Community Development

A planning permit is required for almost all exterior changes to any residential, commercial or industrial building in Foster City. The purpose of the permit is to ensure that the proposed exterior change complies with city codes and will be architecturally compatible with the existing site and the surrounding area.

Exterior changes include fences, decks, windows, doors, room additions, trellises, patio covers and gazebos. A permit is usually required whether the exterior change involves new construction or replacement.

The Planning/Code Enforcement Division is responsible for long term planning regarding growth and development of the City, for reviewing and processing applications for all development proposals, and for maintaining the appearance of the community.

Online Submissions:

For your convenience, a variety of business services can be conducted online, over-the-phone, and/or over email.

If your house was built prior to 1971 (when Foster City was incorporated) it is unlikely that the City will have the original plans for your house. When the City was incorporated, San Mateo County provided the City with a microfilm copy of the Building Permit Application and in some cases a copy of the Site Plan was also provided. The County does not have any plans for Foster City on file.

If your house was built after 1972, typical plans may be available for viewing between 8:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. Monday through Friday.

The City of Foster City is now piloting automated permitting for eligible new residential rooftop solar projects through SolarAPP+. To see which systems are eligible, please refer to the Eligibility Checklist. Only projects that conform to this list may apply for a permit through SolarAPP+. The approval process is only for standard solar installs at this time. Systems including Main Panel Upgrades, and Battery Storage are not currently eligible.