San Francisco is advancing plans to co-locate the Planning Department's public counter with DBI's existing permit center at 49 South Van Ness. The consolidation, which has been in the works since the city's move to 49 South Van Ness in 2021, is now targeting full joint operations by late 2026.
The Current Situation
Right now, homeowners and contractors navigating San Francisco's permitting process deal with two separate counters — even for projects that require both Planning and DBI approval:
- Planning Department public counter handles zoning questions, discretionary review filings, and Planning approvals
- DBI permit counter handles building permit applications, plan check, and permit issuance
For projects like ADUs, room additions, or anything requiring Planning approval before DBI issuance, applicants currently shuttle between locations or use online submission for one while visiting the other in person.
What the Consolidation Changes
The joint permit center is intended to reduce the coordination burden for permit applicants by putting Planning and DBI staff in the same location, enabling:
- Single-stop submittals: Projects requiring both Planning and DBI review can be submitted in one visit
- Concurrent review: Staff coordination between Planning and DBI on complex applications without requiring the applicant to relay information between departments
- Unified scheduling: One appointment for projects needing both agencies
Realistic Timeline for Homeowners
The consolidation is at the planning and staffing stage. Based on the city's current schedule, expect full co-location in late 2026 at the earliest, with phased integration beginning sooner.
In the meantime, the most efficient approach for homeowners with projects requiring both Planning and DBI approval remains:
- Start with Planning if your project requires any discretionary or administrative review
- Use DBI's e-Permit system for applications that don't require in-person counter visits
- Call DBI's pre-application line at (628) 652-3400 to confirm which agencies you need before making trips
Impact on Permit Timelines
The merger is unlikely to change formal review timelines in the near term — staffing levels and workload, not physical location, are the primary drivers of review speed. However, the coordination improvements could reduce the back-and-forth that adds weeks to complex applications.
San Francisco Planning Department information: sfplanning.org. DBI information: sf.gov/departments/department-of-building-inspection.
