Chapter 17.04 DEFINITIONS

Chapter 17.04
DEFINITIONS

Sections:

17.04.010 Definitions generally.

For the purpose of this title certain terms used in this title are defined as follows in this chapter. (Ord. 38 § 1 (part), 1972: prior code § 10-402 (part))

17.04.020 Definitions.

“Accessory building” means a detached or attached subordinate building, the use of which is incidental to that of the main building on the same lot or to the use of the land.

“Accessory dwelling unit” means a secondary residential dwelling unit, as defined in Chapter 17.78.

“Accessory structure” means a detached or attached subordinate structure, the use of which is incidental to that of the main building on the same lot or to the use of the land.

“Accessory use” means a use or building incidental or subordinate to the principal use or building located upon the same lot.

“Ambient noise level” means the composite of noise from all sources near and far. The ambient noise level constitutes the normal or existing level of environmental noise at a given location.

“Articulated roof form” means either a gable roof, or a flat/parapet roof accompanied by a change in height. Articulated roof forms shall be:

1. Located directly above projecting or recessed building massing elements, significant building breaks, or facade articulation; and

2. Occupiable, subject to building code provisions and height limits.

Articulation, Horizontal. “Horizontal articulation” means changes in massing or architectural details that occur in the horizontal direction (i.e., when moving left or right along a building frontage).

Articulation, Vertical. “Vertical articulation” means changes in massing or architectural details that occur in the vertical direction (i.e., when moving up or down a building frontage).

“Automobile accessory shops” means an establishment for the retail sale of automotive accessory goods such as car wax, floor mats, and other items related to the maintenance and operation of automobiles and other vehicles.

“Automobile repair service” means establishments primarily engaged in furnishing automotive repair, maintenance or servicing of vehicles to the general public.

“Automobile service station” means any building, land area, or other premises, or portions thereof, used for the servicing and repair of automobiles and other vehicles, as well as the retail dispensing or sales of vehicular fuels, and including as an accessory use the sale and installation of lubricants, tires, batteries, and similar vehicle accessories.

“A-weighted sound level” means the sound level (noise level) in decibels as measured on a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The level so read is designated db(A) or dBA. The A-weighting network closely approximates the frequency response of the human ear.

“Bicycle parking, long-term (Class I)” means secured bicycle storage intended for long-term use, including bicycle lockers, storage rooms, or cages where each bicycle can be individually locked.

“Bicycle parking, short-term (Class II)” means bicycle parking intended for short-term use, including sidewalk bicycle racks, metered bicycle rings, and on-street corrals.

“Biopharmaceutical campus” means any building, land area or other premises or portion thereof owned by one biopharmaceutical company with contiguous or across the street acreage used for: (A) research and development, including biology and chemistry laboratories (with offices, break areas and conference rooms); (B) pilot manufacturing areas where research is conducted; and (C) administrative offices, meeting rooms and employee services such as break rooms, cafeterias and fitness areas.

“Boardinghouse” means a building, or portion thereof, other than a motel, where regular meals for not more than six persons are provided for compensation or profit and where no separate kitchen facilities are provided.

“Building” means any structure which is used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy as defined by the Uniform Building Code (1988 Edition or as more recently amended).

“Building coverage” means the land area covered by all buildings on a lot, including all projections except eaves.

“Building site” means a lot or parcel of land, in single or joint ownership, and occupied or to be occupied by a main building and accessory buildings, or by a dwelling group and its accessory buildings, together with such open spaces as are required by the terms of this title, and having its principal frontage on a street, road, highway, waterway or open area if developed under the planned development district.

Business, Retail. “Retail business” means the retail sale of any article, substance or commodity for profit or livelihood.

Business, Wholesale. “Wholesale business” means the bulk handling of any article, substance or commodity, and not including the processing or manufacture of any product or substance.

“Candlefoot power” is defined as the light intensity of candles on a horizontal plane at thirty-six inches above ground level and five feet in front of the area to be measured.

“Cannabis” and “commercial cannabis activity” and “cannabis testing laboratory” have the same meanings as set forth in Chapter 8.10, Cannabis Regulations, Sections 8.10.020(A), (B) and (E).

“Canopy” or “patio cover” means any roof-like structure either attached, or extension of a roof line or detached freestanding structure constructed for the purpose of protection from the elements in connection with outdoor living.

“Carport” means an accessible and usable covered space of not less than ten by twenty feet for the storage of vehicles.

“Child day care facility” means a facility that provides nonmedical care to children under eighteen years of age in need of personal services, supervision or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual on a less than twenty-four hour basis. Child day care facility includes day care centers, employer-sponsored child care centers and family day care homes.

“Combining district” means any district in which the general district regulations are combined with another subordinate district for the purpose of adding additional special regulations.

“Commercial vehicle” means a vehicle of a type required to be registered under the state of California Vehicle Code used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation or profit, or designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.

Passenger vehicles which are not used for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation or profit and house cars other than those subject to the provisions of Section 17.04.250 are not commercial vehicles.

Any van pool vehicle is not a commercial vehicle.

“Commission” means the planning commission of the city.

“Common open areas” means open, uncovered spaces, excluding auto circulation and parking, which are owned in common and available for use by all residents of the development within which the open space is located.

“Community care facility” means any place or building which is maintained and operated to provide twenty-four hour nonmedical residential care day treatment, adult day care and foster family agency services for children, adults, or children and adults, including but not limited to the physically handicapped, mentally impaired, incompetent persons and abused or neglected children. Community care facilities are referred to as residential care facilities and day care centers.

“Council” means the city council.

“Day care center” means any child day care facility other than a family day care home, and includes infant centers, preschools, extended day care facilities and school age child care centers.

“Decibel” (abbreviated “dB”) means a logarithmic indication of the ratio between the acoustic energy present at a given location and the lowest amount of acoustic energy audible to sensitive human ears and weighted by frequency to account for characteristics of human hearing.

“District” means a portion of the city within which certain uses of land and building are permitted or prohibited and within which certain yards and other open spaces are required and certain height limits are established for buildings, all as set forth and specified in this title.

“Domestic help” means servants, gardeners and other help employed by a family to serve the household.

“Durable exterior materials” means materials suited for long-term outdoor use in a nonsubmerged marine environment with long-term resistance to ultraviolet radiation. Durable exterior materials shall be limited to:

1. Redwood.

2. Cedar.

3. Teak.

4. UV stable mineral-composite high-density polyethylene or polyvinyl composite woods.

5. Hard anodized 5052 or 5083 aluminum alloys.

6. 316L stainless steel alloy.

7. Other metals with either thermoplastic powder coatings or fluoropolymer powder coatings.

“Dwelling group” means a group of two or more detached or semidetached one-family, two-family or multiple dwellings occupying a parcel of land in ownership and having any yard or court in common, but not including motels.

Dwelling, Multiple. “Multiple dwelling” means a building or portion thereof used and designed as a residence for three or more families living independently of each other and doing their own cooking in the building, including apartment houses, but not including motels, hotels or boardinghouses, and may include transitional and supportive housing.

Dwelling, Single-Family. “Single-family dwelling” means a building containing not more than one kitchen and designed for or used to house not more than one family, including all necessary employees of such family.

Dwelling, Two-Family or Duplex. “Two-family dwelling” or “duplex” means a building containing not more than two kitchens, designed and/or used to house not more than two families, living independently of each other, including all necessary employees of each family.

“Emergency shelter” means housing with minimal supportive services for homeless persons. No individual or household may be denied emergency shelter, established and operated in conformance with Chapter 17.82, because of an inability to pay.

“Employee housing” means any housing providing accommodations for six or fewer employees.

“Entertainment (live)” means any use of any premises, whether a principal or subsidiary use, which involves the presentation of music or voice by live entertainers to a specific audience or for the incidental enjoyment of patrons. Permission for live entertainment shall be by conditional use permit. The criteria for approving such permit may include hours and days of operation, extent of entertainment compared to other aspects of the business, geographic location of the business in the community and the use of amplification.

“Facade” means the exterior face of a building wall.

“Family” means one person living alone or two or more persons living together and maintaining a common household.

“Family day care home” means a facility which provides care, protection and supervision of no more than twelve or fourteen children, excluding the caregiver’s own children, in the caregiver’s own home for a period of less than twenty-four hours per day, while the parents or guardians are away.

1. Family day care homes with no more than twelve children are permitted uses within a residential district and therefore do not require permitting by the city. These family day care homes must meet the following standards:

a. The family day care home must be in compliance with all other applicable federal, state and city laws, ordinances or regulations including Sections 17.58.020 and 17.62.050(B)(1) of this code.

b. No exterior signage, of any kind and no signage which is visible from adjacent properties’ public rights-of-way shall be displayed.

c. The caregiver may not supervise more than twelve children, excluding his/her own children, at any given time.

d. Large family day care homes that provide care for children ages seven to fourteen shall obtain a Foster City business license.

2. Family day care homes with no more than fourteen children are permitted uses within a residential district and therefore do not require permitting by the city. These family day care homes must meet the following standards:

a. The family day care must be in compliance with all other applicable federal, state and city laws, ordinances or regulations including Sections 17.58.020 and 17.62.050(B)(1) of this code.

b. No exterior signage of any kind and no signage which is visible from adjacent properties’ public rights-of-way shall be displayed.

c. The caregiver may not supervise more than fourteen children, excluding his/her own children, at any given time.

d. At least two of the children must be at least six years of age.

e. No more than three infants are cared for.

f. The licensee shall notify a parent that the facility is caring for two additional school age children and that there may be up to fourteen children in the home at a time.

g. Large family day care homes that provide care for children ages seven to fourteen shall obtain a Foster City business license.

“Fence” means any structural device, forming a physical barrier by means of a wood, mesh, metal, chain, brick, stake, plastic or similar materials, erected as a deterrent to ingress and egress or as a support for vegetation.

“Garage” means an accessible and usable covered and completely-enclosed space of not less than ten by twenty feet per vehicle for storage of automobiles. Such garage is to be so located on the lot so as to meet the requirements of this title for an accessory building or, if attached to the main building, to meet all the requirements applicable to the main building. A turning radius of at least twenty-five feet shall be required for any garage where the access does not directly face the street.

“Hedge” means a row of closely planted shrubs or low growing trees forming a visual or physical barrier which are neatly pruned and maintained in a healthy and vigorous condition.

“Height of building” means the vertical distance from the average level of the highest and lowest points of that portion of the lot covered by the building to the highest point of a flat roof or parapet for a building with a flat roof; the average height of a sloped roof; and is exclusive of accessory components such as, but not limited to, mechanical penthouses, tower structures, chimneys, and mechanical equipment screens.

“Home occupation” is defined as an accessory use for a dwelling unit for employment and/or business activities. The eligibility of a business to be conducted in a residential district shall be determined by its ability to meet the following standards:

1. The business must be in compliance with all other applicable federal, state and city laws, ordinances or regulations.

2. The business shall be clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for dwelling purposes and shall be conducted entirely within the enclosed living area and/or garage of the dwelling. The business use, including related equipment, materials, etc., shall be limited to a maximum of fifteen percent of the interior floor area and ten percent of the garage area of the dwelling unit. Storage of materials within or use of the garage for business purposes shall not interfere with the ability to park within the garage the number of vehicles it was designed to hold.

3. Permanent residents of the dwelling are the only persons permitted to engage in business operations conducted within the dwelling.

4. The exterior of the dwelling or garage shall not be altered in any way which calls attention to the fact that the house is being used for business purposes or which causes the premises to differ from its original residential character through the use of colors, materials, construction or lighting.

5. The business conducted within the dwelling or garage shall be conducted in a manner which does not adversely affect the neighborhood with respect to impacts caused by traffic/circulation, parking, crime, security matters, noise, odor, light, glare, liquid or solid waste, vibration or smoke or the creation of any public health or safety risks or other nuisance, as determined by the city.

6. The business shall not cause an increase in the use of any utilities or services (water, sewer, electrical, garbage or police, fire, etc.) such that the combined total use for dwelling and business purposes, substantially exceeds the average for residences in the neighborhood.

7. Equipment shall not be utilized which creates noise or vibrations in violation of Chapter 17.68 of this code or which generates visual or audible electrical or electronic interference in any television, radio, telephone, or other transmitters, receivers or electrical equipment.

8. The storage of hazardous or flammable materials is strictly prohibited.

9. One vehicle owned by or registered to the business may utilize one of the dwelling unit’s parking spaces if the vehicle is also the principal practitioner’s primary form of personal transportation. Any need for parking (business or client visitation) shall be met off the street in either a garage or on a driveway apron.

10. No vehicles exceeding eight thousand pounds and/or over six feet six inches in height or more than twenty-five feet in length and no trailers or semi-trailers used in conjunction with the business shall be parked in the front yard or on public streets. Vehicles and trailers which meet the requirements of Chapter 17.64 of this code may be permitted to be stored in the side or rear yard subject to prior architectural review approval by the city.

11. No exterior signage of any kind and no signage which is visible from adjacent properties or public rights-of-way shall be displayed.

12. With the exception of vehicles and trailers stored in compliance with Chapter 17.64, no outdoor storage or display of goods, equipment or materials shall be permitted.

13. Client visitation shall be restricted to the hours between seven-thirty a.m. and eight p.m. on weekdays and nine a.m. and eight p.m. on weekends. Client visitation will be allowed until such time as the city determines that it is a problem. At such time, the applicant shall eliminate or limit client visitation, as determined by the city.

14. Deliveries of goods, materials, equipment, or services to or from the business shall be restricted to the hours between eight a.m. and six p.m. on weekdays.

15. The city may impose additional standards reasonably related to the protection of the health, safety, morals, comfort and general welfare of the persons or property in the neighborhood of the home occupation business or to the city of Foster City.

All home occupation businesses require a Foster City business license pursuant to the provisions of Title 5 of this code to operate. Applicants shall complete and sign the declaration and description form attached to the business license application, acknowledging review of these standards prior to issuance of a permit.

“Hotel” means any building or portion thereof containing six or more guest rooms used, designed or intended to be used, let or hired out to be occupied, or which are occupied, by six or more individuals for compensation paid directly or indirectly. “Hotel” for the purpose of this title means “motel.”

“Improvement” means the construction or reconstruction, alteration or repair of the exterior of buildings, structures or facilities affixed to real property including decks, fences, paving, concrete, brick work or other surface materials.

“Impulsive sound” means sound of short duration usually less than one second, with abrupt onset and rapid decay. Examples of sources of impulsive sound include pile driving and hammer impacts.

“Junkyard” means the use of more than one hundred square feet of the area of any lot for the storage of junk, including scrap metals, salvage or other materials, or for the dismantling or “wrecking” of automobiles or other vehicles, or machinery whether for sale or storage including the salvaging, dismantling, wrecking, reassembling, burning or storage of and discarded, used and manufactured apparatus including lumber, building materials, motor vehicles, automobile parts, scrap metals, appliances, paper, crockery, furniture, glassware or other manufactured or assembled items.

Kennel, Boarding. “Boarding kennel” means any premises where four or more dogs, cats or other animals or fowl are maintained, boarded or cared for, or are kept there for the purpose of sale.

Kennel, Breeding. “Breeding kennel” means any premises where four or more dogs, cats or other animals or fowl are maintained for breeding purposes.

Lot. For a definition of “lot,” see “Building site.”

Lot, Front. “Front lot” means the narrowest dimension of the lot facing a street.

“Lot line” means a line separating the frontage from a street, the side from a street or adjoining property, or the rear from an alley or street or adjoining property.

Lot, Side. “Side lot” means any lot boundary not a front or rear lot line.

Lot, Through. “Through lot” means a lot having frontage on two parallel or approximately parallel streets.

“Manufactured home” means any residential structure that was built or manufactured, in whole or in part, at a site different than its permanent installation location as a home. This includes: (A) factory-built or modular housing constructed as regulated by the California Health and Safety Code, Division 13, Part 6, Sections 19960 to 19997 and (B) manufactured or mobile homes as regulated by the California Code of Regulations, Title 25, Division I, Chapter 3, Subchapter 2, commencing with Section 4000, and federal regulations found at Title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, beginning with Section 3282.1.

“Mechanical parking systems” means a device, including an elevating device such as a vertical lift or automated vehicle storage system, that allows for the provision of parking in a compact form.

“Minimart” means an establishment for the retail sale of snack foods, drinks, newspapers, tobacco, and similar convenience goods that is accessory or incidental to the principal use.

“Mixed use” means a zone district that has the potential for several types of land use or combinations of different land uses within a single development.

“Multifamily” means any structure designed for human habitation that is divided into two or more independent living quarters, not including accessory dwelling units.

“Multistory parking facilities” means a structure consisting of more than one floor used for the temporary storage of motorized vehicles.

Navigation Center, Low-Barrier. “Low-barrier navigation center” is a housing-first, low-barrier, service-enriched shelter focused on moving people into permanent housing that provides temporary living facilities while case managers connect individuals experiencing homelessness to income, public benefits, health services, shelter, and housing. “Low-barrier” means best practices to reduce barriers to entry, and may include, but is not limited to, the following:

1. The presence of partners if it is not a population-specific site, such as for survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault, women, or youth.

2. Pets.

3. The storage of possessions.

4. Privacy, such as partitions around beds in a dormitory setting or in larger rooms containing more than two beds, or private rooms.

“Noise disturbance” means any sound which, as determined by the city: (a) endangers or injures the safety or health of human beings, (b) annoys or disturbs reasonable persons of normal sensitivities, (c) endangers or injures personal or real property, or (d) violates the provisions of this title.

“Noise receiver” means the individual, persons or business affected by a noise disturbance.

“Nonconforming use” means a use that does not conform to the regulations for the district in which it is situated.

Nurseries, Retail. “Retail nurseries” means the retail handling of any article, substance or commodity related to the occupation of gardening, including the sale of plants, shrubs, trees, packaged fertilizers, soils, chemical or other nursery goods and related products. The bulk sale or bulk storage of fertilizers, soils, chemicals or other garden supplies shall be within a completely enclosed building.

Nurseries, Wholesale. “Wholesale nurseries” means all nurseries other than those defined as retail nurseries in Section 17.04.370.

“Nursing home” means any premises providing convalescent care and meeting the standards set out by the San Mateo County department of public health and welfare.

“Open green area” means the area of a lot which is not occupied by building coverage, parking lot or driveway and in residential or mixed-use developments includes common open green area and/or private green open area.

“Open green area, common,” means the portion of the open green area in residential or mixed-use developments that is not limited to use by a single-dwelling unit or tenant.

“Open green area, private,” means the portion of the open green area in residential or mixed-use developments that is limited to use by a single-dwelling unit or tenant.

“Parking space” means an accessible and usable space on the building site with dimensions and accessibility in accordance with the table entitled “Off-street Parking Stall Dimensions” and located off the street with access for the parking of automobiles.

“Pedestrian-scaled lighting” means a light source not more than fifteen feet above grade that is directed towards a pedestrian walkway, such as a bollard light, pole light, or street lamp.

Pedway Park, Public. “Public pedway park” means a right-of-way or easement restricted to use by pedestrians and nonmotorized vehicles.

Pedway, Private. “Private pedway” means a private walkway usually contained within a residential development, the use of which has been restricted to pedestrians or nonmotorized vehicles.

“Physician” includes the licensed practice or profession of medicine in any form.

“Professional office” means an office for the conduct of any one of the following uses: Architect, accountant, attorney, engineer, drafting office, collection agency, physician, insurance office, real estate office, advertising agency, social worker, or similar use, but not the following uses: Barbershop, contractor, pest control, pharmacy, veterinarian, beauty parlor, or similar use.

“Property plane” means an imaginary vertical plane including the property line which determines the property boundaries in space.

Recreational Vehicle. A recreational vehicle means any of the following:

1. A motor home, trailer, truck/camper combination, truck camper or camping trailer, with or without motive power, designed for human habitation for recreational, emergency, or other occupancy, which meets all of the following criteria:

a. It contains less than three hundred twenty square feet of internal living area, excluding built-in equipment including, but not limited to, wardrobe, closets, cabinets, kitchen units or fixtures, and bath or toilet rooms.

b. It contains four hundred square feet or less of gross area measured at maximum horizontal projections.

c. It is built on a single chassis.

d. It is either self-propelled, truck-mounted or permanently towable on the highways without a permit.

2. A park trailer designed for human habitation for recreational or seasonal use only, which meets all of the following criteria:

a. It contains four hundred square feet or less of gross floor area measured at the maximum horizontal projection. However, it may not exceed twelve feet in width or forty feet in length in the traveling mode.

b. It is built on a single chassis.

c. It may only be transported upon the public highways with a permit.

3. A boat, camper shell, boat trailer, hauling trailer, recreational vehicle equipment, kayak, jet ski or other similar type watercraft used for recreational purposes.

“Religious institution” means an institution owned, controlled, and operated and maintained by a bona fide church, religious denomination, or religious organization composed of multidenominational members of the same well-recognized religion, lawfully operating as a nonprofit religious corporation pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with Section 9110), or as a corporation sole pursuant to Part 6 (commencing with Section 10000) of Division 2 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code.

“Residential care facility” means a facility located within a home for the elderly, foster home, alcohol and/or drug recovery, for the disabled, persons needing intermediate care facility or similar facility as determined by the community development director for twenty-four-hour nonmedical care of persons in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual. Residential care facilities are permitted uses within a residential district and therefore do not require permitting by the city. Residential care facilities must meet the following standards:

1. The residential care facility must be in compliance with all other applicable federal, state and city laws, ordinances or regulations including Section 17.58.020.

2. No exterior signage, of any kind and no signage which is visible from adjacent properties or public rights-of-way shall be displayed.

3. The residential care facility is limited to six or fewer occupants, in addition to the caregiver’s family.

“Rest home” means a building and premises in and on which sick, injured or infirm ambulatory persons are housed or intended to be housed for compensation. “Rest home” includes convalescent home.

“Sanitarium” means any premises offering convalescent or special treatment and licensed pursuant to the provisions of state law.

“School” means a facility for primary or secondary education, including public school, charter school, and private and parochial school having curricula comparable to that required in the public schools of the state of California.

“Service station” means a retail business establishment limited to the sale of motor fuels and supplying goods and services generally required in the operation and maintenance of automotive vehicles. These may include sale of petroleum products; sale and servicing of tires, batteries, automotive accessories and replacement items; washing and lubrication and repair. Major automotive repairs, engine, transmission and differential overhaul, painting and body and fender work are excluded except for such uses that are otherwise permitted in the district.

“Service station” as used in this title does not include chain, automatic or coin-operated wash racks.

“Sign” means anything whatsoever placed, erected, constructed, posted, painted, printed, tacked, nailed, glued, stuck, carved or otherwise fastened, affixed or made visible for out-of-door advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever, on the ground or on any tree, wall, bush, rock, post, fence, building, structure or anything whatsoever.

“Sound level (noise level)” means the weighted sound pressure level obtained by use of a sound level meter having a standard frequency filter for attenuating part of the sound spectrum.

“Sound level meter” means an instrument comprising a microphone, an amplifier, an output meter, and frequency weighting network that is used for measurements of noise and sound levels, which meets or exceeds the requirements in American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters.

“Stepback” means any portion of the upper floor or floors that is horizontally recessed from the main wall of a frontage.

“Storage of a vehicle or recreational vehicle” is the continuous parking of the vehicle or recreational vehicle for a period exceeding seventy-two hours.

“Street line” means the boundary between a street and property.

Street, Private. “Private street” means a right-of-way or easement used for vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic privately owned and maintained.

Street, Public. “Public street” means a right-of-way or easement used for vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic and maintained by public funds.

“Structural alteration” means any change in the supporting members of a building, such as bearing walls, columns, beams or girders.

“Structure” means anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on the ground or the attachment to something having location on the ground, including swimming pools and patio covers but not including paved areas.

“Supportive housing” means housing with no limit on length of stay, that is occupied by the target population as defined in Section 65582(i) of the California Government Code, and that is linked to on- or off-site services that assist the supportive housing residents in retaining the housing, improving his or her health status, and maximizing his or her ability to live and, when possible, work in the community.

“Transitional housing” and “transitional housing development” mean buildings configured as rental housing developments but operated under program requirements that call for the termination of assistance and recirculation of the assisted units to another eligible program recipient at some predetermined future point in time, which shall be no less than six months.

Turf, Synthetic. “Synthetic turf” means a surface of synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass.

“Usable open space” means outdoor area on the ground which is designed and used and accessible for outdoor living, recreation, pedestrian access or landscaping. Such areas:

1. Shall not include off-street parking space or driveways;

2. Shall have a minimum dimension of twelve feet in any direction and a minimum area of two hundred square feet.

“Use” means the purpose for which land or premises or a building thereon is designed, arranged or intended or for which it is or may be occupied or maintained.

“Vehicle” means a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power or exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks, excluding recreational vehicles (as defined by Section 17.04.455 of this chapter). Vehicles include cars, motorcycles, sports utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, trucks, vans and mini-vans.

“Veterinary clinic” means any premises used for treatment but not including boarding or hospitalization.

“Veterinary hospital” means any premises used for the care, treatment or boarding of small domestic animals including dogs, cats, birds and similar animals and fowl with all such operations being conducted wholly within a building.

“Wall” means an upright structure that surrounds an area or separates one area from another.

“Waterfront property” means property which is contiguous to any body of water, including the San Francisco Bay, Belmont Slough, or any lagoon within the city of Foster City or the city of San Mateo (Marina Lagoon). Property shall be considered contiguous if it is separated from the body of water by roads, streets, utility easements, public access easements, public parks, privately owned common open space, or similar properties as determined by the planning director, but is within one hundred feet of said body of water.

“Yard” means an open space other than a court on the same lot with a building, which open space is unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward, except as otherwise permitted in this title.

Yard, Front. “Front yard” means a yard extending across the front of the lot between the side lines and measured from the front property line of the lot to the main wall of the building or main wall of any covered porch; provided that if any building line or official plan line has been established for the street upon which the lot faces, then such measurement shall be taken from such building line or official plan line to the building. The front yard shall include all the yard area between the building and the front property line of the lot.

Yard, Rear. “Rear yard” means a yard extending across the full width of the lot and measured between the rear line of the lot and the nearest line of the main wall of the main building.

Yard, Side. “Side yard” means a yard between the side line of the lot and the nearest line of the main wall of the building and extending from the front yard of the lot to the rear yard. (Ord. 677 § 3 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. 674 § 2 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. 657 § 3 (Exh. F), 2023; Ord. 616 § 3, 2018; Ord. 612 § 1 (part), 2017; Ord. 611 § 1, 2017; Ord. 589 § 1 (part), 2014; Ord. 578 § 3 (part), 2013; Ord. 557 § 1, 2010; Ord. 555 § 1 (part), 2010; Ord. 515 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2005; Ord. 476 Exh. B (part), 1999; Ord. 377 § 1, 1990; Ord. 371 §§ 2 – 7, 1989; Ord. 365 § 1 (part), 1989; Ord. 354 § 2 (part), 1988; Ord. 328 § 1, 1986; Ord. 211 § 1, 1981; Ord. 38 § 1 (part), 1972; prior code §§ 10-401, 10-402)