Municipal permitting reference

How building permits work in San Francisco

SF permits are issued by the Department of Building Inspection (DBI). Many projects also require Planning Department approval before DBI will issue.

Responsible authority
San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI)
Indicative planning range
Over-the-counter: same day. Standard: 3–9+ months due to Planning + Section 311 noticing.

Planning orientation only; not a municipal service guarantee.

Typical permitting sequence

  1. 1

    Planning entitlement

    Many projects need Planning approval (CU, Variance, 311 notice) before DBI permits.

  2. 2

    Permit application

    Filed via Permit Center / online portal.

  3. 3

    Reviews

    Planning, DBI plan check, Fire, Public Works, MEP routes.

  4. 4

    Issuance & inspections

    Permit issued; staged inspections required.

Common permit categories

  • • Building Permit Application (BPA)
  • • Site Permit
  • • Electrical
  • • Plumbing
  • • Demolition

Local considerations

Confirm zoning, code, submission, inspection, and closeout requirements with the municipality.

Primary municipal reference

Use the municipality's site for authoritative forms, fees, current service standards, codes, portal access, and project-specific requirements.

Open the official San Francisco permit resource

Analyze actual permit activity

Compare this process overview with current municipality-reported filing counts, permit types, maps, neighborhoods, and address history.

View San Francisco, CA_US permit statistics
How Building Permits Work in San Francisco: Process & Timeline | PropertyLab