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Daly City — Zoning

Zoning under the Daly City local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Daly City Zoning rules (Title 17 of the Daly City Municipal Code) say about zoning districts, the official zoning map, and the most decision-relevant numeric and procedural standards a project applicant needs to know. The city’s district list and boundary rules are in § 17.06.010 and § 17.06.020.

Note: this page focuses strictly on zoning (land‑use districts, permitted uses, dimensional standards, overlays and combining districts) and does not repeat building code, permitting, landlord/tenant, or state housing-law text.

How Daly City organizes zoning

  • The city’s districts (the official list you will see on the zoning map) are set out in § 17.06.010; the list includes MHP, R-1, R-1/A, R-2, R-2/A, R-3, BRM, R-4, BC, C-O, BOC, C-1, C-2, M, P‑D, I‑D, S‑1 (design review combining), CEM, -B (BART station area combining), Pre‑PD, and others. § 17.06.020 explains that the legal district boundaries are the city's officially adopted “Zoning Map, Daly City, California” and gives interpretation rules (street centerlines, lot lines, default to R‑1 where a parcel is unmapped). § 17.06.010; § 17.06.020.

When you read the chapters below, remember that some districts are “stand-alone” chapters and some are overlay/combining districts (they add rules on top of the underlying district).

District-by-district breakdown

(Each subsection gives the ordinance-stated purpose, typical permitted uses, critical numeric standards, and where that district is applied in the city code. All requirements are quoted as references to the controlling Daly City Zoning sections — see Source References at the end for the exact code citations.)

MHP — Mobilehome Park District

  • Purpose: residential district that “exclusively allows mobilehomes.” § 17.07.010.
  • Typical permitted uses: mobilehomes, recreation/service buildings for the park, accessory uses for a mobilehome park. § 17.07.030.
  • Key dimensional/definitions: the chapter defines “mobilehome,” “mobilehome park” and “mobilehome site” (see § 17.07.020).
  • Where it applies: only on parcels rezoned to MHP on the official zoning map. § 17.06.020.

R-1 — Single-Family Residential District

  • Purpose and basic rules: R‑1 is the city’s default single‑family district and is the fallback if a parcel is not shown on the zoning map. § 17.06.020(3).
  • Typical permitted uses: single‑family dwellings, secondary dwellings (ADUs—see ADU rules later), home occupations, small family day care (when permitted). See the R‑1 chapter for full use list. § 17.09 (and related tables). Not all subsections were extracted in the retrieved materials; verify with the code for parcel‑specific items. Not found in retrieved materials for the full R‑1 table.

R-1/A — Single-Family/Duplex Residential District

  • Purpose: allows single‑family and duplexes and includes design standards to protect neighborhood character. § 17.09.010.
  • Permitted uses: single‑family dwellings, duplexes meeting design standards, accessory structures, some day-care and care homes (chapter lists specifics). § 17.09.020–§ 17.09.040.
  • Dimensional standards (typical): minimum lot area 2,500 sq ft, minimum frontage 25 ft, maximum building height 30 ft, minimum front yard 15 ft, minimum rear yard 10 ft, maximum lot coverage 55%. § 17.09.050.

R-2 — Two-Family Residential District

  • Purpose/uses: allows the uses permitted in R‑1 plus two‑family dwellings (duplexes). § 17.10.010.
  • Dimensional examples: duplexes: maximum height 36 ft, minimum lot area 2,500–3,000 sq ft (depends on lot age/config), lot width 25–33 ft, maximum coverage 60%, front yard 15 ft, rear yard 10 ft. § 17.10.010; § 17.38.040.

R-2/A — Two-Family/Design Residential District

  • Purpose: protect neighborhoods by applying duplex design standards and limits. § 17.11.010.
  • Permitted/conditional uses and dimensional standards mirror R‑1 with specific design rules (setbacks, stepped back upper stories, garage entry details). § 17.11.020–§ 17.11.060.

R-3 — Multiple-Family Residential District

  • Purpose: multi-family residential with usable open space requirements; the ordinance specifies 150 sq ft of usable open space per unit and other window/open‑area rules. § 17.12.010; § 17.38.020–§ 17.38.030.

BRM — BART Multiple‑Family District (Transit-oriented)

  • Purpose: specialized multi-family district associated with the BART station area. § 17.13.010.
  • Typical uses: small apartment buildings, townhouses, courtyard apartments; R‑1/R‑2 uses are conditionally allowed. § 17.13.010(A–B).
  • Key standards: maximum height 45 ft, minimum lot area 5,000 sq ft, minimum lot width 50 ft, front yard 5 ft min / 10 ft max, rear yard 15 ft, max lot coverage 60%. § 17.13.010.

R-4 — Multiple-Family Residential and Professional District

  • Purpose and uses: multi‑family plus professional offices; tableed standards. § 17.14.010.
  • Example numerical standards: floor‑area rules shown in the R‑4 table: minimum lot area 10,000 sq ft, lot width 100 ft, maximum coverage 70%, minimum front yard 15 ft, lot area per dwelling 300 sq ft for high-density entries — see table for full matrix. § 17.14.010.

BC — BART Commercial District

  • Purpose/uses and numeric rules are in the BC chapter and aimed at transit‑oriented commercial uses; example: permitted retail/office uses in the BART area, maximum height 35 ft (landmark elements up to 45 ft), min lot area 5,000 sq ft, lot coverage 35–60% depending on context. § 17.15.010.

C-O — Office Commercial District

  • The C‑O chapter contains the table of office/commercial uses and dimensional rules (chapter number: 17.16); the full table was not fully extracted in the retrieved snippets. Verify in the code for parcel‑level details. Not fully present in retrieved materials.

BOC — BART Office Commercial District

  • Table of uses and numeric rules (example: maximum 6 stories / 90 ft, min lot area 5,000 sq ft, lot coverage 75%). § 17.17.010.

C-1 — Light Commercial District

  • Typical permitted neighborhood retail and services (banks, barber, small restaurants, retail) with moderate standards: example maximum height 36 ft, min lot area 2,500–3,000 sq ft, lot width 25–33 ft, front yard often none. § 17.18.010.

C-2 — Heavy Commercial District

  • C‑2 accommodates larger commercial uses and some industrial‑adjacent functions; the full C‑2 table was not fully extracted in the retrieved materials. Verify in the code. Not found in retrieved materials for full C‑2 table.

M — Industrial District

  • Heavy and light industrial uses; table fragments were present in the retrieved materials but the full M chapter table was not fully extracted. Verify specifics in the code. Not found in retrieved materials for the full M chapter.

P‑D — Planned Development District

  • Purpose: allows a mixed program tailored to a specific site through a precise plan; the P‑D ordinance requires a minimum area (usually one acre) unless in the redevelopment area and makes the precise plan the controlling zoning standard for that site. § 17.28.010–§ 17.28.020.

I‑D — Interim District

  • The I‑D designation exists in the district list; the specifics of I‑D standards were not available in the retrieved snippets. Not found in retrieved materials.

S‑1 — Design Review Combining District

  • S‑1 is a combining district that adds design‑review requirements and design standards to the underlying zone; see the S‑1 chapter for applicable review rules. The combining district concept is described at § 17.27/17.?? and in specific chapters. Not all S‑1 text was extracted; verify with the code. Not found in retrieved materials for full S‑1 chapter.

CEM — Cemetery District

  • Listed in the district list (§ 17.06.010) but chapter details were not included in the retrieved snippets. Not found in retrieved materials.

-B — BART Station Area Combining District

  • The -B combining district and the related BART districts (BRM, BC, BOC) are intended to implement transit‑area planning. The combining district is listed in § 17.06.010; specifics for how the combining district modifies the underlying rules are in the BART‑related chapters and underlying tables. § 17.06.010; see BRM/BC/BOC chapters.

Pre‑PD — Preplanned Development District

  • Listed in the district list; specifics not found in the retrieved snippets. Not found in retrieved materials.

C-MU — Commercial Mixed‑Use District (Mission/Geneva corridor)

  • Purpose: encourage high‑density housing and vertical mixed‑use along Mission Street and Geneva Avenue; the district contains detailed standards and objective design standards intended for transit and corridor development. § 17.58.010–§ 17.58.020.
  • Permitted uses: wide set of residential types (multi‑family, live/work, ADUs per city ADU rules) and many retail/service uses at the ground floor without a use permit; see § 17.58.030 for the full permitted‑use list.
  • Key numeric rules: maximum building height up to 15 stories / 175 ft (measured per the code), a minimum building height of 3 stories / 30 ft for new structures, minimum lot area 10,000 sq ft, minimum lot width 100 ft, and a required minimum lot coverage of 50% for new buildings (up to 100% allowed). Transitional height and yard rules apply where new buildings abut R‑1 / R‑1/A lots. § 17.58.040–§ 17.58.070.
  • Parking: new construction follows the city’s off‑street parking chapter unless superseded by state law; parking reductions under state law require an analysis in the application. § 17.58.090.

OS — Open Space District

  • Purpose: preserve and manage open space, parks, trails, and areas unsuitable for development; permitted uses are active/passive recreation, visitor‑oriented uses and limited accessory uses. Reclassification procedures are special. § 17.23.010–§ 17.23.060.

SC — Sullivan Corridor Specific Plan District

  • This is a specific plan district (Sullivan Corridor) with its own design and use designations and rules that "prevail" within the specific plan area. The specific plan’s designations and standards implement the zoning chapter. § 17.21.010–§ 17.21.030.

Quick comparison table (decision‑relevant excerpts)

This condensed table highlights the numeric standards and the ordinance citation you will use in early screening. It is NOT a substitute for reading the full chapter for a parcel-specific answer.

District Typical permitted uses (short) Key numeric standards Code reference
R‑1/A Single‑family; duplex (design‑controlled); ADUs permitted per city ADU rules Min lot area 2,500 sq ft; frontage 25 ft; max height 30 ft; front yard 15 ft; rear 10 ft; coverage 55% § 17.09.050
R‑2 R‑1 uses + duplexes Duplex height 36 ft; lot area 2,500–3,000 sq ft; lot width 25–33 ft; coverage 60% § 17.10.010
BRM Transit‑area multi‑family (apts, townhouses) Max height 45 ft; min lot 5,000 sq ft; width 50 ft; front yard 5–10 ft; rear 15 ft; coverage 60% § 17.13.010
R‑4 High‑density multi & professional Min lot 10,000 sq ft; width 100 ft; max coverage 70%; front yard 15 ft § 17.14.010
C‑1 Neighborhood retail/services (banks, barber, small restaurants) Max height 36 ft; min lot 2,500–3,000 sq ft; lot width 25–33 ft; front yard often none § 17.18.010
C‑MU Commercial mixed‑use (Mission/Geneva corridor) Height up to 175 ft (15 stories); min height 3 stories/30 ft; min lot 10,000 sq ft; lot width 100 ft; lot coverage 50%–100% § 17.58.040–§ 17.58.060
OS Parks, trails, conservation Uses limited to open space/recreation; special reclassification rules § 17.23.010–§ 17.23.060

How overlays and combining districts work (short)

  • Combining districts (for example -RP resource protection or -B BART station area combining) add or supersede the rules of the underlying district where they conflict; the combining district regulations “shall prevail” over inconsistent underlying rules. See § 17.27.010 for the -RP combining district and § 17.06.010 for the -B listing.

Key cross-topic pointers (with required internal links)

  • When evaluating a project, consult Daly City’s Development Standards for yard, lot‑area and coverage details referenced by the district chapters (the chapters frequently point to Chapter 17.38 and related standards). § 17.38.020–§ 17.38.040.
  • Off‑street parking requirements for a proposed use are in Daly City’s Parking chapter; the C‑MU chapter explicitly defers to the city parking chapter unless state law applies. § 17.58.090.
  • Many districts require or allow design review when the S‑1 combining district or the specific‑plan district applies — consult the city’s Design Review procedures and the S‑1 text for triggers. § 17.06.010; see specific district chapters.
  • Overlay/combining district rules are summarized on the Overlay Districts page; check overlays for resource protections (-RP), BART‑area controls (-B), and the Commercial Cannabis combining district (-CC, see § 17.56). § 17.27.010; § 17.56.010–§ 17.56.070.
  • Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): ADU rules are addressed in the primary zoning chapters (many residential chapters reference secondary/ADU standards at § 17.40.100) — see the city’s ADU page for the program and the ordinance references. § 17.11.020; § 17.09.050.
  • For projects that may rely on state standards (density bonus, ADU law, parking reductions), compare the local rule language to the California ADU law and the California Building Standards Code as applicable — the zoning code references state law where relevant (e.g., the density bonus chapter implements Government Code Section 65915). § 17.52.010.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for an initial zoning screen)

  • Confirm the zoning district on the official Daly City Zoning Map (the map is referenced in § 17.06.020).
  • Read the full district chapter for permitted/conditional uses and the use‑permit triggers (e.g., chapters 17.09–17.18, 17.58, etc.).
  • Verify numeric development standards (lot area, lot width, setbacks, height, lot coverage) in the district table and in Chapter 17.38 where cross‑references appear. § 17.38.040.
  • Check combining/overlay districts that apply to the parcel (‑RP, ‑B, -CC) and use their rules when inconsistent with the underlying zone. § 17.27.010; § 17.56.050–.070.
  • Determine whether design review, use permit, administrative use permit or conditional use permits are required under the applicable chapter. (See Chapters 17.44–17.49.). Not all procedural excerpts were extracted; verify with the code. Not found in retrieved materials for the full procedure chapters.
  • If proposing an ADU, follow the ADU chapter references in residential chapters and the city ADU checklist. § 17.11.020; § 17.40.100.
  • Prepare required site plans, usable open space calculations (if R‑3/C‑MU), and parking analyses (show how the project meets Chapter 17.34 or state parking reduction provisions). § 17.38.020; § 17.58.090.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
District boundary ambiguity (map vs. centerline rules) Parcel classification can change required standards and permitted uses (default is R‑1 when unmapped). § 17.06.020(1–3). Verify the official zoning map and ask the City to interpret the boundary if unclear (City Council interpretation is available). Verify with the jurisdiction.
Overlay precedence (‑RP, -B, -CC) Combining district rules “prevail” where inconsistent; they may add conditional uses or stricter development tests. § 17.27.010. Confirm whether overlay applies to the parcel and which rules are controlling. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Transit‑area special rules (BRM/BC/BOC, C‑MU) Height, minimum lot sizes and transitions to adjacent R‑zones are stricter and often include objective design standards and airport compatibility requirements. § 17.58; § 17.13; § 17.15. Check the corridor/specific‑plan maps and C‑MU objective design standards and SFO ALUCP references. Verify with the jurisdiction.
ADU rules cross‑referenced ADU approvals reference both local zoning and state ADU law; the city records certificates of registration for ADUs and may attach occupancy conditions. § 17.40.100; ADU program. Confirm ADU checklist items and recorded restrictions (owner‑occupancy rules historically appear in the registration language). Verify with the jurisdiction.
Parking reductions under state law C‑MU and other districts defer to city parking chapter but allow state law reductions when legally applicable — you must include justification in the application. § 17.58.090. Prepare a parking reduction analysis and verify current state law applicability. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Missing chapter fragments in retrieved materials Some district chapters or sub‑tables were not present in the extracted snippets (e.g., C‑2, M, some combining‑district details). Consult the full Title 17 published code or request the specific chapter from the Planning Division. Not found in retrieved materials — Verify with the jurisdiction.

Plain‑English summary

The Daly City zoning ordinance divides the city into named districts (for example R‑1, R‑2, BRM, C‑1, C‑MU) and a set of combining/overlay districts; each district chapter lists what you may build, what needs a use permit, and the numeric rules (lot area, width, setbacks, heights, coverage). Use the official Zoning Map and the district chapter tables (for example § 17.06.010 and the chapters cited above) to screen a parcel, then confirm overlays and design review triggers before preparing a permit application.

Source References

  • District list and map rules: § 17.06.010; § 17.06.020.
  • MHP (Mobilehome Park): § 17.07.010–§ 17.07.030.
  • R‑1/A standards and uses: § 17.09.010–§ 17.09.050.
  • R‑2 and duplex standards: § 17.10.010.
  • R‑2/A design standards and requirements: § 17.11.010–§ 17.11.060.
  • R‑3, usable open space and window requirements: § 17.12.010; § 17.38.020–§ 17.38.030.
  • BRM (BART multiple‑family): § 17.13.010.
  • R‑4: § 17.14.010.
  • BC, BOC, C‑1, C‑MU chapters: § 17.15.010; § 17.17.010; § 17.18.010; § 17.58.010–§ 17.58.100.
  • P‑D Planned Development: § 17.28.010–§ 17.28.020.
  • Open Space (OS): § 17.23.010–§ 17.23.060.
  • Combining/overlay (‑RP; commercial cannabis -CC): § 17.27.010; § 17.56.050–.070.
  • Definitions and general provisions: Title 17, Chapter 17.02 and Chapter 17.04.
  • Density bonus implementation: § 17.52.010 (implements state density bonus law).

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Daly City Zoning Code (§ 4) High relevance
  • Daly City Zoning Code (Section 17.42.060) High relevance
  • Daly City Zoning Code (§ 4) Medium relevance
  • Daly City Zoning Code (§ 4) Medium relevance
  • Daly City Zoning Code (Section 1.12.010) Medium relevance
  • Daly City Zoning Code (§ 8) Medium relevance
  • Daly City Zoning Code (Chapter 5.104) Medium relevance
  • Daly City Zoning Code (Section 17.40.040) Medium relevance
  • Daly City Zoning Code (Section 17.09.030.) High relevance
  • Daly City Zoning Code (§ 10) High relevance
  • Daly City Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
  • Daly City Zoning Code (§ 15) Medium relevance
  • Daly City Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
  • Daly City Zoning Code (Section 17.11.020D) Medium relevance
  • Daly City Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

What can I build on an R‑1 lot in Daly City?

R‑1 is the single‑family district and primarily allows single‑family dwellings, accessory structures and some accessory uses (home occupations, small family day care). The R‑1 rules are the fallback for unmapped parcels. For R‑1‑adjacent design specifics check § 17.09 and the general definitions in Chapter 17.04. § 17.06.020; § 17.09.

What are Daly City setback and coverage requirements for duplexes (R‑2)?

Daly City’s R‑2 duplex standards show typical requirements of minimum lot area 2,500–3,000 sq ft (depends on recorded lot date), lot frontage 25–33 ft, maximum height 36 ft, front yard 15 ft, rear yard 10 ft, and maximum lot coverage 60%. Check § 17.10.010 and the lot‑area cross reference § 17.38.040 for exceptions.

How do I find the zoning for my Daly City parcel?

Confirm the parcel on the official Daly City Zoning Map referenced in § 17.06.020; if a boundary is ambiguous the ordinance requires using centerlines for street boundaries and allows the City Council to interpret boundaries on application. § 17.06.020(1–4).

Do I need design review in Daly City?

Design review is triggered where a district chapter or a combining district (for example S‑1 design review combining, a specific plan area, or where a district’s chapter requires it) says so. Check the district chapter and the city’s Design Review procedures; some chapters also reference objective design standards (for example C‑MU). § 17.06.010; § 17.58.

What height limits apply in the C‑MU (Mission/Geneva) district?

C‑MU sets a high allowable maximum: up to 15 stories / 175 ft, with a minimum new‑building height of 3 stories / 30 ft. Transitional requirements apply where buildings abut R‑zones. See § 17.58.040–§ 17.58.080.

Where are the Usable Open Space rules for apartment projects?

The zoning ordinance’s usable open space standard (typically 150 sq ft per dwelling unit) is in § 17.38.020; the C‑MU chapter adopts that requirement but allows flexibility in how open space is counted. § 17.38.020; § 17.58.070.

Does Daly City allow ADUs in residential districts?

Yes—residential chapters explicitly reference secondary dwelling/ADU provisions (for example § 17.11.020 references secondary dwellings per § 17.40.100). The city requires registration and certain owner‑occupancy or recordation conditions historically appear in the ADU registration language; check the ADU chapter and the city ADU page. § 17.11.020; § 17.40.100.

How do combining districts like -RP affect my project?

Combining districts add requirements that are in addition to the underlying zone, and when inconsistent the combining rules prevail (for example -RP for resource protection has its own application and submittal rules). See § 17.27.010.

Where are the specific uses allowed at Daly City BART areas?

The ordinance creates BART‑related districts: BRM, BC, BOC and a -B combining district; each BART district chapter lists permitted retail, office and residential uses and specific numeric standards (example: BRM and BC tables). See § 17.13, § 17.15, § 17.17 and § 17.06.010.

What happens if a use is not listed in a district table?

The code states when an unlisted use is similar to a permitted use and not more objectionable, it may be permitted subject to the same requirements as the most similar listed use (this language appears in several district tables). Consult the specific district table and the director/planning staff for interpretation. See district table notes (e.g., § 17.18.010). ---

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