Short answer: In San Francisco, permits are issued by San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI); of the 16 common projects we checked, 6 always need a permit, 1 do not, and 6 depend on the details (3 unverified).
Permitting authority: San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI). City and County of San Francisco. Planning Department review may be needed even when DBI does not require a permit, especially for exterior work.
Depends on your project Platforms up to 30 in above grade that are not part of an exit are exempt. Most decks need a building permit; repairs to less than 50% of a …
No permit required No building permit for walks and driveways up to 30 in above grade, not over a basement, and not part of an exit or required accessible rout…
Depends on your project No permit for fences under 6 ft at the rear and side lot lines at the rear of the property. Other fences, including 6 ft and taller, need a …
Permit required Yes. Cutting into or replacing pipes carrying gas, hot air or cool air needs a plumbing/mechanical permit, applied for online by a licensed …
Permit required Yes. You need a permit before renovating or replacing bath fixtures. In-kind, non-structural work is permitted online through PermitSF; layo…
Permit required Yes for most re-roofs. Only re-roofing of up to 25% of the roof in 12 months, with no installation, repair or removal of roof material, is e…
Depends on your project A small residential rooftop solar system on a non-landmark building needs no building permit, but an electrical or other permit may be requi…
Permit required Yes. Water heaters are part of the plumbing system under the San Francisco Plumbing Code, and water heater replacement is not on its list of…
Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.
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