Daly City, California Building Permit Guide

The Daly City Building Division, part of Economic & Community Development, issues building permits from City Hall, 333 90th Street, 2nd Floor, Daly City, CA 94015 (phone 650-991-8061, fax 650-991-8070). The building counter is open Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. A Daly City business license is required to perform work in the city.

This guide covers the City of Daly City. Two City pages give different inspection lead times, and the 3R page shows an older price than the current fee schedule; both differences are noted below.

What requires a building permit in Daly City?

Roofing: every roofing job over one square (100 square feet) needs a permit. All new roofs need a fire classification of Class B or better (DCMC 15.10.240), and Class C roof assemblies are not permitted. At re-roofing, existing operational chimneys must end in a spark arrester.

Work that needs plans: additions; remodels that add habitable space in garages or move walls; patio covers and decks; and retaining walls. Plans generally do not have to be prepared by an architect or engineer, but they must clearly show the scope and nature of the work.

For the 2025 code cycle, Daly City has filed ordinance 1484-Partial with the California Building Standards Commission.

California builds on one statewide code, Title 24, whose 2025 edition took effect on 1 January 2026; the editions in effect when the application is submitted apply, and cities and counties may adopt local amendments only with findings filed with the state (new residential amendments are largely frozen until June 2031). Title 24 and local amendments

Quick permits in Daly City

Quick (over-the-counter) permits are applied for, paid and searched in the online Permit Portal at www.dalycity.org/apply; the City recommends Microsoft Edge. Residential quick permits include bathroom and kitchen remodels, electrical service upgrades, EV chargers, furnace and water heater replacements, garage doors, re-roofing, siding/stucco and window replacement.

Contractors are licensed statewide by the Contractors State License Board (Classes A, B, B-2 and C) for work of $1,000 or more or any permitted work; a city may also require a business licence or tax registration. Contractor licensing in California

Who handles permitting in Daly City?

How to get a building permit in Daly City

A building permit carries a validity period and can expire if work does not start or stalls between inspections; confirm the expiry with the Building Division on phased or delayed work. Permit validity in California

Daly City permit costs and fees

The FY 2027 Master Fee Schedule sets building permit fees by project valuation:

• $1 to $500: $140.00 flat.
• $25,001 to $50,000: $506.00 for the first $25,000 plus $33.85 per additional $1,000.
• $100,001 to $500,000: $1,974.00 for the first $100,000 plus $6.18 per additional $1,000.

Added to the permit fee: plan review at 79% of the building permit fee, Planning Division review at 20%, Engineering Division review at 39%, a 9% technology fee, and a General Plan maintenance fee of 1% of project valuation. Work started without a permit is charged the fee plus a 2x permit fee penalty.

Recycling deposits (refundable): 3% of valuation for new residential construction over $25,000 and residential alterations over $15,000; $3,000.00 for roof construction of any type.

School fees are paid to the school district, not the City. Jefferson Union High School District collects for the high school district and for the Bayshore, Brisbane, Jefferson Elementary and Pacifica districts.

Inspections in Daly City

For permits outside the online pilot, the Inspections page says to call 650-991-8061 or email the Building Division at least two days ahead with the permit number, jobsite address, jobsite contact name and phone, and the inspection type. Estimated arrival times are posted by 8:00 AM on the inspection day. The City’s Roofing Permit page gives a shorter, day-before cut-off for roofing inspections, so confirm the lead time with the Building Division.

Residential Requirements Report (3R): owners of residential property of three units or less must get a 3R before entering a sale agreement (Daly City Municipal Code Section 15.44). It is requested online, returned by email within three working days and valid for six months. The FY 2027 Master Fee Schedule lists it at $127.00 per report; the 3R page itself still shows a lower, older price.

Official Daly City permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Daly City Building Division
• Permits and the online Permit Portal
• Permits involving plans
• Inspections
• Roofing permit and inspection requirements
• Residential Requirements Report (3R)
• FY 2027 Master Fee Schedule (PDF)
• Fee schedule and school fees

Frequently asked questions

Do my Daly City plans need an architect?

Generally no. The City says plans do not need to be prepared by an architect or engineer, but they must clearly show the scope and nature of the work.

Can I use a Class C roof in Daly City?

No. All new roofs need a Class B fire classification or better (DCMC 15.10.240).

Do I need a 3R report to sell my house?

Yes, for residential property of three units or less. It is returned within three working days and is valid for six months.

Simplify Daly City permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Check the City’s submittal rules, fee schedule and outside clearances for your project before filing
• Assemble and upload the application, plans and supporting documents
• Follow the permit through review, issuance and every inspection to final

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in California. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Daly City permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.