Foster City is rewriting the rules that govern life along its lagoon, and this time it wants homeowners with docks and water views to help write them. The city is developing a new set of Objective Design and Development Standards for waterfront properties, bringing topics such as setbacks, lot coverage, boat docks, and views into a single, streamlined chapter of the municipal code.
The push covers waterfront properties in Foster City, according to a post from the City of Foster City
on its official X account. The city is running a survey of waterfront property owners as part of the outreach.
The waterfront work comes as Foster City pursues objective, uniformly verifiable standards for residential development. Those standards are intended to replace subjective design review with clear, checklist-style rules.
A Second Phase Years in the Making
Foster City already adopted objective design standards for multi-family and mixed-use residential development in January 2024, according to the City of Foster City. That earlier round was prioritized to meet a state requirement. The city then adopted general single-family standards after a first public reading on December 15, 2025, and a second public reading on January 20, 2026.
The city’s single-family standards process also mentions Joseph Eichler mid-century modern homes.
What the New Waterfront Chapter Would Cover
The waterfront-specific standards are intended to reduce or eliminate subjective language from current design guidelines, with topics including lot coverage, development setbacks, views, and boat docks. The city's Planning Commission held a study session on the waterfront standards on April 23, 2026. It also held a regular meeting and study session on September 3, 2026, one day before the city's social media push.
The workplan involves reviewing existing waterfront policies and considering how relevant standards could be incorporated into Chapter 17.15 of the city code. The city is considering rescinding Policy 92-001, while the treatment of other existing policies remains under review.
Zoning Chapters Facing Changes
Several existing zoning provisions are being considered as part of the consolidation, including provisions related to waterfront properties and development.
The broader standards work also includes review of residential fence and wall procedures.
Open Questions the City Still Has to Settle
Several technical questions remain unresolved as the process moves forward. The city is still working through how waterfront properties should be treated under the updated standards.
The city is still determining what the new Chapter 17.15 will include.
The Housing Pressure Behind the Overhaul
The broader push toward objective standards is also tied to Foster City's struggle to meet its state-mandated housing targets. The city's 2023–2031 Regional Housing Needs Allocation requires it to plan for 1,896 new units, but as of March, it had completed only 73 and approved 38, as Hoodline previously reported. City planning documents list objective design standards as a lever to speed housing production, a balance the waterfront rules will need to strike given the lagoon's added environmental sensitivities.
For now, the city is focused on gathering input rather than finalizing rules. Waterfront homeowners can weigh in through the survey linked from the city's social media post, and the engagefostercity.org waterfront page remains available as the Planning Commission continues its review.
