Through PermitSF, San Francisco is beginning to roll out improved online permitting services.
Starting June 29, they include applications on PermitSF for:
- Reroofing projects that do not require plans
- Signs and awnings
You will not need to go to the Permit Center to apply for these permits. You will also not receive a job card if you apply through PermitSF. Your digital permits can be retrieved in PermitSF.
You will also be able to request inspections for these permits on PermitSF.
Starting June 29, instant online reroofing permits will only be accessed from PermitSF, and paper applications will no longer be accepted for signs or awnings.
Reroofing permit updates
Apply online for reroofing projects that do not require plans
Apply for no-plan reroofing permits for all residential and commercial buildings on PermitSF.
If you are authorized for Express Permits on PermitSF and working on a non-historic residential building, you can skip City staff review and pay for your permit right away. For commercial projects, our goal is to approve a majority of permits within two business days.
In the form, we will ask you for:
- Information about the building, including type of construction, occupancy group, and number of stories
- If any changes will be visible from the street (refer to examples for guidance)
- Planning Approval Letter or confirmation from SF Planning that no approval letter is required, if you are doing work on a landmark historic building
- Valuation of the project
- Existing and proposed material for the roof
- Whether the roof is flat or pitched
- What else you might be replacing, such as skylights or solar panels
- Whether you will do hot work, which is any activity that creates flames, sparks, or enough heat to potentially ignite combustible materials
- Photos of the existing roof (required for landmark historic buildings)
- Information about your cool roof, for commercial buildings replacing more than half of the roof area or 2,000 sq feet
- Street space needs, for the Public Works Street Space Permit
- The last section of the Property Owner Authorization form completed and the property owner’s driver’s license, if you are an authorized agent for a property owner
- 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
- Business information, if the work will be done for a business
Use the existing in-person process for reroofing projects that require plans
You must still apply for an Over-the-Counter permit at the Permit Center if you are replacing structural components on the roof, such as framing or sheathing/decking.
We will be adding more capability in the future.
Sign and awning updates
Apply online for permits for all signs and awnings at PermitSF, including the Awning Amnesty legalization program. The Form 4/7 will no longer be used for these permits. Our goal is to approve a majority of permits within two business days.
You can submit one form to install multiple signs and awnings at the same address.
In the form, we will ask you for:
- Information about the building, including occupancy classification, construction type, existing use, and number of stories
- Types of signs or awnings
- If the sign or awning will be illuminated
- The distance between the ground and the bottom of the sign or awning
- Dimensions of the sign or awning (length, width, height in feet)
- Thickness or depth of the sign or awning, in inches
- Weight of the sign or awning, in lbs
- How far any signs or awnings project from the building (in feet)
- How each sign or awning will be attached to the building or the ground
- Planning Approval Letter, if you are doing work on a landmark historic building
- Valuation of the project
- Contractor information
- The last section of the Property Owner Authorization form completed and the property owner’s driver’s license, if you are an authorized agent for a property owner
- 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
- Business information, if the work will be done for a business
Inspection updates
For all permits in PermitSF containing BLDG in the record number, you will be prompted to request an inspection after your permit is issued in PermitSF. This includes permits for doors, siding, windows, reroofing, and signs.
Permits applied for using the existing Over-the-Counter (OTC) or in-house systems will continue using the Voice Inspection Scheduling System. Fire-only construction projects will also continue to use the existing process.
Getting help
If you have questions or need help, email PermitSF@sfgov.org
Our staff can help you virtually.
At the Permit Center, staff will be available to help you in person, to create an account or complete your permit applications in the new systems.