Daly City · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Daly City
Daly City sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on the yard and corner-lot sight lines, and accessory-structure height depends on total floor area.
Key points
- Fence height: Daly City limits fences to 3 feet in any required front yard and 6 feet on parcels used only as residences.
- Accessory structures: Daly City limits accessory structures to 10 feet tall up to 120 square feet combined; larger ones to 15 feet, with design review.
- Home businesses: Daly City allows a home business in one room, at most one-fourth of one floor, with residents only and no customer pickups or deliveries.
Each rule below is marked Daly City code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Daly City code Daly City limits fences to 3 feet in any required front yard and 6 feet on parcels used only as residences.
All 3 Daly City rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Daly City code Daly City limits accessory structures to 10 feet tall up to 120 square feet combined; larger ones to 15 feet, with design review.
All 7 Daly City rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Daly City code Daly City allows a home business in one room, at most one-fourth of one floor, with residents only and no customer pickups or deliveries.
All 7 Daly City rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
Daly City code Administrative, nondiscretionary review. Expedited review with a standard plan and checklist; apply by email, online or at the counter; electronic signatures accepted.
All 3 Daly City rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Grading and erosion control
Daly City code 3,000 square feet or less disturbed or filled; natural and finished slopes under 10%; 50 cubic yards or less stored. Permitted basement and footing digs, wells, tunnels, soil tests, emergencies, and any work of 50 cubic yards or less.
All 3 Daly City rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →
Garage and yard sales
| Permit |
|
|---|
Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| Local rules | Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)
Daly City code In lieu fees follow the city's affordable housing fee schedule. 20% of units must be for households at or below moderate income.
All 3 Daly City rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →
Parking spaces required for homes
Daly City code Driveway in front of garage counts toward required spaces if sidewalk-to-garage-door distance is at least 19 feet. 1 space.
All 12 Daly City rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
| Alarm permit |
|
|---|---|
| When a permit can be revoked |
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Signs on homes
| Signs that need no permit |
|
|---|
Trash and recycling carts
| When carts must come back |
|
|---|---|
| When carts may go to the curb |
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| Where carts are kept |
|
Other Daly City rules on this
Daly City's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- No roosters (§ 6.08.080)
- Keeping horses at home: lot size and corrals (§ 6.12.120)
- Overnight street parking ban for oversized vehicles (§ 10.32.150) — on public streets
- Night-time noise from a property (§ 9.22.030)
- Public facilities fee for new development (Ch. 3.36)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What are the garage sale rules in Daly City?
Daly City's code: Yes. A permit is required for a garage or backyard sale. (§ 8.44.010).
Can I run a family child care home in Daly City?
California law sets this for every city, including Daly City: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).
Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Daly City?
Daly City's code: A permit is still required, but there is no fee. (Applies to a residential alarm user over age 60 who is a primary resident and runs no business in the residence.) (§ 5.37.020); 4 or more false alarms. (Within a permit year.) (§ 5.37.070).
What signs may I put up at my home in Daly City?
Daly City's code: Temporary display posters for civic, political, noncommercial, health, welfare and safety programs are exempt from sign regulation. (Applies when posted in or on private residences.) (§ 17.32.150).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Daly City?
Daly City's code: Do not leave recycling receptacles at curbside longer than 12 hours after the scheduled collection time. (Applies to residential units.) (§ 8.14.080); Do not put recycling receptacles at curbside earlier than 12 hours before the scheduled collection time. (Applies to residential units.) (§ 8.14.080).
General information, not legal advice.
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