City of Foster City

On August 25, 2025, the City Council in Foster City decided not to pursue a ballot measure in November 2026 to become a charter city, impose a residential property transfer tax, and commercial vacancy tax. Realtors, homeowners, and commercial property owners in Foster City faced the possibility that the council, by changing the city charter, would gain greater taxing authority to impose the taxes on future home sales and empty commercial properties. Your voices were heard and thanks to SAMCAR's local advocacy efforts Realtors, homeowners, and commercial property owners in Foster City and can now breathe a sigh of relief that they will not have to pay these added taxes.

On Monday, April 21, SAMCAR and the California Apartment Association (CAA) mobilized members to attend City Council proceedings in San Mateo and Foster City to speak on behalf of housing providers in opposition to city proposals to increase rental regulations in excess of state law. While both cities moved to advance some new rental regulations, SAMCAR presented a comprehensive case in defense of property rights and found common ground on the need for rental assistance and better education about the plentiful resources already available to support the needs of both tenants and housing providers.

Final changes to the second hand smoking ordinance in Foster City have been adopted by the City Council. The ordinance regulates/bans smoking in and around city controlled spaces and events, commercial/retail spaces, apartments, condominiums and townhomes and will impact private property rights.

The City of Foster City's City Council has voted 5-0 to ban smoking in apartments and townhomes or condominiums. However, SAMCAR was successful in getting single family homes and townhomes or condos that have no shared walls, floors, ceilings or ventilation exempted.

Foster City's City Council is seeking to ban smoking in one's own house as pertains to townhomes and condominiums. SAMCAR members please be prepared for a "Call for Action" to contact Foster City councilmembers prior to the hearing at which the smoking ordinance will be finalized.

Foster City has approved a smoking ordinance applying to rental properties, learn more about the details and the effects on REALTORS® and property managers.