FAQs
What is pickleball?
A pickleball court is the same size as a doubles badminton court and measures 20×44 feet. In pickleball, the same court is used for both singles and doubles play. The net height is 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the middle. The court is striped similar to a tennis court with right and left service courts and a 7-foot non-volley zone in front of the net (referred to as the "kitchen").
What is the difference between a low impact and a high impact event?
In general low impact events do not require public safety presence, do not generally impact City Departments besides Parks and Recreation, and have a smaller participant size. High Impact events require at least three City permits and/or business licenses, often have a large number of anticipated participants, and frequently impact Recreation Center programs because they require exclusive use of the Recreation Center parking lot and sometimes additional overflow parking.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellations made more than seven (7) days prior to the event date will receive full refund minus a $10 processing fee. Cancellations made less than seven (7) days will result in a $25 cancellation fee.
What types of systems are eligible for SolarAPP+ review?
Only standard PV installs are eligible at this time. PV installs with main panel upgrades or batteries are not currently available. To see if your system is eligible, please refer to the SolarAPP+ PV Eligibility Checklist
When do courts open? Are they open to everyone?
The bocce ball courts are located in Leo Ryan Park. Unless there is league play or a rental, the dedicated bocce courts are public courts which means they are first come, first serve. The courts are open from dawn to dusk. Public restrooms are located in the Recreation Center located across the main parking lot.
When do courts open? Are they open to everyone?
The dedicated pickleball courts are public courts which means they are first come, first serve. Similar to our parks and tennis courts, the pickleball courts open from dawn to dusk. Public restrooms are located in the Recreation Center located across the main parking lot.
Where can I obtain a Special Events application?
The Special Event Permit Guide and Application is available for download on this webpage. If you have issues downloading the application, please email recreation@fostercity.org.
Where do I submit my application?
All Special Event applications should be submitted to events@fostercity.org or mailed to the Foster City Recreation Center at 650 Shell Boulevard, Foster City, CA 94404 to the attention of Tiffany Oren. A representative of the Recreation Division will contact you for additional information or to schedule your meeting with IDEC.
Where does Foster City get its drinking water?
Foster City gets its water from Hetch Hetchy. The Hetch Hetchy watershed, an area located in Yosemite National Park, provides approximately 85% of San Francisco's total water needs. Spring snowmelt runs down the Tuolumne River and fills Hetch Hetchy, the largest reservoir in the Hetch Hetchy water system. This surface water in the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is treated, but not filtered, because it is of such high quality. For more information about the City's water, please visit the Water page.
Will there be other charges?
Depending upon the nature of the event, costs for city services such as Police, Fire, Public Works, etc. that are needed to directly support the event will be billed to the applicant. Examples may include street closures and security staffing at the event organizer’s request. Events held in parks may also be charged a facility use charge.
How do I obtain a Birth or Death Certificate?
Information on how to obtain a birth or death certificate in the County of San Mateo can be found at the County Assessor's web page.
What is a levee, and how does it work?
A levee is an embankment or a raised ridge designed for flood protection. In Foster City, the levee is the raised trail surrounding the outer perimeter of the City, which separates the City from the Bay. The Foster City levee system also provides recreational uses for the community. Residents enjoy walking, running, biking, and skating on the levee pathway. For more information about Foster City's levee, please visit our Levee System page.
Do the search results include the contents of PDFs and other documents?
Yes. The website indexes web pages as well as PDFs, Microsoft Office documents, and text documents.
How do I apply for a rebate for installing solar PV on my residence?
To learn how to apply for the rebate, please visit the Solar Rebate Program page.
How far in advance do applications need to be submitted?
Applications can be submitted up to a year in advance of an event date but must be submitted no later than 90 days in advance for new events and 45 days in advance for previously held events.
If you are stopped at a red light, can you text while sitting at the red light?
No, it's against the law. If you are stopped at a light or a stop sign, you are still in control of that vehicle and need to be able to react.
What is business license tax?
Business License Tax is an annual tax for doing business within the incorporated area of the City of Foster City. The Foster City Municipal Code requires that you obtain a business license when you conduct any business activity within the City - even if your business is located OUTSIDE the city limits or you have a business license from another city.
When does registration open?
Registration is not required.
Where does my call go when I dial 9-1-1?
By law, all emergency 9-1-1 calls must go to the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the city in which the call was placed. Your calls are answered by dispatchers in the Foster City Police station. If your emergency is of a fire, rescue, or medical nature, it is then transferred to the Public Safety Communications center in Redwood City for dispatch of the closest fire unit to you.
More information on Fire Department Dispatching.
How do I register?
Registration is not required for the Anniversary Concert Series.
How do I report a street light outage?
If there is a street light outage, please contact Public Works Engineering at (650) 286-3270 on weekdays between 8 am and 5 pm. If calling after hours, you will receive a pre-recorded message with general instructions and emergency information. You should provide your name, address, telephone number, location of requested repair, pole number, and as much detailed information of the problem as possible. For more information regarding the City's street lights, please visit the Street Lights and Traffic Signals page.
If I search for a phrase (e.g. alarm permit), will the results only show exact matches?
No. By default, the search results will show matches for any word within the phrase. In this example, you would receive results for all web pages and documents that contained either the word alarm or the word permit or both.
In order to search on an exact phrase, enclose your search phrase in quotations. The search results for "alarm permit" will show matches for that exact phrase.
If you are sitting in a traffic jam and your car is not moving, is it illegal to text while driving?
Yes, it is still illegal. Again, you are still in control of the vehicle and should focus 100% of your attention to its safe operation.
