Daly City Code Enforcement Guide for Homeowners

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team.

If you own a home in Daly City and a code enforcement officer has left a notice, or you are about to list a house that has visible violations, it helps to know how the process usually runs and what a buyer or lender will ask.

This guide explains how code enforcement works for Daly City homeowners, who to contact, what the city says it enforces, and your options when you want to sell. The facts below come from the City of Daly City’s Code Enforcement pages, which sit under Economic and Community Development.

Daly City code enforcement at a glance

Topic	What the city publishes
Department	Economic and Community Development, Code Enforcement division
Address	333 90th Street, City Hall, 2nd Floor, Daly City, CA 94015
Phone	(650) 991-8260, shown on a code enforcement listing; confirm it with the city before you call
Scope	The city says code enforcement staff enforce permitting requirements for building and zoning matters
Municipal code	Daly City Municipal Code on the city’s Municode library
Fine schedule and deadlines	The city pages we could read do not publish a fine schedule or correction deadlines, so none are stated here.

Who handles code enforcement in Daly City

Daly City places Code Enforcement within the Economic and Community Development Department’s divisions. The office is at City Hall, 333 90th Street, 2nd Floor, Daly City, CA 94015. The city describes staff as enforcing permitting requirements for building and zoning matters. The city also publishes a separate Code Enforcement Process page.

The page content we could retrieve was mostly an emergency sandbag notice, so we did not get its step-by-step description, and this guide does not invent one. A code enforcement listing shows (650) 991-8260, so call that number or the main City Hall line and ask for Code Enforcement.

What Daly City says it enforces

Because the city states that its officers enforce building and zoning permit requirements, the clearest categories for a homeowner are construction or conversions done without a permit, unapproved additional units or garage conversions, and use of a property that does not match its zoning.

Daly City also regulates accessory dwelling units in its municipal code, and its ordinance on ADUs allows the city to end the continued use of an ADU after a public hearing in some cases, so check the current text.

For property maintenance conditions, such as debris or overgrowth, ask the officer which municipal code section applies.

How a code enforcement case usually unfolds

Every city sets its own steps, and Daly City has not published a complete step-by-step timeline that we could read. In most California cities, though, a case follows a familiar pattern, and California state law sets the outer limits. A complaint or an officer’s own observation starts the case.

An officer inspects from the public right of way or, with permission or a warrant, on the property. If a violation is found, the owner receives a notice that describes the problem and asks for correction.

If the work is not done, the city can escalate to administrative citations, a hearing, abatement and, in serious cases, a lien or court action. Ask the officer in writing for the code section cited, the correction deadline and the appeal rights, because those details control your next move.

Notice and correction

The notice is your starting point. Keep every notice, photograph the corrected work, and ask the officer to confirm in writing when the case is closed. A closed case is a document you can hand to a buyer, an escrow officer or a title company.

Citations and fines

California Government Code Section 53069.4 lets cities adopt an administrative process for code violations, and the city’s own code sets the amounts and appeal windows. The city pages we could read do not publish a fine schedule or correction deadlines, so none are stated here. Do not assume an amount from another city.

Liens and unsafe buildings

California Health and Safety Code Section 17980 and the related sections cover substandard buildings, and a city can record a notice or a lien for unpaid abatement costs. A recorded lien shows up in a title search and must be paid or cleared at closing, so ask the city for a payoff or compliance letter before you open escrow.

Code enforcement and selling your Daly City home

Open violations do not stop you from selling, but they change how the sale works. Buyers who use a mortgage may be asked to resolve safety items before the lender funds. Appraisers note visible conditions. Title companies search for recorded liens and notices.

Sellers in California also have disclosure duties for known material conditions, including open permits and known unpermitted work, so it is better to deal with the issue directly than to hope it goes unnoticed.

• Open notice, simple fix: correct it, document the correction and keep the closure letter.
• Open notice, expensive fix: compare repair cost and time against selling as-is.
• Unpermitted work: see the city’s permit process and ask whether it offers a way to legalize older work. A buyer may ask for permits or a credit.
• Recorded lien or large fines: get a payoff figure in writing before you list.

Your options before you sell

Fix it first

Correcting minor items such as debris, overgrown vegetation or stored vehicles is often quick and inexpensive, and a closed case makes the listing cleaner. For structural, electrical or plumbing problems, get a licensed contractor’s written estimate before you decide.

Sell as-is

Many owners choose a direct cash sale when repairs would cost more than they want to spend, when a tenant or an inherited property makes repairs hard to manage, or when time matters.

In an as-is sale the buyer takes the property in its current condition, and the sale can close without the owner finishing the repairs. Costs the city still holds against the property are normally settled through escrow, so get the figures early.

Ask the city for time

If you are actively working on a correction, ask the officer whether a written extension is possible. Cities decide this case by case, and a documented request is better than silence.

How to sell a house in Daly City with open code violations

1. Collect every notice and permit record. Include dates, officer names and any correspondence.
2. Ask the city for a status or payoff letter. Request the code sections cited and the current balance, if any.
3. Get one or two repair estimates. A written number lets you compare fixing against selling as-is.
4. Decide how you want to sell. A traditional listing can bring a higher price when the home is in good shape, and a cash sale is faster when the property needs work.
5. Disclose what you know. California sellers disclose known material facts, and honest disclosure protects you after closing.
6. Close through escrow. Any lien or balance is paid from proceeds at closing.

Related local pages: sell a house as-is in Daly City, sell my house fast in Daly City and the Daly City cash offer process.

Frequently asked questions

Who handles code enforcement in Daly City?

Daly City’s Code Enforcement staff in the Economic and Community Development Department, at City Hall, 333 90th Street, 2nd Floor. A code enforcement listing shows (650) 991-8260; confirm the number with the city.

Can I sell my Daly City house if there is an open code violation?

Yes. An open violation does not prevent a sale, but it affects financing, title and the buyer’s price. You can correct the violation first or sell as-is to a buyer who accepts the property in its current condition.

How much is a code enforcement fine in Daly City?

The city pages we could read do not publish a fine schedule or correction deadlines, so none are stated here. Ask the officer for the code section and the current amount in writing.

Will a code enforcement lien show up when I sell?

A recorded lien or notice appears in a title search and must be paid or cleared at closing. Ask the city for a payoff or compliance letter before you open escrow.

Do I have to disclose a code violation to a buyer?

California sellers must disclose known material facts about the property, which can include open notices and known unpermitted work. Ask your agent or attorney how this applies to your situation.

What if I cannot afford the repairs?

You can ask the city for more time in writing, or sell the home as-is. A cash buyer purchases the property in its present condition, and any balance owed to the city is settled through escrow.

More guides

• We Buy Houses in Daly City
• We Buy Houses in San Mateo County
• Daly City Building Permits Guide
• Daly City Zoning and ADU Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of Daly City, Code Enforcement
• City of Daly City, Code Enforcement Process
• Daly City Municipal Code (Municode)
• California Health and Safety Code section 17980
• California Government Code section 53069.4

This guide is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the city.