Skip to content

Chapter 17.12

Foster City Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-06 · Foster City

R-1 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT

Sections:

17.12.010 Regulations generally.

17.12.020 Permitted uses.

17.12.030 Conditional uses.

17.12.040 Area, bulk, yard and height regulations.

17.12.050 Parking.

17.12.010 Regulations generally.

==> picture [13 x 10] intentionally omitted <==

The specific regulations set forth in this chapter shall apply in all R-1 districts. (Ord. 657 § 4 (Exh. G), 2023)

17.12.020 Permitted uses.

The following uses shall be permitted in the R-1 district:

  • A. One-Family Residences.
  1. In any single residence, not more than two paying guests may be lodged and/or furnished meals.

  2. A one-family residence may be a manufactured home. A “manufactured home” refers to either a modular or factorybuilt home, which are considered the same as single-family residences, or to mobile homes (identified as manufactured homes by the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974), which, if used as permanent dwellings, are subject to the following regulations:

a. Certification Required. Noncertified manufactured homes are prohibited. Manufactured homes must be certified under the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. § 5401, et seq.);

b. Location. As required by Government Code Section 65852.3, manufactured homes for permanent occupancy are considered the same as single-family dwellings and are permitted in all zoning districts that allow single-family dwellings;

c. Foundation System. The manufactured home shall be placed on a foundation system in compliance with Health and Safety Code Section 18551; and

d. Architectural Standards. Manufactured homes shall be designed and constructed with roof eave and gable overhangs of not less than one foot measured from the vertical side of the structure;

e. Density. The number of certified manufactured homes that may be placed on a single parcel shall be the same as the number of single-family dwellings permitted by the General Plan Land Use and Circulation Element;

f. Age. The manufactured home must be no more than ten years of age at the time of application for installation;

g. Storage of Unoccupied Manufactured Homes. Unoccupied manufactured homes or portions thereof that are not fixed to a foundation shall be stored only in a manufactured home sales lot, or an approved storage yard.

B. Employee Housing. Employee housing for one to six employees shall be considered the same as single-family residences.

C. Accessory structures and uses located on the same site as a one-family residence for which the use is clearly related to single-family dwelling, including the following:

  1. Garages and carports;

  2. Garden structures;

  3. Greenhouses;

  4. Storage buildings;

  5. Recreation rooms;

  6. Hobby shops; provided, that no noisy or otherwise objectionable machinery or equipment is used and; provided, that no sales are made therefrom;

  7. Private swimming pools;

  8. Home occupations as defined in Section 17.04.250;

  9. Secondary residential units in compliance with Chapter 17.78;

  10. Community care facilities including family day care homes, day care centers, residential care facilities, transitional housing and supportive housing as defined by Sections 17.04.135, 17.04.149, 17.04.215, 17.04.459, 17.04.544 and 17.04.547. (Ord. 657 § 4 (Exh. G), 2023)

17.12.030 Conditional uses.

The following uses shall be permitted only when authorized by a conditional use permit issued in accordance with Chapter 17.72:

  • A. Temporary subdivision sales office and model homes;

  • B. Temporary buildings or trailers used during construction on the site to be removed upon issuance of first occupancy permit;

  • C. Boardinghouses as defined in this title;

  • D. Any otherwise conforming structure built upon a nonconforming, legally constituted lot. (Ord. 657 § 4 (Exh. G), 2023)

17.12.040 Area, bulk, yard and height regulations.

The following area, bulk, yard and height regulations shall apply in the R-1 district, except as modified by Chapter 17.54, Yards:

Minimum Building
Site Required
Minimum Building
Site Required
Maximum
Density
Permitted
Minimum Yards
Required
Minimum Yards
Required
Minimum Yards
Required
Maximum
Height
Permitted
Maximum
Height
Permitted
Maximum
Coverage
Permitted
Minimum
Width (ft.)
Minimum
Area
(sq. ft.)
(Units per
Acre)
Front
(ft.)
Side
(ft.)
Rear
(ft.)
Stories Ft. (%)
40 5,000 8 20 5 20 2 25 50

(Ord. 674 § 2 (Exh. B), 2024)

17.12.050 Parking.

Parking shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 17.62. (Ord. 657 § 4 (Exh. G), 2023)

==> picture [35 x 17] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [35 x 17] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [35 x 17] intentionally omitted <==

The Foster City Municipal Code is current throu 697, passed November 17, 2025. Disclaimer: The City Clerk's Office has the official v Foster City Municipal Code. Users should contact t Office for ordinances passed subsequent to the ord above.

==> picture [35 x 17] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [35 x 17] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [35 x 17] intentionally omitted <==

17.14

Chapter 17.14

R-2 TWO-FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICT

Sections:

17.14.010 Regulations generally.

17.14.020 Permitted uses.

17.14.030 Conditional uses.

17.14.040 Area, bulk, yard and height regulations.

17.14.050 Parking.

17.14.060 Design standards.

17.14.010 Regulations generally.

==> picture [13 x 10] intentionally omitted <==

The specific regulations set forth in this chapter shall apply in all R-2 districts. (Ord. 674 § 2 (Exh. C), 2024)

17.14.020 Permitted uses.

The following uses shall be permitted in the R-2 districts:

  • A. Those uses permitted in any R-1 districts and as regulated therein;

  • B. Two-family residences or duplex structures. (Ord. 674 § 2 (Exh. C), 2024)

17.14.030 Conditional uses.

The following uses shall be permitted only when authorized by a conditional use permit issued in accordance with Chapter 17.72:

  • A. Those uses permitted in the R-1 districts with a conditional use permit and as regulated therein;

  • B. Any otherwise conforming structure built upon a nonconforming legally constituted lot. (Ord. 674 § 2 (Exh. C), 2024)

17.14.040 Area, bulk, yard and height regulations.

The following area, bulk, yard and height regulations shall apply in the R-2 districts:

Minimum Building
Site
Minimum Building
Site
Maximum
Density
permitted
Minimum Yards Required Minimum Yards Required Minimum Yards Required Minimum Yards Required Maximum
Height
Permitted
Maximum
Coverage
Permitted
Minimum
Width
(ft.)
Minimum
Area
(sq. ft.)
(Units per
Acre)
Front
(ft.)
Side
(ft.)
Rear
(ft.)
Stories Ft. (%)
40 5,000 13 20 5 20 2 25 50

(Ord. 674 § 2 (Exh. C), 2024)

17.14.050 Parking.

Parking shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 17.62. (Ord. 674 § 2 (Exh. C), 2024)

17.14.060 Design standards.

All development shall comply with Chapter 17.96. (Ord. 674 § 2 (Exh. C), 2024)

==> picture [35 x 17] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [35 x 17] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [35 x 17] intentionally omitted <==

The Foster City Municipal Code is current throu 697, passed November 17, 2025. Disclaimer: The City Clerk's Office has the official v Foster City Municipal Code. Users should contact t Office for ordinances passed subsequent to the ord above.

17.16

==> picture [35 x 16] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [35 x 16] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [35 x 16] intentionally omitted <==

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
Contents — Foster City Zoning Code
Foster City Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 17.02 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  2. Chapter 17.04 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 17.06 — ADMINISTRATION, CONSTRUCTION AND ENFORCEMENT
  4. Chapter 17.08 — ZONING MAP
  5. Chapter 17.10 — DISTRICTS GENERALLY
  6. Chapter 17.12
  7. Chapter 17.16
  8. Chapter 17.18 — R-3 MEDIUM DENSITY MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE D…
  9. Chapter 17.20
  10. Chapter 17.22
  11. Chapter 17.24
  12. Chapter 17.26
  13. Chapter 17.29 — C-A COMMERCIAL AUTOMOBILE REPAIR AND SERVICE D…
  14. Chapter 17.30
  15. Chapter 17.32 — PUBLIC FACILITIES DISTRICT
  16. Chapter 17.34 — OSC OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION DISTRICT
  17. Chapter 17.36 — PD PLANNED DEVELOPMENT COMBINING DISTRICT
  18. Chapter 17.37 — SENIOR HOUSING OVERLAY DISTRICT
  19. Chapter 17.38
  20. Chapter 17.40 — W AQUATIC DEVELOPMENT COMBINING DISTRICT
  21. Chapter 17.44
  22. Chapter 17.46 — TEMPORARY USES
  23. Chapter 17.48 — SUBSTANDARD PARCELS
  24. Chapter 17.50 — ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AND USES
  25. Chapter 17.52 — FENCES, WALLS AND HEDGES
  26. Chapter 17.54 — YARDS
  27. Chapter 17.55 — REPLACEMENT UNITS
  28. Chapter 17.59 — SIGN CONTROL
  29. Chapter 17.60 — REGULATION OF ANTENNAS
  30. Chapter 17.61 — COMMERCIAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
  31. Chapter 17.62 — OFF-STREET PARKING REGULATIONS
  32. Chapter 17.64 — VEHICLE AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE STORAGE
  33. Chapter 17.66 — SWIMMING POOLS
  34. Chapter 17.68 — GENERAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
  35. Chapter 17.72 — DEVELOPMENT PROJECT PRELIMINARY REVIEW PROCEDU…
  36. Chapter 17.76 — CONVERSION REGULATIONS
  37. Chapter 17.78 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
  38. Chapter 17.79 — TWO-UNIT DEVELOPMENTS AND URBAN LOT SPLITS
  39. Chapter 17.80 — REGULATION OF RECYCLING FACILITIES
  40. Chapter 17.82 — EMERGENCY SHELTERS, LOW-BARRIER NAVIGATION CEN…
  41. Chapter 17.84 — REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
  42. Chapter 17.86 — DENSITY BONUSES
  43. Chapter 17.88 — AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMERCIAL LINKAGE FEE
  44. Chapter 17.90 — BELOW MARKET RATE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING PROGRAM
  45. Chapter 17.94 — BY-RIGHT HOUSING OVERLAY COMBINING DISTRICT
  46. Chapter 17.96 — MULTIFAMILY AND RESIDENTIAL MIXED-USE OBJECTIV…

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.