San Francisco Building Permits for Home Projects
Rules for the most common home projects in San Francisco, California, checked against the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI)'s own pages, with live permit counts from the city's open data.
Do You Need a Permit? Project by Project
San Francisco Roofing Permits
Usually yes3,201 in 12 mo
San Francisco requires a permit before installing, repairing or removing roofing material.
San Francisco HVAC Permits
Yes346 in 12 mo
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.
San Francisco Solar Panel Permits
Electrical permit423 in 12 mo
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.
San Francisco Fence Permits
Sometimes150 in 12 mo
Fences under 6 feet at the rear and side lot lines at the rear of the property don't need a building permit.
San Francisco Deck Permits
Usually yes518 in 12 mo
Decks need a building permit in San Francisco.
Permit Activity in San Francisco
Projects We Have Not Verified Yet
Every project type we track in San Francisco has a verified rule.
Monthly Permit Totals in San Francisco
Tracked home project permits issued each month, from DataSF: Building Permits (refreshed October 30, 2026). The busiest month is a useful guide to when contractors are most booked.
| Month | Roofing | HVAC | Solar | Fence | Deck | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11 | 294 | 37 | 45 | 12 | 41 | 429 |
| 2025-12 | 287 | 26 | 60 | 15 | 37 | 425 |
| 2026-01 | 393 | 23 | 43 | 5 | 40 | 504 |
| 2026-02 | 321 | 26 | 37 | 10 | 24 | 418 |
| 2026-03 | 383 | 30 | 34 | 7 | 41 | 495 |
| 2026-04 | 414 | 37 | 47 | 32 | 52 | 582 |
| 2026-05 | 357 | 26 | 28 | 9 | 40 | 460 |
| 2026-06 | 383 | 26 | 29 | 10 | 46 | 494 |
| 2026-07 | 123 | 25 | 38 | 12 | 59 | 257 |
| 2026-08 | 88 | 23 | 24 | 15 | 39 | 189 |
| 2026-09 | 66 | 33 | 25 | 10 | 58 | 192 |
| 2026-10 | 55 | 32 | 11 | 13 | 36 | 147 |
Before You Apply in San Francisco
Residential permits here are issued by the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI). Check the project page for your job first: it lists the exemptions the city publishes, any official fees and the source to confirm them. In the city's data, the median time from application to issue was 0 days for roofing, 9 days for HVAC, 41 days for solar, 21 days for fence, 5 days for deck. Most permits are pulled by the licensed contractor doing the work, so ask who will apply and get it in your contract. Keep the permit and the final inspection result with your house records; buyers and insurers can look them up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues building permits in San Francisco?
The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI).
Which home projects need a permit in San Francisco?
Roofing: usually yes; HVAC: yes; Solar: electrical permit; Fence: sometimes; Deck: usually yes. Each project page explains the exact rule and links the official source.
How many home improvement permits does San Francisco issue?
Across the 5 project types we track, San Francisco issued about 4,638 permits in the last 12 months. Roofing was the most common, with 3,201.
Sources
Official sources checked on . Rules change; confirm with the department before you start work.
- SF.gov: Apply for a reroofing permit (sf.gov)
- SF.gov: Check if your construction project needs a permit (sf.gov)
- SF.gov: Apply for a plumbing and mechanical permit (sf.gov)
- SF DBI Plumbing/Mechanical Issuance and Inspection Fees (July 2024) (sf.gov)
- SF.gov: Where to apply for your permit (sf.gov)
- SF.gov: Get an OTC permit for your exterior residential project (sf.gov)
Permit data: DataSF: Building Permits, refreshed October 30, 2026.