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California / Local permit guide

Foster City Solar Permit Guide

Your local requirements. The official sources. A clearer next step.

Electric utility
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)Source linked
Local pathway
SolarAPP+ (standard PV installs only)Project-specific eligibility conditions apply.
See your permit path

San Mateo County · Explore related utility guides

Foster City Solar Permit Checklist
Printed from mygridpermit.com/california/foster-city/solar-permit-guide/ · Last verified 2026-08-08 · City of Foster City Community Development Department, Building Division / PG&E · Verify current requirements before relying on this checklist. Programs and fees change.
Source healthLast verified 2026-08-083 official sources5 of 6 core facts verified
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Informational only. This page is not legal, engineering, or permit advice. Every fact below links to the official source it came from and shows how confident we are in it. Verify current requirements with City of Foster City Community Development Department, Building Division and PG&E before making a decision.

Research coverage

Your permit path,
at a glance.

This shows what GridPermit has verified for Foster City. It does not show the status of a specific project.

  1. 01Permit authorityCity of Foster City Community Development Department, Building DivisionAuthority sourced
  2. 02DocumentsChecklist includes conditional itemsConditions apply
  3. 03InspectionInspection guidance for Foster CitySteps sourced
  4. 04Utility & PTOPacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)Utility path sourced

01 / Know your path

Two approvals.
One project.

Local authority

Permit & inspection

City of Foster City Community Development Department, Building Division

Local requirements
Electric utility

Interconnection & PTO

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)

Utility requirements

A local permit and utility permission to operate are different approvals. Check the local sequence and requirements below.

How to read this guide

GridPermit collects California residential solar and permitting facts directly from official sources (city, county, and state government sites, utilities, and public utilities commissions) and shows only what we can verify, with a confidence score and a link to where it came from. Nothing here is estimated or inferred beyond what's stated below. See our methodology for the rules this page follows.

Battery/solar incentive program on record

No battery/storage incentive program is on record for this locality.

02 / Prepare your application

What you need.

0 of 4 markedSaved only on this device; not confirmation of permit readiness.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.85)

Source(s): Solar Permits

Permit fees

  • SolarAPP+ design revision (4th and later): $25 (flat)

    First three design revisions are free; building permit fees also apply when filing through the Online Permit Center.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: Medium (0.75)

Source(s): Solar Permits

Rebates on record

Rebates on record

Not yet verified.

Utility and generation supplier

Utility

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)

Foster City is a well-documented San Mateo County city within PG&E's core Northern California service territory.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.9)

Source(s): Solar Permits

Generation supplier

WestLight Energy (formerly Peninsula Clean Energy) (Community Choice Aggregator)

WestLight Energy's own site confirms it is San Mateo County's CCA, formed in 2015 after every city council in the county voted to establish it, serving the entire county (all cities/towns, including Foster City) since 2017. PG&E continues to deliver the power and provide billing/customer service. Some supporting official material could not be independently confirmed from the full source in GridPermit's latest review. Verify the current requirement with the authority before relying on it.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.8)

Source(s): In the Community

Interconnection

https://www.pge.com/en/save-energy-and-money/rebates-and-incentives/nem.html

PG&E's own utility-wide Net Energy Metering (NEM) program page.

Confidence: Medium (0.55)

Permit authority

City of Foster City Community Development Department, Building Division

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.9)

Source(s): Solar Permits

Permit page: https://www.fostercity.org/424/Solar-Permits

Inspection steps

  • Inspections occur after the SolarAPP+ Approval Document is submitted
  • Maintain the Inspection Checklist for review during the inspection
Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.8)

Source(s): Solar Permits

Eligibility constraints

  • Property types: residential
  • Max system size (AC): Not yet verified.
  • Max system size (DC): Not yet verified.
  • Max thermal capacity: Not yet verified.
  • Program/pathway: SolarAPP+ (standard PV installs only)
  • Other conditions:
    • Systems with main panel upgrades or battery storage are excluded from SolarAPP+ and require standard review
Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.8)

Source(s): Solar Permits

Official contacts

Official contacts

Confidence: High (0.9)

Need a solar installer who handles permits in Foster City?

EnergySage is an independent solar marketplace where you can request property-specific pricing from installers familiar with local permitting.

Compare quotes from solar installers →

You'll continue on EnergySage's website. GridPermit links to EnergySage as an independent third-party resource. This link is not currently tracked for compensation.

Official sources

Official sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What utility serves solar customers in Foster City, California?

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is the interconnection and distribution utility for Foster City. The default electricity generation supplier is WestLight Energy (formerly Peninsula Clean Energy), a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), separate from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E).

What documents are required for a solar permit in Foster City?

Commonly required documents include: Active City of Foster City Business License; Residential PV Submittal Checklist; SolarAPP+ Approval Document; Completed online permit application (job value, project location).

Who do I contact about solar permits in Foster City?

City of Foster City Building Division, phone 650-286-3227, email building@fostercity.org.

Disclaimers: This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal, engineering, financial, tax, or permit advice. GridPermit is not a solar installer, contractor, engineering firm, public utility, or government agency. Requirements, fees, and program terms change. Verify current requirements with City of Foster City Community Development Department, Building Division and PG&E before starting a project. Last verified 2026-08-08.

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