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Grading and erosion control in Daly City

Daly City's own rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text for every value.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Daly City Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Daly City's code says

Daly City code What Daly City's code adds
Grading without a permit
  • 3,000 square feet or less disturbed or filled; natural and finished slopes under 10%; 50 cubic yards or less stored.
    Applies: All criteria must be met, including runoff diverted from an area under 1,500 square feet and no drainage way blocked or changed.
    § 15.62.080 · code text
    A. The site upon which land area is disturbed or filled is three thousand square feet or less. B. Natural and finished slopes are less than ten percent. C. Volume of soil or earth materials stored is fifty cubic yards or less. D. Rainwater runoff is diverted, either during or after construction, from an area smaller than one thousand five hundred square feet. E. No drainage way is blocked or has its stormwater-carrying capacities or characteristics modified.
  • Permitted basement and footing digs, wells, tunnels, soil tests, emergencies, and any work of 50 cubic yards or less.
    Applies: Only if no silt or sediment leaves the site. Basement fill and digs over 5 feet unsupported height are not exempt.
    § 15.62.090 · code text
    Sections 15.62.070 and 15.62.080(A) through (E) notwithstanding, the following activities are exempt from the permit requirements:
Rainy-season limits
  • Wet-season digging or filling needs the city engineer's permission, renewed every 5 working days to continue.
    Applies: Does not apply to installing or maintaining the erosion control measures in the approved plans.
    § 15.62.320 · code text
    For continuation of land-disturbing or filling activities, other than installation, maintenance or repair of measures in the interim or final plans, during the wet season, permittee must apply for and receive, every five working days, special permission to proceed.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the grading rules in Daly City?

Daly City's code: 3,000 square feet or less disturbed or filled; natural and finished slopes under 10%; 50 cubic yards or less stored. (All criteria must be met, including runoff diverted from an area under 1,500 square feet and no drainage way blocked or changed.) (§ 15.62.080); Wet-season digging or filling needs the city engineer's permission, renewed every 5 working days to continue. (Does not apply to installing or maintaining the erosion control measures in the approved plans.) (§ 15.62.320).

General information, not legal advice.

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