Jurisdiction and research scope
City of Foster City, California only; not neighboring municipalities or unincorporated county territory. Current Chapters 10.32 and 17.64; new-law ledger lists Ordinances 700 and 701 concerning a special development plan and ADUs, not the ordinary RV routes.
Research by Can I Park My RV?Official municipal sources; access limits shown belowEditorial standard
Foster City RV parking at a glance
| Location or use | What to check |
|---|---|
| Driveway / yard | Front-yard storage is conditional and subordinate to the placement priority; do not assume a driveway is sufficient. City-approved siting, six-foot solid fencing and landscaping apply to side/rear storage; waterfront lots have additional limits. |
| Street / loading | Over 6.5 feet high or 25 feet long: restricted to qualifying loading, police-approved visiting, or a separate applicable exception. Up to 72 consecutive hours, at most twice in 14 days, nonconsecutive; street loading periods cannot supplement a ten-day visitor stay. |
| Sleeping / utilities | No ordinary sleeping or habitation on public streets or private property; construction/security use is a separate private-property exception. Storage or visitor parking does not establish utility authorization. |
Large vehicles on public streets
Vehicles over six feet six inches high or more than 25 feet long may use the loading, unloading, cleaning or routine maintenance exception for up to 72 consecutive hours. Such periods may occur at most twice in 14 days, may not be consecutive, and may not be added to a ten-day visitor stay. Visitor parking requires police permission and lasts at most ten days. The principal-transportation and disability provisions have their own criteria; do not infer those exceptions from ordinary RV ownership.
Street position and sleeping
Size-regulated vehicles must stay at least ten feet from a driveway curb cut on the approaching-traffic side. Intersection restrictions generally require 50 feet on the approach, with specified single-outlet and stop-control exceptions, and 75 feet on roads posted at least 35 mph. Section 10.32.252E provides a narrow residential-location exception to the intersection distances, not a general waiver. Posted restrictions and designated overnight zones still apply. No RV sleeping or habitation is allowed on public streets or rights-of-way.
Private storage needs an approved position
Chapter 17.64 prioritizes side/rear placement when the unit fits, or a garage. Side/rear siting requires city approval, six-foot solid wood screening and dense landscaping as the city determines, plus approved access. Waterfront property adds visibility limits. Front-yard storage requires separate criteria and cannot be assumed merely because a driveway exists. Temporary private loading and maintenance has a 72-hour maximum, no more than twice in 14 days, nonconsecutively, with siting criteria still applicable. Ordinary private-property habitation is prohibited; construction/security authorizations under §17.64.030B must be evaluated separately.
Who to contact for your setup
Ask Foster City Planning or Code Enforcement to confirm jurisdiction, the actual parcel or road, vehicle classification, position, duration and intended use. Obtain the required road, building, electrical, plumbing or wastewater approvals before relying on a parking exception. Easements, HOA rules and leases remain separate. Start with the official rule or permit guidance.
Use the Foster City parking checker to organize the starting conditions. The checker cannot approve a parcel, a variance or an unverified exception.
Official sources reviewed November 6, 2026
- Foster City Chapter 10.32
Street habitation, size-regulated loading, visitor parking and setbacks.
- Foster City Chapter 17.64
Private storage placement, temporary work and habitation prohibition.
A review date records when we checked these sources. The notes above explain any use of older code editions or limits on access to the full source; an address-specific city determination may still be required. Read our research method.
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