Building Permits in San Francisco, CA
Check permit requirements for home improvement projects in San Francisco. Select a project type below to see local requirements, estimated fees, and how to apply.
Recent permit activity in San Francisco
We track 123,689 permit records from San Francisco's official open-data feed, updated 2 days ago.
Thinking about a project? Check what permits have already been pulled on a property — data is current to 2 days ago. Useful for buyers vetting a listing, or homeowners curious about their neighbors' renovations.
Key Exemptions in San Francisco
These projects typically don't require a building permit in San Francisco:
Cosmetic bathroom renovations do not require a permit in San Francisco, CA.
Small at-grade patio slabs under 120 square feet are typically exempt from building permits per IRC R105.2 (extended via local amendment). The slab must be at-grade (not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade) and not part of an accessible route.
Freestanding decks not exceeding 30 inches above grade are generally exempt in San Francisco, CA per CBC.
Replacing an existing driveway in the same footprint with no changes to the curb cut is generally exempt from permit requirements.
Replacing a light fixture in-kind does not require a permit in San Francisco, CA.
See all rules by selecting a project type below, or use our free lookup tool for a personalized answer.
Get a personalized answer
Our lookup tool asks a few questions about your specific project to give you the most accurate answer.
San Francisco Building Department
Nearby Cities in California
Permit Guides
Read our in-depth guides for common home improvement projects: