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Planning commissioners receive training on Board of Appeals duties and building‑code appeals
Summary
Foster City's Chief Building Official trained the Planning Commission on Title 24 appeals, the role and limits of the building official, alternate means reports and the decision process after the council designated the commission as the Board of Appeals in 2025.
Foster City — The Planning Commission on Feb. 5 received a training presentation on the Board of Appeals from Chief Building Official Chuck Manook that reviewed Title 24 (California Building Code) requirements, the board's duties and limits, and practical procedures for handling appeals.
Manook said state code (CBC Section 1.8.8 and related provisions) requires jurisdictions to establish a Board of Appeals to hear appeals of building‑code determinations and that, in 2025, the City Council designated the Planning Commission to serve in that role. "Members of the Board of Appeals shall not be employees of the enforcing agency and shall be knowledgeable in the applicable building codes," Manook said.
Why it matters: Commissioners will act as the formal appeals body for code interpretations and enforcement decisions. Manook explained the building official may render interpretations and adopt policies but cannot waive code requirements. He described alternate means and methods reports (AMMR/AMMRs) used to propose substitutions that meet the intent of the code and noted conditional approvals and phased compliance approaches as common tools for managing compliance costs.
Appeals practice and process: Manook said appeals decisions are rendered in writing and the Building Official acts in accordance with those decisions. Commissioners asked whether Foster City had seen many appeals; staff and Manook said appeals have been rare locally in recent years. The commission discussed how appeals would be scheduled (staff said appeals would be heard during regular Planning Commission meetings) and asked staff to confirm whether an appeal of the Board's decision could be taken to City Council; staff said they would follow up with code citations and report back.
Commission guidance and next steps: Commissioners requested case studies and examples of appeals outcomes to inform future deliberations and training. Manook said he would provide practical examples and collaborate with the city attorney to prepare guidance and sample cases for future training sessions.
Action taken: No appeals were heard at this meeting; the discussion was educational and no formal action was taken.
