San Francisco — Permits & Forms

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

This page focuses on how San Francisco Planning and the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) intake, route, and review permits, which official forms you’ll actually file, and where the code sets review/validity timelines. It stays scoped to permits and forms; for broader context see the San Francisco zoning & planning overview and the underlying San Francisco Planning Code. Building standards follow the local San Francisco Building Code (SFBC) and state California Building Standards Code.

The single biggest timing rule that trips up applicants: once DBI issues a permit, the clock to finish the work runs under SFBC § 106A.4.4 and its Table B; missing those windows can void the permit and force re-application.

How San Francisco routes and reviews permits

• Planning and DBI run a coordinated process. For site-permit projects, DBI distributes applications to Planning and Fire so reviews run in parallel; site-permit review is intentionally limited to concept-level issues until addenda are filed. See SFBC § 106A.3.4.2.2 for simultaneous distribution and scope; and § 106A.3.4.2.3 for how construction addenda are sequenced and issued.
• “Site permit,” “approved addenda schedule,” and “approved addendum” are formal terms. An approved addendum is stamped under § 106A.4.1, must be kept on site per § 106A.4.2, and each approved addendum is “considered as a permit.” The site permit by itself does not authorize construction.
• DBI’s code also clarifies that issuing a permit is not approval of any code violation (§ 106A.4.3).

Official, commonly used Planning + DBI forms

These are the core application packets most projects file in San Francisco. The “Code Reference” column cites the controlling SFBC workflow section or Planning Code section that the form typically plugs into.

San Francisco review tracks and timelines you’ll actually use

• Over‑the‑Counter (OTC) for specific scopes
  • DBI allows online/OTC issuance when the work fully complies with the prescriptive California Existing Building Code (CEBC) Appendix A3 (e.g., certain seismic retrofits of R‑3/R‑3.1). If the work departs from A3, either OTC plan review or full submittal is required. This is expressly allowed in DBI’s administrative guidance implementing CEBC A3.
  • For other OTC‑eligible scopes (e.g., minor trades), use DBI’s online trade permit portals and worksheets; they still fall under permit validity/time rules in SFBC § 106A.4.4.
• In‑House Plan Review and the Site‑Permit/Addenda model
  • DBI’s site permit is a preliminary approval allowing coordinated, simultaneous agency review while detailed plan check occurs later by addendum. The site permit scope is intentionally limited; detailed review is deferred to addenda after the site permit issues, per SFBC § 106A.3.4.2.2.
  • You may phase construction by addenda after a site permit is issued. Each addendum must be approved and issued before you start the corresponding work. Each approved addendum is considered a permit and must be stamped/kept on site under § 106A.4.1–§ 106A.4.2 and § 106A.3.4.2.3.
• Neighborhood notification (Planning)
  • Many residential enlargements trigger neighborhood notice under Planning Code § 311; many commercial projects trigger § 312. Planning’s packets and declaration forms document the steps; specific timeline lengths were not provided in the retrieved materials.
• Permit validity and expiration (DBI)
  • SFBC clarifies that permit issuance is not approval of any code violation (§ 106A.4.3). Permits expire when time limits are hit, work stalls, or demolition windows are exceeded, per § 106A.4.4. DBI may grant limited extensions; Table B controls maximum durations.

DBI Table B — time allowed to complete all work authorized by a building permit

Occupancy, finals, and inspections

• Special inspections: DBI’s Special Inspection and Structural Observation Form is used to document required testing/observation during construction; submit and keep current through inspections.
• Certificate of Occupancy (CO): State building code requires a CO before occupying new dwelling units (e.g., ADUs) and authorizes Temporary CO at local discretion. The state rule is in CBC § 111; the 60‑day ministerial clock for ADUs is under Gov. Code cited in the state handbook. Local CO/TCO procedures/timelines were not provided in the retrieved San Francisco materials. See California Building Standards Code.
• Fire operational permits: Some occupancies also need Fire operational permits coordinated with SFFD; interface with Fire occurs during DBI’s multi‑agency routing for site permits (SFBC § 106A.3.4.2.2). For fire operational permit forms, consult SFFD’s permit portal; details were not codified in the retrieved SFBC excerpts. See San Francisco Fire Code.

Practical OTC vs. In‑House routing tips

• If your seismic scope exactly matches CEBC Appendix A3, you can prepare simplified plans and expect OTC issuance; if not, expect in‑house review and professionally prepared submittals.
• Large or complex projects should expect the site‑permit + addenda path; submit a clear addenda schedule early. Remember: you cannot start any addendum work until that addendum is stamped and issued.
• For small tradework, start with DBI’s electrical/plumbing/mechanical worksheets and online portals; Planning routing may still occur based on project description.

Checklist

• Confirm which Planning intake applies (PRJ general or PRJ small residential) and whether § 311 or § 312 will trigger neighborhood notification.
• Choose the correct DBI building form: Form 1/2 for new construction; Form 3/8 for alterations; Form 6 for demolitions; include owner/agent disclosures as required.
• Decide whether you qualify for OTC (e.g., strict CEBC A3 seismic scope), or need In‑House plan review/site permit with addenda.
• If using a site permit, attach an approved addenda schedule and understand that each addendum must be approved and stamped before that work begins (§ 106A.3.4.2.3; § 106A.4.1–§ 106A.4.2).
• Track your permit validity clock by valuation against Table B and request any extension before expiration (§ 106A.4.4).
• File required Special Inspection/Structural Observation documentation, if applicable.
• Before occupancy, confirm final inspection status and local CO/TCO requirements; CO is required by state building code (CBC § 111). Local timing details: Not found in retrieved materials.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

In San Francisco, Planning intake (PRJ) sets your planning path, and DBI issues the building/trade permits. Small, very prescriptive scopes can go Over‑the‑Counter; larger work typically uses a site permit with phased addenda. Each addendum must be approved and stamped before that work starts, and your permit has a fixed completion window based on project valuation under SFBC Table B. Plan for neighborhood notices where § 311/§ 312 applies, and do not occupy until you’ve cleared final inspections and the CO requirement under state building code.

Information Gaps

• Planning Code timing details for § 311 and § 312 neighborhood notification: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• DBI’s local procedures/timelines for Certificate of Occupancy/Temporary CO: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Specific Planning Code sections governing CUA and Variance processing (beyond the supplemental packets): Not found in retrieved materials.

Source References

• San Francisco Building Code (selected admin provisions): § 106A.3.4.2.2; § 106A.3.4.2.3; § 106A.4.1; § 106A.4.2; § 106A.4.3; § 106A.4.4 (Table B) — DBI administrative text excerpts.
• DBI Administrative guidance on CEBC Appendix A3 (OTC eligibility for prescriptive seismic work): media excerpt.
• DBI official forms: Forms page and specific applications (Form 1/2, 3/8, 4/7, 5, 6; owner/agent disclosures; Special Inspection).
• Planning intake and supplements: PRJ applications, § 311 Info + Declaration, CUA/Variance packets, EEA (CEQA).
• Trade permit worksheets and online portals: DBI Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical.
• State CO/ADU processing context: ADU Handbook (CO under CBC § 111; ministerial timelines).

Also see: San Francisco Building Inspection Commission Code, San Francisco Design Standards, San Francisco Fire Code, San Francisco Administrative Code, and San Francisco ADUs for related, cross-cutting requirements.

Retrieved passages

• San Francisco Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (Section 311) High relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (Section 311) High relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (Section 311) High relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (Section 311) High relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• San Francisco Building Code (selected admin provisions): **§ 106A.3.4.2.2; § 106A.3.4.2.3; § 106A.4.1; § 106A.4.2; § 106A.4.3; § 106A.4.4 (Table B)** — DBI administrative text excerpts. (§ 106A.3.4.2.2)
• DBI Administrative guidance on CEBC Appendix A3 (OTC eligibility for prescriptive seismic work): media excerpt.
• DBI official forms: Forms page and specific applications (Form 1/2, 3/8, 4/7, 5, 6; owner/agent disclosures; Special Inspection).
• Planning intake and supplements: PRJ applications, **§ 311** Info + Declaration, CUA/Variance packets, EEA (CEQA). (§ 311)
• Trade permit worksheets and online portals: DBI Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical.
• State CO/ADU processing context: ADU Handbook (CO under **CBC § 111**; ministerial timelines). (§ 111)
• SF Building Inspection Commissions Code.md
• sf_permit_forms_scenarios_checklists_with_links.json
• codebook_California_SF_Permit_OfficialFormLinks.md
• 2025 California ADU handbook.md