for more…

San Mateo County has no ordinance specific to cryptocurrency or blockchain mining. A commercial mining operation is treated as a data center or industrial use, needing a use permit…

California 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…

California'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…

California regulates concealed carry weapons licenses statewide under Penal Code 26150 through 26225. Senate Bill 2 (2023) imposes uniform sensitive-place restrictions and applicant…

California preempts most local firearm regulation under Government Code 53071 and Penal Code 25605, reserving licensing, registration, and manufacture authority to the state. However…

California 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…

California 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…

California 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…

California tightly regulates HOA governance. The Common Interest Development Open Meeting Act (Civil Code 4900-4955) governs board meetings and member access, sections 5100-5145…

California HOAs enforce recorded CC&Rs and architectural rules, but Civil Code section 4765 requires architectural decisions to be fair, reasonable, and in good faith, and sections…

California HOAs may fine members for rule violations, but only under a published schedule of fines and after strict due-process steps. Civil Code section 5855 requires written notice…

California 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…

California prohibits state and local governments from requiring private employers to use the federal E-Verify system except where federal law mandates it, under Labor Code 2812. The…

The California Values Act (SB 54, 2017) codified at Government Code 7284-7284.12 limits state and local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It applies…

The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Williamson Act), Government Code 51200-51297.4, allows landowners to enter contracts with counties restricting land to agricultural use…

The 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…

California 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…

California restricts expanded polystyrene food containers statewide through SB 54 (2022) packaging requirements under Public Resources Code 42040-42081. The law mandates that…

California 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…

California 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…

California bans retail sale of most flavored tobacco products statewide under Health and Safety Code 104559.5, enacted by SB 793 (2020) and upheld by voters via Proposition 31 in…

California requires statewide licensing of tobacco and vape retailers under the STAKE Act and the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act. Business and Professions Code 22970…