San Francisco — Review Timelines

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

San Francisco runs multiple, overlapping “clocks” for planning entitlements, environmental review, and building permits. The Planning Department’s neighborhood notice window, the Building Department’s application and permit expiration timelines, and any site-permit addenda all carry their own deadlines under the City’s adopted codes. This page summarizes the timelines and processing expectations the City itself establishes, with direct code citations, so you can plan submittals, phasing, and occupancy in San Francisco.

The single most important rule: San Francisco runs two DBI clocks you must actively manage — an application-expiration clock before issuance (§ 106A.3.7/Table A) and a permit-expiration clock after issuance (§ 106A.4.4/Table B). Missing either cancels your path to a permit or your right to keep building.

What starts the City’s review clocks

• Planning neighborhood notice for many residential entitlements: The Planning Department holds applications for a 30-day neighborhood review period once the notice is mailed (§ 311(e)(5) of the San Francisco Planning Code ). Requests for Planning Commission Discretionary Review must be filed by 5:00 p.m. on the last day of that 30‑day period (§ 311(e) ).
• Expedited Conditional Use for qualifying small/mid-sized businesses: The Code provides an “expedited” path for certain commercial-space Conditional Uses without waiving public notice (§ 303.2; Calle 24 SUD is excluded) . Timeline specifics beyond “expedited” are Not found in retrieved materials.
• Environmental review priority and preliminary assessments: Chapter 31 authorizes priority processing for specific affordable-housing and safety-focused bicycle/pedestrian projects and calls for a written preliminary CEQA-exemption assessment within 60 days of a complete Preliminary Project Assessment submittal (Administrative Code Ch. 31, subsection (l) — exact § number Not found in retrieved materials; see Chapter 31 excerpt ).
• DBI application acceptance and routing: DBI may assign a Permit Facilitator as a single point of contact to coordinate multi-agency review (§ 106A.3.6 ). Applicants can also request a focused Pre‑Application meeting; DBI asks you to allow at least 10 working days for a meeting appointment (Administrative Bulletin AB‑028 ).
• Site Permit pathway on larger projects: DBI can issue a Site Permit to start entitlement coordination and phase construction by addenda (§ 106A.3.4.2.2 and § 106A.3.4.2.3). The site permit is a limited, conceptual review; detailed plan check happens on addenda, which must be approved before the corresponding work begins, and the addenda must be completed within the permit time allowed by § 106A.4.4/Table B (all ). DBI generally limits active, unissued addenda in review to three at a time unless otherwise approved (AB‑032 ).

DBI’s application and permit “clocks”

• Application expiration before permit issuance: Once DBI deems your application acceptable for plan review, you have a fixed window to provide all corrections and documents. Time limits are set by Table A — 360 calendar days (≤$1M) and 720 calendar days (>$1M), with one same-length extension available by written request and fee (§ 106A.3.7/Table A ).
• Permit expiration after issuance: Once a building permit is issued, DBI measures your time to finish under Table B — 360 days (≤$100k valuation), 1,080 days ($100,001–$2,499,999), and 1,440 days (≥$2.5M), with extension limits also set by Table B (§ 106A.4.4/Table B ). A separate rule sets a 180‑day expiration for demolition permits, with one 180‑day extension (§ 106A.4.4(4) ).
• Permit issuance notice: For major permits (e.g., to demolish or erect a building), DBI posts a public notice of permit issuance within 24 hours (§ 106A.4.6 ).

Priority and expedited processing

• Citywide anti-preferential processing policy: DBI processes permits in the order received, except for designated, policy‑based priorities (Administrative Bulletin AB‑004, which implements Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code § 3.400; AB‑004 explains the priority framework and interdepartmental alignment with Planning and Public Works) .
• Environmental Review Officer priorities: As noted above, Chapter 31 authorizes out‑of‑order environmental processing for specific affordable-housing and safety projects; 60‑day preliminary assessments apply to those eligible projects (exact § number Not found in retrieved materials; see Chapter 31 excerpt ).
• Targeted OTC issuance scenarios: For prescriptive seismic-safety upgrades conforming to CEBC Appendix A3 (cripple wall/bracing), DBI allows online/over‑the‑counter issuance when you meet all prescriptive requirements; otherwise, standard routing applies (DBI bulletin; CEBC A3 scope) .

How Planning, CEQA, and DBI clocks interact in practice

• Planning review comes first for entitlements; many residential projects must complete the 30‑day Section 311 notice before hearing scheduling or Director sign‑off (§ 311(e)(5) ). If Discretionary Review is requested by the deadline, the Zoning Administrator schedules a hearing “within a reasonable period” (§ 311(e)(1)–(2) ).
• Site Permit strategy on complex builds: DBI can circulate an electronic Site Permit simultaneously to Planning, Fire, and other agencies to shorten upfront routing; detailed compliance is then delivered in addenda (§ 106A.3.4.2.2–.2.3 ). Plan addenda still must finish within the Table B permit window (§ 106A.4.4/Table B ).
• DBI administrative processing: If you pause too long during plan check, DBI can cancel the application under Table A, with a 60‑day warning before cancellation (§ 106A.3.7/Table A ).
• Occupancy sign‑off: Final Certificates are issued after final inspection and all special inspection documents/conditions are closed out (DBI bulletin language on Certificates of Final Completion; no fixed days to issuance were located. Not found in retrieved materials for a specific §) .

Key San Francisco review clocks and triggers

Practical guidance for applicants

• Anchor your entitlement schedule around the Section 311 30‑day notice if your project is subject to it; build a contingency if DR is requested (§ 311(e)(5) ). Early conversations on design standards help minimize DR risk.
• On large or phased projects, plan your Site Permit + addenda sequence up front and avoid exceeding three active, unissued addenda (AB‑032 ).
• Track both DBI clocks: keep your application alive under Table A (§ 106A.3.7) and keep construction moving under Table B (§ 106A.4.4) to avoid cancellation or re‑permit fees .
• Use DBI’s Permit Facilitator for complex, multi‑agency routing (§ 106A.3.6 ).
• Plan check looks for zoning and development‑standard compliance; coordinate early with Use Districts, Height & Bulk, and Setbacks & Yards.
• If you’re pursuing a qualifying small‑business CU, ask Planning about the expedited docket under § 303.2 (still subject to notice) .
• For unique submittals (e.g., local equivalencies, phased structural work), align with DBI bulletins and the City’s Permits & Inspections. Under the California Building Standards Code, DBI requires complete, approvable construction documents for each addendum phase.
• ADUs follow state‑mandated ministerial clocks separate from local discretionary review. See San Francisco ADUs.

Checklist

• Confirm whether your project triggers § 311 notice and budget the 30‑day window (and potential DR) .
• If applicable, determine eligibility for § 303.2 expedited CU processing and fees .
• Decide whether to use a Site Permit + addenda strategy; map an addenda schedule and keep no more than three active, unissued addenda unless approved (§ 106A.3.4.2.3; AB‑032) .
• Track DBI’s Table A application timeframe and request extensions in writing before it lapses (§ 106A.3.7) .
• After issuance, track Table B permit time; request extensions early; be aware of the separate demolition‑permit sunset (§ 106A.4.4) .
• If you need early clarification, request a Pre‑Application meeting and allow ~10 working days for scheduling (AB‑028) .
• Keep approved plans on site during construction; unapproved plan changes can halt work (§ 106A.4.2) .
• Coordinate environmental review needs; if you think you qualify for priority CEQA processing, confer with Planning early (Administrative Code Ch. 31; exact § Not found in retrieved materials) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

In San Francisco, Planning often holds residential projects for a 30‑day neighborhood notice before any hearing, and DBI runs two firm clocks — one to keep your application alive before permit issuance and another to keep construction moving afterward. Large projects commonly use a Site Permit with addenda, but each addendum must be approved before that phase starts and all work must still finish within the Table B permit window.

Source References

• Planning neighborhood notice and DR timing: San Francisco Planning Code § 311(e), including § 311(e)(5) 30‑day notice hold — San Francisco Planning Code
• Expedited Conditional Use: San Francisco Planning Code § 303.2 (Community Business Priority Processing Program) — San Francisco Conditional Use
• DBI application expiration and cancellation warnings: SF Building Code § 106A.3.7/Table A — San Francisco Building Inspection Commission Code
• DBI permit expiration and Table B; demolition permit rule; public notice within 24 hours: SF Building Code § 106A.4.4/Table B and § 106A.4.6 — San Francisco Permits & Inspections
• Site Permit scope and addenda timing: SF Building Code § 106A.3.4.2.2 and § 106A.3.4.2.3 — San Francisco Administrative Code — Development Procedures & Fees
• DBI Administrative Bulletins (processing expectations): AB‑004 Priority Permit Processing ; AB‑028 Pre‑Application Meetings (10 working days to respond) ; AB‑032 Site Permit Processing (addenda practices) — San Francisco Local Amendments
• CEQA processing priorities and preliminary assessments: Administrative Code Chapter 31 excerpt (subsection (l)) — exact § number Not found in retrieved materials — San Francisco Administrative Code

Retrieved passages

• CBC § 66316 (§ 66316) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (section of) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 106A (Section 106A) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (§ 66317) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (Section 311) Medium relevance show source text
• CMC § 104.3.1 (Section 104.3.1.) Medium relevance show source text
• CPC § 104.3.1 (Section 104.3.1.) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (section as) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (Section 110A) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (section as) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 106A.3.3 (Section 106A.3.3) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (Section 31.16) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (Section 106A.4.1) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 107 (Section 107.) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Planning neighborhood notice and DR timing: San Francisco Planning Code § 311(e), including § 311(e)(5) 30‑day notice hold — San Francisco Planning Code (§ 311)
• Expedited Conditional Use: San Francisco Planning Code § 303.2 (Community Business Priority Processing Program) — San Francisco Conditional Use (§ 303.2)
• DBI application expiration and cancellation warnings: SF Building Code § 106A.3.7/Table A — San Francisco Building Inspection Commission Code (§ 106A.3.7)
• DBI permit expiration and Table B; demolition permit rule; public notice within 24 hours: SF Building Code § 106A.4.4/Table B and § 106A.4.6 — San Francisco Permits & Inspections (§ 106A.4.4)
• Site Permit scope and addenda timing: SF Building Code § 106A.3.4.2.2 and § 106A.3.4.2.3 — San Francisco Administrative Code — Development Procedures & Fees (§ 106A.3.4.2.2)
• DBI Administrative Bulletins (processing expectations): AB‑004 Priority Permit Processing ; AB‑028 Pre‑Application Meetings (10 working days to respond) ; AB‑032 Site Permit Processing (addenda practices) — San Francisco Local Amendments
• CEQA processing priorities and preliminary assessments: Administrative Code Chapter 31 excerpt (subsection (l)) — exact § number Not found in retrieved materials — San Francisco Administrative Code (Chapter 31)
• SF Building Inspection Commissions Code.md
• SF Planning Code.md
• SF Admin Code.md