Chapter 17.54 — YARDS

Sections:

17.54.010 Projections into yards—Architectural features.

17.54.020 Projections into yards—Open porches or outside stairways.

17.54.030 Projections into yards—Patio covers.

17.54.040 Building entrance on side—Setback requirements.

17.54.050 Distances between buildings.

17.54.060 Measurement from plan line.

17.54.070 Setback in previously-developed areas.

17.54.080 Setback reductions and encroachments.

17.54.090 Side yards on corner lots.

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Architectural features on the main building, such as cornices, eaves and canopies, may not extend closer than three feet to any side lot line. Eaves and canopies may extend a maximum of two feet into the required front or rear yard. An attached trellis may extend a maximum of four feet from the main building, may extend a maximum of four feet into the required front yard setback but must be set back a minimum of ten feet from the front property line, shall be in proportion to the width and height of the wall to which it is attached, and shall be constructed of wood. Fireplaces, not exceeding six feet in breadth, may extend not closer than three feet to any side lot line. (Ord. 515 § 2 Exh. A (part), 2005: Ord. 38 § 1 (part), 1972: prior code § 10-406.081)

Open, uncovered, landing places or outside stairways may project not closer than four feet to any side lot line, and not exceeding six feet into any required rear yard. Requirements for decks are contained in Section 17.50.020(D). (Ord. 371 § 22, 1989: Ord. 38 § 1 (part), 1972: prior code § 10-406.082)

A. A patio cover unenclosed on at least two sides to serve the ground floor shall be allowed to extend into the rear yard area, provided that the size of the patio cover shall not exceed fifty percent of the rear yard area measured from the rear of the main structure to the rear property line; provided that such patio cover shall not extend more than twenty feet from the rear of the main structure and provided that a minimum rear yard setback of five feet shall be maintained.

B. All patio covers shall maintain the following standards:

1. No use of any structure extending into the rear yard area shall be permitted above the first floor.

2. No patio cover shall be enclosed to form a living or storage area when used as a portion of the rear yard setback requirements.

3. The only plumbing facilities to be permitted on any patio area shall be a cold water faucet and drain and rainwater runoff disposal plumbing, and there shall be no other plumbing of any kind.

4. Ingress and egress shall be directly from the living unit which the patio is designed to serve.

5. The requirements for attached accessory buildings or structures contained in Chapter 17.50 shall be met. (Ord. 371 § 23, 1989: Ord. 38 § 1 (part), 1972: prior code § 10-406.083)

In any “R” district, where a dwelling unit is located on a lot so that the main entrance is located on the side of the building, the required side setback, from the front setback line to such entrance, shall not be less than ten feet. (Ord. 38 § 1 (part), 1972: prior code § 10-406.084)

Dwelling groups shall be constructed so that the following minimum distances are provided:

A. The sum of the height of any two adjacent buildings, divided by two, but in no case less than twenty feet between the main buildings;

B. Minimum of fifteen feet between the side yard line and access side of single row dwelling groups. (Ord. 38 § 1 (part), 1972: prior code § 10-406.085)

Whenever an official plan line has been established for any street or proposed street, yards required by this title shall be measured from such plan line and in no case shall the provisions of this title be construed as permitting any encroachment upon any official plan line. (Ord. 38 § 1 (part), 1972: prior code § 10-406.091)

In any “R” district, where four or more lots in a block have been improved with buildings at the time of the passage of the ordinance codified in this title (not including accessory buildings), the minimum required front setback shall be the average of the improved lots, if the setback is less than the stated requirements of the districts. (Ord. 38 § 1 (part), 1972: prior code § 10-406.092)

A. The planning commission may, by use permit, grant a reduction of the front yard setback to not less than five feet upon an application including not less than five contiguous lots; provided, that at least one uncovered off-street parking space is provided in addition to each off-street parking space required by Chapter 17.62 for each lot having a setback of less than twenty feet.

B. The community development director shall have the discretion to allow an encroachment into the usually required fivefoot side yard setback by up to two feet to allow the placement of air conditioning condenser units in side yards when: (1) the walls of the houses sharing a common side yard property line are a minimum of fifteen feet apart; and (2) the noise levels produced by the air conditioning condenser unit are in compliance with the provisions of subsection B, Noise Limits (Table 1) of Section 17.68.030, Noise, of Chapter 17.68, General Performance Standards. Air conditioning condenser units placed less than five feet from a side property line in accordance with this section shall require an architectural review permit consistent with the provisions of Chapter 17.58, Architectural Control and Supervision, of the Foster City Municipal Code. (Ord. 450 § 1, 1998: Ord. 38 § 1 (part), 1972: prior code § 10-406.093)

In any district on any corner lot, the side yard on the street side of such corner lot shall not be less than fifty percent of the minimum front yard required on the contiguous lot to the rear. (Ord. 38 § 1 (part), 1972: prior code § 10-406.094)

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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.

17.55

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