Daly City — Landscaping and Screening

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Daly City zoning/planning ordinance requires for landscaping, screening, fences, walls, and tree protection. It synthesizes the local thresholds for when a landscape plan is required, how screening is used in design review and special-purpose chapters (telecommunications, resource protection, open space), and where to look for dimensional or district‑specific standards. Always verify parcel‑specific dimensions and exceptions with the city. See Daly City Zoning, the city's design review rules, and the development standards for related requirements.

What the code requires — core rules (short)

• Landscape plans must accompany design-review or site-plan applications and must comply with Chapter 17.41 (Water Conservation in Landscaping). § 17.45.060 and § 17.41.010 require submission and set thresholds for applicability.
• Design review finds that general landscaping and screening must be provided to “insure visual relief” and to screen exterior appurtenances; the review authority may require fences, walls, planting and other conditions. § 17.45.080 and § 17.45.090.
• Telecommunications facilities (base stations, equipment cabinets, etc.) are specifically required to minimize visual impacts and to use landscaping as screening; tree protection plans and a landscape performance/maintenance agreement (secured by a guarantee equal to 150% of the estimated installation cost; minimum one year) may be required. § 17.39.070–080.
• The Resource Protection -RP overlay requires submission of existing vegetation, tree inventories and proposed landscaping/irrigation as part of use permits and limits new development near sensitive areas. § 17.27.010—040.
• Open Space OS district expressly anticipates horticultural and passive/active recreation uses and limits intrusive new structures; landscaping/planting guidance appears in the OS provisions. § 17.23.010—030.
• The landscape/water‑efficiency chapter applies performance or prescriptive requirements starting at 500 sq ft of new landscape (and 1,000 sq ft for rehabilitated landscapes). § 17.41.010 (thresholds and applicability).

Important first internal references (used where the topic appears): Daly City Zoning, Development Standards, Parking, Overlay Districts, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code.

District‑by‑district breakdown (what the ordinance text says)

Note: the municipal code defines many zoning districts by chapter. The ordinance excerpts retrieved explicitly describe the OS and -RP districts and refer to residential and commercial/industrial groupings; specific numeric dimensional standards for every district (setbacks, lot coverage, height) are located in the development standards chapter and in the zoning district tables — verify those figures with the planning division or the development standards.

R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 (Residential zones)

• Purpose & where it applies: These are the city's conventional residential zones; the code treats R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 as the city's residential districts. The ordinance uses “residential zone” to mean these districts when applying landscape or adjacent-use rules. § 17.39 (as used in that chapter).
• Typical permitted uses: dwelling units and accessory residential uses (see the applicable district table in the zoning chapter). Not all use lists for each district were included in the retrieved excerpts; verify in the zoning use tables. Not found in retrieved materials.
• Landscaping / screening implications: Projects that trigger design review or the Chapter 17.41 thresholds must submit landscape plans; design review expressly evaluates screening of exterior appurtenances and fences/walls. § 17.45.060, § 17.45.080.

Key item to verify: numeric setbacks, maximum lot coverage, required front‑yard landscaping and street‑tree requirements are found in the district-specific tables in the zoning chapter and in the development standards. Verify with the city. Not found in retrieved materials.

C-1, C-2, C-O (Commercial) and I-D, M (Industrial)

• Purpose & where it applies: The code groups C-1, C-2, C-O, I-D, M as commercial/industrial zones for certain standards and references. These zones cover downtown and commercial corridors (C-) and distribution/light to general industrial uses (I-D, M). (Defined within the applicable chapters as “commercial/industrial zone”).
• Typical permitted uses: retail, services, offices (C-), and light manufacturing, assembly, storage (I‑D / M) — consult the zoning use tables for the precise allowed/conditional lists. Not found in retrieved materials.
• Landscaping / screening implications: Where commercial or industrial uses abut residential zones, the code requires visual screening. The zoning table requires that the open storage of materials or equipment adjacent to a residential district be screened by a sight‑obscuring fence at least six feet high (see cross-reference to § 17.38.040 in the zoning table).

Practical note: parking lot landscaping, planter minimums, and tree shading requirements are handled in the development standards and parking chapters; see Parking and Development Standards for per‑space and island rules. Not found in retrieved materials for exact numbers.

OS — Open Space district

• Purpose & typical uses: Preserve and limit use of open space lands for recreation, parks, agricultural/horticultural uses and reserves for fire protection or view protection. § 17.23.010—030.
• Landscaping / screening implications: The OS district explicitly contemplates horticulture and conservation uses and limits intrusive structures; landscape design in OS areas is oriented to conservation, passive recreation and protection of natural features. § 17.23.030.

-RP — Resource Protection combining district

• Purpose & where it applies: The -RP overlay provides development rules for open space and buffer zones adjacent to sensitive resources and geologic hazards; these rules are supplemental to the underlying zone and prevail where inconsistent. § 17.27.010.
• Typical uses: Open space and restricted development; many additions, fences, walls and pools may be conditional or require use permits when within the -RP overlay. § 17.27.030.
• Landscaping / screening implications: Use permit and subdivision applications within the -RP district must include additional site plan detail: existing trees & major vegetation, proposed landscaping and irrigation plans, and geotechnical reports where required. § 17.27.040.

Quick reference table — most decision‑relevant standards or uses

Practical guidance & interpretation (plain-English, actionable)

• If your project proposes new landscaping of 500 sq ft or more (or is a rehabilitated landscape over 1,000 sq ft), plan on preparing a water‑efficient landscape plan that complies with Chapter 17.41 and submit it with your permit/design‑review application. § 17.41.010.
• If you are doing a project that requires design review (for example, multi‑unit residential or larger commercial buildings), the site plan must show the location, height and design of all fences or walls and all landscaped areas — the review body will evaluate screening and may require plantings or walls to mitigate visual impacts. § 17.45.060 and § 17.45.080.
• For telecom equipment, expect the city to require plantings that are native/drought tolerant and visually compatible; you may need a landscape performance/maintenance agreement secured at 150% of installation cost for a minimum of one year. § 17.39.080(C).
• When your property borders open space or resource‑protected land (the -RP overlay), submit a tree/vegetation inventory, proposed planting and irrigation plans, and likely a geotechnical report for grading or slope work. § 17.27.040.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

• Determine whether project meets Chapter 17.41 thresholds (≥500 sq ft new or ≥1,000 sq ft rehab). § 17.41.010.
• Prepare a landscape plan showing plant species (drought‑tolerant where required), irrigation, maintenance schedule and water‑budget calculations per Chapter 17.41. § 17.41.020 et seq. Not all appendices were retrieved; verify required submittal elements with the planning counter.
• If the project requires design review, include fence/wall location, heights, screening for mechanicals and a planting plan. § 17.45.060, § 17.45.080.
• If adjacent to residential, plan for a sight‑obscuring fence (6 ft) where open storage is proposed. § 17.38.040 (zoning table).
• If within -RP overlay, include existing trees, proposed landscaping/irrigation and geotechnical data required by § 17.27.040.
• For telecom or other equipment yards, be prepared for a tree protection plan and a landscape performance/maintenance agreement guaranteed at 150% of estimated cost (min. 1 year). § 17.39.080(C).
• Budget for correction period/enforcement: if the city issues a notice for landscape violations, owners have 90 days to correct before administrative actions. § 17.41.210.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

If you’re doing landscaping in Daly City and it’s more than about 500 square feet (new) or 1,000 square feet (rehab), you’ll need a water‑efficient landscape plan and to show it on your design/permit drawings; the city frequently requires screening plantings, walls/fences and tree protection as part of design review, especially where sites abut residences, open space, or when equipment (like telecom cabinets) needs hiding. Check whether your parcel is in the -RP overlay or OS district because extra submittals (tree inventories, geotech) are required. § 17.41.010; § 17.45.060; § 17.27.040.

Source References

• § 17.41.010 — Applicability and thresholds for Chapter 17.41 (Water Conservation in Landscaping).
• § 17.41.210 — Enforcement and notice/correction for landscaping requirements.
• § 17.45.060 — Required site plan contents: must show location, height and design of all fences or walls, open space and landscaped areas.
• § 17.45.080 — Design review findings: includes evaluation of “general landscape considerations” and screening of exterior appurtenances.
• § 17.39.070—090 — Telecommunications chapter: visual screening, tree protection, landscape performance/maintenance agreements and graffiti‑resistant fencing requirements.
• § 17.27.010—040 — -RP Resource Protection combining district: purpose, lands included and submittal requirements (existing and proposed vegetation, irrigation plans).
• Zoning table note re: screening open storage adjacent to residential (cross‑reference to § 17.38.040) — sight‑obscuring fence at least 6 ft high required.
• OS district purpose and permitted uses (§ 17.23.010—030).

(If you need direct links to the online municipal code or the city's planning webpages, I can fetch those and add them here. Verify parcel‑specific standards, setbacks, and development‑standard tables with the planning counter before construction.)

Retrieved passages

• Daly City Zoning Code (Chapter 17.41) High relevance show source text
• Daly City Zoning Code (chapter and) High relevance show source text
• Daly City Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• CWUIC § 65850.6 (Title 24) High relevance show source text
• Daly City Zoning Code (Chapter 17.41) High relevance show source text
• Daly City Zoning Code (section of) High relevance show source text
• Daly City Zoning Code (§ 4) High relevance show source text
• Daly City Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Daly City Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• CPC § 660 High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• **§ 17.41.010** — Applicability and thresholds for Chapter 17.41 (Water Conservation in Landscaping). (§ 17.41.010)
• **§ 17.41.210** — Enforcement and notice/correction for landscaping requirements. (§ 17.41.210)
• **§ 17.45.060** — Required site plan contents: must show location, height and design of all fences or walls, open space and landscaped areas. (§ 17.45.060)
• **§ 17.45.080** — Design review findings: includes evaluation of “general landscape considerations” and screening of exterior appurtenances. (§ 17.45.080)
• **§ 17.39.070—090** — Telecommunications chapter: visual screening, tree protection, landscape performance/maintenance agreements and graffiti‑resistant fencing requirements. (§ 17.39.070)
• **§ 17.27.010—040** — -RP Resource Protection combining district: purpose, lands included and submittal requirements (existing and proposed vegetation, irrigation plans). (§ 17.27.010)
• Zoning table note re: screening open storage adjacent to residential (cross‑reference to **§ 17.38.040**) — sight‑obscuring fence at least **6 ft** high required. (§ 17.38.040)
• OS district purpose and permitted uses (**§ 17.23.010—030**). (§ 17.23.010)
• DalyCity_ZoningCode.md

• Official Daly City code library