Building Division

The Building Division is responsible for ensuring that all construction projects permitted within the City comply with the California Building Codes, the Foster City Municipal Code and all other applicable codes and regulations.

Search active building permits by address or keyword (e.g. business name); or simply select icons to zoom into areas of the City to view building permit information: 

Applications submitted after January 1, 2023 are regulated by the 2022 California Building Standards

• Ordinance No. 654
  “An Ordinance of the City of Foster City Amending Section 1.01.010, “Adoption-Secondary Codes Adopted,” of Chapter 1.01, “Code Adoption,” Within Title 1 of the Foster City Municipal Code Adopting by Reference the 2022 California Building Code, 2022 Residential Code, 2022 California Electrical Code, 2022 California Mechanical Code, 2022 California Plumbing Code, 2022 California Fire Code and the 2022 California Existing Building Code Within Title 24 of the California Code of Regulation”
• Ordinance No. 655
  “An Ordinance of the City of Foster City Repealing and Replacing Chapters 15.02, “Building Code”; 15.04, “Residential Code”; 15.06, “Existing Building Code”; 15.08, “Mechanical Code”; 15.16, “Plumbing Code”; 15.20, “Electrical Code”; and 15.24, “Fire Code”; of Title 15, “Building and Construction,” of the Foster City Municipal Code and Adopting by Reference the 2022 California Building Code, 2022 Residential Code, 2022 California Electrical Code, 2022 California Mechanical Code, 2022 California Plumbing Code, 2022 California Fire Code and the 2022 California Existing Building Code With  Appendices Within Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations and Making Certain Amendments Thereto; and Adopting the Fire Departmental Policy Manual”

Online Submission:

• Building Permits

Building Division Hours:

8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday, Closed from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

building DIVISION Counter HOURs:

         8:00 am - 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Monday - Friday, Closed from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm (NO PERMITS ISSUED AFTER 3:00 pm)

Please use the link below to schedule a one on one appointment with city staff.

Inspections:

To schedule a building inspection please use our online portal at https://permit.fostercity.org/etrakit/. Twenty-four hour minimum advance notice is required.  Please see video tutorial on how to schedule a building inspection using our online portal here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=078jgtEOQy4.

To view your scheduled inspection time, please visit https://permit.fostercity.org/Etrakit/ExistingInspections.aspx on the day of your inspection, after 8:30 A.M to view the one hour window.

Scheduling inspections and permit status are now available online. Please register and login at permit.fostercity.org.

INSPECTION HOURS:

Mornings 8:30 am - 12:00 pm                               
Afternoons 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

OVER-THE-COUNTER PERMITS (BY APPOINTMENT ONLY)

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. 

Use this link to Schedule Appointment. 

Refer to Over-the-Counter permit guide to see if your job qualifies for Over-the-Counter service.

Express Plan Check Hours:

Residential: Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM - Use this link to Schedule Appointment. 

Commercial: Thursdays from 1:15 PM to 2:45 PM - Use this link to Schedule Appointment. 

Refer to Express Plan Check Review guide to see if your job qualifies for Express Plan Check service.

Building Division Plan Check Turnaround Times

Download Plan Review Turn Around Times for additional information.

Construction Hours:

Operating any tools or equipment used in construction, repair, alteration, demolition or landscape maintenance is permissible in a residential district or within 100 yards of a residential district between the following hours:

7:30 am to 8:00 pm on weekdays
9:00 am to 8:00 pm on weekends and legal holidays

Major projects are subject to more stringent work hours limitations in their conditions of approval.

Building Division Contacts:

Sofia Mangalam, Community Development Director - 650-286-3239 smangalam@fostercity.org

Steve Arnold, Interim Chief Building Official - 650-286-3227 vendor-4leaf@fostercity.org
Bob Bardsley, Senior Building Inspector - 650-286-3243 bbardsley@fostercity.org
Jay Marlette, Building Inspector - 650-286-3237 jmarlette@fostercity.org
Amanda Zulaica, Plan Examiner - 650-286-3233 azulaica@fostercity.org
Lae Lae Khine, Building Permit Technician - 650-286-3242 lkhine@fostercity.org
Building Permit Technician - 650-286-3231 cddpermit@fostercity.org