Bolthole Index

San Mateo County, California

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Daly City, California

Daly City, California requires a building permit for construction work, and construction may begin only after the City issues it1. Zoning inside city limits is Daly City's own Title 17 Zoning Ordinance, not San Mateo County's2. Septic permits in San Mateo County come from County Environmental Health, and we could not confirm how that applies to parcels inside Daly City3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for permitted construction work; issued by the City of Daly City1
Zoning
Daly City's own Title 17 Zoning Ordinance and zoning map24
Building code
2025 California Building Standards Code with local amendments, effective January 1, 20265
Septic
County Environmental Health permits septic systems county-wide; Daly City parcels unconfirmed3
RV living
Overnight habitation in RVs on public property is barred from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.; private-lot rules unconfirmed6
Accessory dwelling units
Allowed on residential parcels, one per parcel, with owner occupancy of one unit7
Owner-builder
Possible with a signed owner-builder disclosure form8
Well permit
Required before digging, boring or drilling a well inside city limits9

Who to call

Building permits

City of Daly City Building Division

Building permit applications, plan review and inspections inside Daly City city limits

650-991-8061

333 90th Street, 2nd Floor, Daly City, CA 94015

Zoning

City of Daly City Planning Division

Zoning ordinance, zoning map and planning questions inside Daly City

650-991-8033

Septic permits

San Mateo County Environmental Health Services

Septic (OWTS) permits, site evaluations and water-well drilling permits for San Mateo County

(650) 372-6200

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Daly City means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Daly City, California?

Yes, for construction work that requires a permit. Daly City, California allows construction to begin only after the City issues the permit1. Some minor projects may qualify for quick permits without full plan review1.

The City has adopted the 2025 California Building Standards Code with local amendments, effective January 1, 20265. Applications deemed complete before that date may continue under the codes in effect on the deemed-complete date5.

A registered property owner may be eligible to pull a permit as an owner-builder, but eligibility is not automatic and the owner must sign a disclosure form before the permit is issued8. California's owner-builder exemption is a licensing exemption and does not by itself remove the building-permit requirement10.

Who issues building permits in Daly City, and how do you reach them?

The City of Daly City issues building permits inside city limits, not the San Mateo County Planning and Building Department, which serves unincorporated land11. Call the City's Building Division at 650-991-8061 or visit City Hall at 333 90th Street, 2nd Floor12.

Eligible quick permits can be submitted online, and permit invoices can be paid and eligible inspections scheduled through the Daly City Online Permits portal13. Projects that need plan review follow separate submission instructions on the City's permits page13.

Daly City inspects construction work for which a permit is required, and the work must stay accessible and exposed until a City inspector approves it14. A final inspection is required before use or occupancy14.

Does Daly City have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size, setbacks and ADUs?

Yes. Daly City administers its own Title 17 Zoning Ordinance and publishes a zoning map24. Standards differ by district, so check your parcel's district with the Planning Division at 650-991-8033 before you plan anything15.

In the R-1/A single-family/duplex district, the minimum lot area is 2,500 square feet with 25 feet of frontage16. Setbacks there are 15 feet in front and 10 feet in the rear, with no side-yard requirement17. Maximum lot coverage is 55 percent18 and maximum building height is 30 feet19. Those are R-1/A numbers only, not a citywide rule4.

Accessory dwelling units are allowed on residential parcels, one per parcel, and one of the two units must be occupied by the owner of record7. A detached ADU is limited to 1,200 square feet7. We could not confirm a general minimum dwelling size in Daly City; ask the Planning Division.

How do septic permits work in Daly City?

San Mateo County Environmental Health, not the City, handles septic permits in the county: anyone installing an individual sewage disposal system needs a permit from Environmental Health3. The county's local program operates under the State Water Resources Control Board's onsite wastewater policy20.

We could not confirm whether a septic permit applies to any parcel inside Daly City, or whether off-grid sanitation is allowed there. We also could not confirm a rule requiring every new home to connect to city sewer. Ask Environmental Health at (650) 372-6200 and the Daly City Building Division at 650-991-8061 before you assume either answer2112.

Wells are different: Daly City's municipal code requires a permit to dig, bore, drill, deepen, modify, repair or destroy a water well or any excavation that may intersect groundwater, unless exempted by law9.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Daly City?

On public property, no. Daly City bars overnight human habitation in RVs, campers, trailers and similar vehicles on public property and public ways between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., except in areas the city designates for that purpose6.

We could not confirm a Daly City rule for living in an RV or tiny home on a private lot. California treats RVs as not intended for permanent occupancy and generally limits them to mobilehome parks or special occupancy parks unless a local ordinance allows otherwise22. We also could not confirm a Daly City tiny-home occupancy rule or a rule for manufactured homes.

The county's allowance for a temporary RV during home construction applies to a county zoning district, not to Daly City23. The practical route to a second unit on a residential lot is an accessory dwelling unit, which meets the zoning-district standards and needs a certificate of registration before final building inspection7.

Building a home in Daly City: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your parcel's zoning district with the Planning Division at 650-991-8033 and read Title 17 of the municipal code152.
  2. Decide whether you qualify as an owner-builder, and sign the required disclosure form if so8.
  3. Submit your application through the City's permits page; quick permits can go online, while plan-review projects follow separate instructions13.
  4. Wait for the permit. Work may begin only after the City issues it1.
  5. Keep work exposed and accessible until a City inspector approves it14.
  6. Pass the final inspection before anyone uses or occupies the space; a certificate of occupancy is issued only for new construction and remodels that change occupancy, and signed job cards serve for other projects24.
  7. If the plan includes a well, get the city well permit first9.

What stays with San Mateo County, and what should you check before you buy in Daly City?

County rules for unincorporated land do not apply inside Daly City; the county's own permit and zoning pages state they cover unincorporated areas and send city residents to their city's Planning Department25. What stays with the county is septic and well oversight through Environmental Health3.

Flood and sewer questions are open for Daly City parcels. We could not confirm a Daly City floodplain-development rule, so ask the Building Division at 650-991-8061 about your parcel12. The county's floodplain standards cover unincorporated San Mateo County only26.

Costs are county-level: San Mateo County's typical home value is about $1.6 million27, and its effective property tax rate is 0.6%28. Raw land is rare here; Daly City is a built-out city in a county with about 1,619 people per square mile29.

Watch-outs

  • Daly City's R-1/A lot-size and setback numbers apply only to that district, so confirm your parcel's district with the Planning Division before relying on them4.
  • We could not confirm whether private-lot RV living or tiny-home occupancy is allowed inside Daly City; ask the Planning Division at 650-991-8033 before buying with that plan15.
  • We could not confirm how septic permits apply to parcels inside Daly City; call San Mateo County Environmental Health at (650) 372-620021.
  • The 2025 California Building Standards Code took effect January 1, 2026, so older plans may need revisions unless the application was deemed complete earlier5.

Sources

  1. Building Project Inspections (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  2. Zoning (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  3. Land Use, Septic & Wells, quoted and re-checked
  4. Zoning (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  5. Adopted Codes (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  6. library.municode.com (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  7. Title 17, Chapter 17.40, Section 17.40.100 — Secondary unit standards and requirements (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  8. Building frequently asked questions (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  9. Title 13, Chapter 13.20, Section 13.20.030 — Permit (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  10. Owner-Builder Overview, quoted and re-checked
  11. Apply for a Permit, quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Daly City Building Division (dalycity.org)
  13. Permits (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  14. Building Project Inspections (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  15. City of Daly City Planning Division (dalycity.org)
  16. Title 17, Chapter 17.09, Section 17.09.050 — Area, height, yard and coverage requirements (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  17. Title 17, Chapter 17.09, Section 17.09.050 — Area, height, yard and coverage requirements (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  18. Title 17, Chapter 17.09, Section 17.09.050 — Area, height, yard and coverage requirements (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  19. Title 17, Chapter 17.09, Section 17.09.050 — Area, height, yard and coverage requirements (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  20. Land Use, Septic & Wells, quoted and re-checked
  21. San Mateo County Environmental Health Services (smcgov.org)
  22. hcd.ca.gov (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. San Mateo County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  24. Inspections (Daly City), quoted and re-checked
  25. Get Zoning Information, quoted and re-checked
  26. Flood Elevation Certificate, quoted and re-checked
  27. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  28. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Population density: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Daly City

Daly City’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction work inside Daly City for which a permit is required.

    • Construction may begin only after the City issues the permit.
    • Some minor projects may qualify for quick permits without full plan review.
    “Construction work may only begin after a permit is obtained from the City.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    A registered property owner seeking a Daly City building permit as an owner-builder.

    • Eligibility is not automatic.
    • The registered property owner must complete and sign the required disclosure form before issuance.
    “A property owner may be eligible to obtain a permit as an owner-builder. Before issuance, the registered property owner must complete and sign the required disclosure form.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building work inside Daly City city limits.

    • The 2025 codes became effective January 1, 2026.
    • Permit applications deemed complete before January 1, 2026 may continue under the codes in effect on the deemed-complete date.
    • Daly City also administers local amendments, the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, and Title 25 where applicable.
    “The City of Daly City has adopted the 2025 California Building Standards Code, with local amendments. The adopted codes became effective January 1, 2026.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Daly City construction work for which a permit is required.

    • Work must remain accessible and exposed until approved.
    • The person doing the work must notify the City when ready.
    • A final inspection is required before use or occupancy.
    “The City must inspect construction work for which a permit is required. Construction work must remain accessible and exposed for inspection until approved by a City inspector.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Daly City new construction and remodels resulting in a change in occupancy.

    • A final inspection is required before use or occupancy.
    • For other projects, signed job cards serve as the certificate of occupancy.
    • Temporary certificates have a separate application and review process.
    “A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) will only be issued for new construction and a remodel which results in a change in occupancy. The signed job cards will serve as the CO for all other projects.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Daly City city limits; Daly City administers its own Title 17 Zoning Ordinance.

    “The Zoning Ordinance is under Title 17 of the Daly City Municipal Code.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Daly City zoning districts and zoning map.

    • The City publishes the zoning map and identifies Title 17 of the Daly City Municipal Code as the Zoning Ordinance.
    • District-specific standards may differ; the R-1/A standards cited here are not a citywide dimensional rule.
    “The Zoning Ordinance is under Title 17 of the Daly City Municipal Code. The City of Daly City Zoning Map is provided on this page in electronic format for your convenience.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1/A single-family/duplex residential district.

    minimum lot area: >= 2500 sq ft · minimum lot frontage: >= 25 ft

    “A. Minimum lot area, two thousand five hundred square feet; B. Minimum lot frontage, twenty-five feet;”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1/A single-family/duplex residential district.

    • Side yard has no requirement under the cited section.

    minimum front yard: >= 15 ft · minimum rear yard: >= 10 ft · minimum side yard: 0 ft (no requirement)

    “D. Minimum front yard, fifteen feet; E. Minimum rear yard, ten feet; F. Minimum side yard, no requirement;”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1/A single-family/duplex residential district.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 55 percent

    “G. Maximum lot coverage, fifty-five percent.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1/A single-family/duplex residential district.

    maximum building height: <= 30 ft

    “C. Maximum building height, thirty feet;”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Overnight human habitation in automobiles, campers, house cars, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, trailers, trailer coaches, or similar conveyances on Daly City public property, beaches, squares, avenues, alleys, and other public ways.

    • The prohibition applies between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
    • An exception exists for areas officially designated by the city for that purpose.
    • The parks and recreation director may issue a written permit for temporary use or occupancy on parks-and-recreation public property when necessary for operation and protection of city property.
    “No person shall use, occupy, or permit the use or occupancy of any automobile, truck, camper, house car, mobile home, recreational vehicle, trailer, trailer coach, or similar conveyance for human habitation on any public property, beach, square, avenue, alley, or other public way, within the city between the hours of ten p.m. and six a.m., except where such use occurs lawfully in areas officially designated for such purpose by the city.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units on residential parcels inside Daly City.

    • No more than one ADU per parcel.
    • The principal and accessory units must meet the residential zoning-district standards.
    • One of the two units must be occupied by the owner of record.
    • Building, fire, and applicable health-and-safety codes apply.
    • Attached ADUs are limited to 50 percent of the primary dwelling size, with a maximum increase of 1,200 square feet; detached ADUs are limited to 1,200 square feet.
    • Parking is generally one space per unit or bedroom, subject to listed transit, historic-district, existing-structure, parking-permit, and car-share exceptions.
    • A certificate of registration is required before final building inspection and includes owner-occupancy and recorded-document requirements.

    maximum ADUs per parcel: 1 unit · maximum detached ADU floor area: <= 1200 sq ft · attached ADU maximum floor area: <= 50 percent of primary dwelling (maximum increase in floor area is 1,200 square feet)

    “An accessory dwelling unit that conforms to this section shall be deemed to be an accessory use or an accessory building and shall not be considered to exceed the allowable density for the lot upon which it is located”
  • Well permitRequired

    Water, cathodic-protection, observation, monitoring, and other excavations that may intersect groundwater inside Daly City.

    • The code includes an exception for work exempted by law.
    • Emergency work required on short notice to maintain drinking-water or agricultural-supply systems is exempt from the ordinary permit rule if the responsible person satisfies the director that it was urgently necessary and demonstrates conformance with Section 13.20.090 technical standards.
    • Starting permit-required work without a permit can result in double the standard permit fee if a permit is later granted.
    “No person shall dig, bore, drill, deepen, modify, repair, or destroy a water well, cathodic protection well, observation well, monitoring well or any other excavation that may intersect ground water without first applying for and receiving a permit as provided in this chapter unless exempted by law.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Daly City building-permit applications.

    • Eligible quick permits may be submitted online.
    • Projects requiring plan review follow separate submission instructions.
    • Permit invoices may be paid online and eligible inspections may be scheduled through the online portal.
    “Apply for eligible quick permits, pay permit invoices, search permit records, and schedule eligible inspections online through the Daly City Online Permits portal below.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Daly City or San Mateo County directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Daly City; no general minimum dwelling floor area was established from the opened official sources.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy on private or residential land inside Daly City.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside Daly City.
  • Septic permit — Septic or onsite wastewater systems inside Daly City city limits.
  • Septic inspection — Septic or onsite wastewater systems inside Daly City city limits.
4 more unanswered
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Daly City publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. San Mateo County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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