Service
Apply for a kitchen or bath remodel permit
Apply online to renovate or replace kitchen or bath fixtures in-kind, with no structural work.
Department of Building InspectionWhat to know
Cost
Permit fees depend on the scope of work. Refer to the fees schedule for details. For any electrical work, refer to the electrical fee schedule. For any plumbing work, refer to the plumbing fee schedule.
Requirements
You need a permit before renovating and replacing kitchen or bath fixtures. See exemptions in San Francisco Building Code Section 106a.2.
Minimum valuations are $24,663 per kitchen and $20,552 per bathroom, according to DBI's cost schedule.
Property owners and licensed B contractor to apply for kitchen or bath permits, but can have others apply for the related electrical and plumbing work.
What to know
Cost
Permit fees depend on the scope of work. Refer to the fees schedule for details. For any electrical work, refer to the electrical fee schedule. For any plumbing work, refer to the plumbing fee schedule.
Requirements
You need a permit before renovating and replacing kitchen or bath fixtures. See exemptions in San Francisco Building Code Section 106a.2.
Minimum valuations are $24,663 per kitchen and $20,552 per bathroom, according to DBI's cost schedule.
Property owners and licensed B contractor to apply for kitchen or bath permits, but can have others apply for the related electrical and plumbing work.
What to do
1. Check if you can get a kitchen or bath permit online
You can only apply for a kitchen or bath permit online if the work:
- Will not involve removing or moving walls (does not require plans)
- Is for an R-3 residential building, or a unit in an R-2 apartment building constructed before 1991 (refer to the address's Assessor Summary on the Property Information Map)
- Is for remodeling a legally-permitted kitchen or bath
If the work requires plans for an R-3 building, is for an R-2 building constructed after 1991, or is for legalizing unpermitted kitchens or baths, follow the directions to get an over-the-counter (OTC) building permit with plans.
If the work is for a building that’s not R-2 or R-3, follow the directions to get a building permit with In-House review.
2. Gather information about your kitchen or bath project
In the form, we will ask you for:
- Information about the building, including construction type, occupancy type, existing use, number of stories, and which floors the work is being done on
- Number of kitchens or bathrooms you're working on, and their floor locations
- Estimated valuation of the work, including all materials and labor
- Whether electrical and plumbing work will be done on the project
- Contractor information, if a contractor is applying
- The last section of the Contractor Authorization form completed and the contractor's driver's license, if you are an authorized agent for a contractor and are not connected to an AUTH record
3. Apply for a kitchen or bath permit online
Use PermitSF to apply online. The application will ask you about your planned renovation or replacement work.
If you are a B contractor authorized for Express Permits, you can skip City staff review.
Start related electrical and plumbing permits from the kitchen or bath permit application
If you'll be doing electrical and plumbing work with the remodeling permit, you'll be prompted to complete separate electrical and plumbing permits in PermitSF after submitting the remodeling permit. The electrical and plumbing applications will skip intake if it’s related to a kitchen or bath permit.
You can assign the electrical or plumbing permits to someone else to complete in their PermitSF portal. Fees for each individual permit will be paid based on the scope of each permit.
Contractors with only a B license will only get the electrical and plumbing permits right away if the permits are directly associated with a kitchen or bath permit in PermitSF.
You will not be able to schedule final inspections for the kitchen or bath remodel until the electrical and plumbing work has passed final inspection.
4. Request inspections for your kitchen or bath permit
Once your permit is issued, you will be able to request inspections online in your PermitSF portal.
Special cases
Property owner applicants
When applying for a kitchen or bath remodel permit, property owners and their authorized agents are held liable for any construction work done on the permit.
Property owners of apartment buildings
For R-2 apartment buildings, property owners can apply to do the construction work themselves for sheetrock, drywall, or cabinetry. They must hire contractors to do any electrical or plumbing work.
Homeowners of single family homes
For R-3 single-family homes, homeowners can only apply to do sheetrock, drywall, or cabinetry themselves if the home is their primary residence. They can only do their own electrical or plumbing work after speaking to an inspector.
Check your property's official status in the Assessor’s map.