Building permits in San Francisco, CA
Permits for San Francisco are issued by City & County of San Francisco, Dept. of Building Inspection (DBI). Applications go through the portal below.
Where to file
- Department
- City & County of San Francisco, Dept. of Building Inspection (DBI)
- Phone
- (628) 652-3200
- Portal
- www.sf.gov/departments--city-administrator--department-building-inspection
Permit Center + online permit tracking. 49 South Van Ness Ave. (CA requires a CSLB license for jobs $500+.)
What each job needs in San Francisco
Typical requirements and fee ranges. Fees scale with project valuation, so treat these as a starting point and confirm the number with City & County of San Francisco before you quote.
| Project | Permits | Typical fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Remodel | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC) | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| Addition | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC) | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| New Construction | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC), Site / Grading | $500–3,000+ (scaled to valuation; plan review separate) | 10–15 business days |
| Electrical | Electrical | $50–250 | 3–5 business days |
| Plumbing | Plumbing | $50–200 | 3–5 business days |
| HVAC / Mechanical | Mechanical (HVAC) | $50–250 | 3–5 business days |
| Roofing | Roofing | $100–400 | 1–5 business days |
| Deck / Fence | Building | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| Demolition | Demolition | $50–400 | 5–10 business days |
| Commercial Build-Out | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC), Fire / Life-Safety Review | $300–2,000+ (scaled to valuation; plan review separate) | 10–15 business days |
Licensing in California
A contractor license is required for any project (labor + materials) of $500 or more, issued by the CSLB.
Issued by California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) · Verify a licence
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Department, portal and phone are from the jurisdiction's published information and have not been re-checked recently. Fee ranges and turnaround times are typical for this kind of work and are not quotes. Requirements change, so confirm with the department before you file. SQM.AI is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.