Resources
SF Permit Guides & News
In-depth guides on San Francisco building permits, ADU rules, and contractor requirements — plus commentary on new DBI and Planning announcements.
Electrical Work in San Francisco: Do I Need a Permit?
Most electrical work in San Francisco requires a permit. This guide covers exactly what needs one, what it costs, how long it takes, and the panel upgrade trap that catches nearly every homeowner planning electrification.
What Happens If I Build Without a Permit in San Francisco?
The real cost of unpermitted construction in San Francisco is financial penalties, resale problems, insurance risks, and how retroactive permits work. What San Francisco homeowners need to know.
San Francisco Chronicle Permit Timeline Data: ADU 593 Days, Roofing 23 Days — What the Numbers Actually Mean
The San Francisco Chronicle analyzed DBI data on permit completion times. ADUs take a median 593 days. Roofing takes 23. Here's what the numbers actually mean — and what they tell you about planning your project.
San Francisco Chronicle Permit Map: What the Data Reveals About Renovation Costs (and What It Misses)
The San Francisco Chronicle mapped roughly 8,000 completed residential permits. Learn what permit data can and cannot tell you about renovation costs, potential property-tax reassessment, and planning your own project.
San Francisco Plumbing Permit Guide: What Requires a Permit, Code Requirements, and How to Verify Costs
Which San Francisco plumbing work requires a permit, key code requirements including seismic strapping and water efficiency, sewer lateral responsibility, and how to verify current permit costs from DBI.
San Francisco Water Heater Replacement Permit Guide: Planning for Bay Area Rule Changes
Planning a San Francisco water-heater replacement? Learn how scope can affect permits, why an electric option may need a load calculation, and how to check current Bay Area appliance rules and incentives.
ADUs Hit 28% of Bay Area Housing Permits in 2024: What This Means for San Francisco Homeowners
ADU permits tripled from 8% of Bay Area housing in 2019 to 28% in 2024. Here's what that trend means for San Francisco homeowners considering an ADU and where the growth is actually happening.
San Francisco Electrification Rules: What Every Homeowner Should Know About Gas-to-Electric Permits
Bay Area electrification rules are converging on San Francisco renovations. Which projects trigger electric requirements, what the real costs are, and how to avoid the panel-upgrade trap.
San Francisco Building Permits: What They Cost and How Long They Take (2026 Guide)
Complete 2026 guide to San Francisco building permit costs and timelines, built from DBI's current fee schedule. Fees by project type, review track differences, cost-saving strategies, and how to avoid the most common surprises.
San Francisco Discretionary Review Explained
A San Francisco project can meet baseline rules and still face Discretionary Review. Learn when public notice matters, who may file, the current filing fees, and how to prepare.
San Francisco Bathroom Remodel Permit Guide (2026): What You Actually Need
A plain-English guide to bathroom remodel permits in San Francisco — when you need one, what it costs, how long it takes, and the mistakes that cost homeowners the most.
San Francisco DBI Automates In-House Permit Routing
San Francisco DBI now automatically routes In-House permit applications after a completeness check. See what the public routing tables show — and what they cannot tell you about a specific project.
PermitSF's 100-Day Legislative Package: Homeowner Deck Repairs Get Easier
Mayor Lurie's May 2025 PermitSF package included a homeowner variance reform that is now signed and effective for rebuilding certain existing noncomplying structures. Learn what it changes—and what approvals still apply.
San Francisco Aligns Deck & Balcony Inspections with State Rules — Plus a New Impact Fee Calculator
Mayor Lurie's latest PermitSF wave streamlines special event permits and removes duplicative deck/balcony inspections for multi-unit buildings. A digital impact fee calculator, among the initiative's recent improvements, is also highlighted.
San Francisco's All-Electric Renovation Rule Takes Effect: What Homeowners Need to Know
As of July 1, 2026, major San Francisco home renovations must go all-electric. Which projects trigger the rule, what it costs, and what kitchen/bath remodelers should know.
San Francisco Housing Permit Times: Slower Than Peer Cities, But Recent Reforms Show Real Progress
New Board of Supervisors report: San Francisco's housing permit timeline was cut in half over the past few years — from about 605 to 280 days — and recent applications are moving even faster. Here's what's real and what's overstated in the reform story.
San Francisco Delayed Its Costly Sprinkler Mandate for Pre-1975 High-Rise Condos — Here's the Current Timeline
San Francisco's Board of Supervisors approved a delay on sprinkler retrofit requirements for pre-1975 high-rise condos in April 2026. Here's the official staged deadline structure per the San Francisco Fire Department, and what a newer cost report found.
San Francisco DBI Digital Contractor Permit Authorization
San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection has rolled out digital authorization for licensed contractor permit applications, reducing counter wait times for most residential projects.
San Francisco Kitchen Remodel Permit Cost 2026
How much do San Francisco kitchen remodel permits cost in 2026? Real DBI fees, sub-permits, and OTC qualification thresholds — no fluff.
San Francisco ADU Permit Guide 2026
Complete guide to ADU permits in San Francisco — which agencies to deal with, required forms, timelines, and fees for detached, attached, and junior ADUs.
San Francisco Planning and DBI: Joint Permit Center
San Francisco is consolidating Planning and DBI services into a unified permit center at 49 South Van Ness, with full co-location targeted for late 2026.
Owner-Builder Permits in San Francisco: What You Can (and Can't) Do
San Francisco homeowners can pull permits themselves — but California's owner-builder rules have real limits. Here's what you can legally do, what you can't, and when it makes sense.
San Francisco Planning and DBI Fee Schedule 2025–26
San Francisco DBI and Planning Department fees have been updated for the 2025–26 fiscal year. Here's what changed and what it means for your permit budget.