California Building Permits
Building permits in California are issued by cities and counties, not the state, so the rules depend on where your home is. These are the California cities we cover: Los Angeles and San Francisco.
California Permit Activity at a Glance
Across the 2 cities below, we counted 35,412 issued permits for the home projects we track between October 30, 2025 and October 30, 2026. The counts come straight from each city's open permit data and are refreshed monthly. The busiest category was HVAC work in Los Angeles, with 15,929 permits. Where the data includes an application date, the fastest median time from application to issue was 0 days (roofing in San Francisco) and the slowest was 147 days (HVAC in Los Angeles).
Los Angeles Building Permits
2 project guides · 30,774 permits in 12 months · Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)
In Los Angeles, residential permits are issued by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Our counts use the city's LADBS Building Permits Issued 2020–Present dataset. Short answers for each project we cover:
- Roof replacement: Yes. LADBS issues re-roofs as Express Permits with no plan check, for Class A or B coverings under 6 lb/sq ft. Class A roofing is required in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and replacing more than 50% of the roof triggers the cool-roof requirement.
- AC or furnace replacement: Yes. Replacing an A/C unit with one of the same size and type, and gas furnaces under 500,000 Btu/h, are on the LADBS Express Permit list: you still need a mechanical permit, but no plan check.
| Project Guide | Permit Needed? | Permits in 12 Months | Median Days to Issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Roofing Permits | Yes | 14,845 | 49 |
| Los Angeles HVAC Permits | Yes | 15,929 | 147 |
Not yet covered for Los Angeles: solar panel installation, new fence and new deck or porch. We only publish a project guide when the city's open data identifies that work clearly enough to count at least 10 permits in 12 months and we have checked the rule against an official city source. Until then, ask the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) directly before starting one of these projects.
San Francisco Building Permits
5 project guides · 4,638 permits in 12 months · San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI)
In San Francisco, residential permits are issued by the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI). Our counts use the city's DataSF: Building Permits dataset. Short answers for each project we cover:
- Roof replacement: Usually yes. San Francisco requires a permit before installing, repairing or removing roofing material. The only exemption is reroofing that doesn't touch roof sheathing and covers no more than 25% of the roof in any 12-month period. Licensed C-39 roofing contractors can apply online when no plans or structural work are needed.
- AC or furnace replacement: Yes. A mechanical permit is needed to install or replace gas appliances such as a furnace, hydronic heat or a heat pump, and to cut into or replace pipes carrying gas, hot air or cool air. Licensed contractors (C4, C16, C20, C36, C54, B or A) apply through PermitSF.
- Solar panel installation: Electrical permit. A small residential rooftop solar system on a building that isn't a designated landmark is exempt from a building permit in San Francisco, but an electrical or other permit may still be required. Registered contractors can apply for solar photovoltaic permits online.
- New fence: Sometimes. Fences under 6 feet at the rear and side lot lines at the rear of the property don't need a building permit. Fences over 6 feet in a side or rear yard (up to 10 feet) or over 3 feet in a front yard need a permit with plans, usually reviewed over the counter.
- New deck or porch: Usually yes. Decks need a building permit in San Francisco. In-kind repair of less than 50% of a deck or stairs is an over-the-counter permit without plans; larger repairs and new decks under 20 feet above grade that meet Planning setbacks need plans. Platforms no more than 30 inches above grade that aren't part of an exit are exempt.
| Project Guide | Permit Needed? | Permits in 12 Months | Median Days to Issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Roofing Permits | Usually yes | 3,201 | 0 |
| San Francisco HVAC Permits | Yes | 346 | 9 |
| San Francisco Solar Panel Permits | Electrical permit | 423 | 41 |
| San Francisco Fence Permits | Sometimes | 150 | 21 |
| San Francisco Deck Permits | Usually yes | 518 | 5 |
How to Use These California Guides
Start with the city that issues permits for your address. If you live outside city limits, your county or township usually handles permits instead, and its rules can differ from the city pages here. Each project guide quotes the official rule, lists any fee the city publishes, and links to the source so you can confirm it before you start work. Permit counts show how often each kind of job is permitted locally, and median days to issue show how long a typical application took over the last 12 months. Rules and fees change, so treat the official source as final and call the permit office if your project is unusual.
Data last refreshed October 30, 2026.