Legalize existing signs or awnings

Resolve any violation notices for signs and awnings installed before August 20, 2023.

Property owners can get a permit to legalize existing signs or awnings installed before August 20, 2023. Legalizing existing non-illuminated signs or awnings does not require a licensed contractor or installer.

Legalizing an existing illuminated sign or awning will require hiring an electrical contractor to get an electrical permit and inspection.

Any signs and awnings installed after August 20, 2023 are considered new installations. Abating notices of violations for signs or awnings installed after August 20, 2023 will require plans.

For help legalizing your sign or awning, email BusinessPermitHelp@sfgov.org or call 628-652-4949.

Take photos of your existing sign or awning and add information, for signs or awnings installed before August 20, 2023

You will need to provide dimensioned photos with labels documenting your sign or awning size, weight, location, type of wall, and how it is attached to the building.

Add to the photographs:

Width of sign or awning
Height of lettering on the sign or awning
Height of awning valance (loose fabric hanging off the frame) above the sidewalk, if applicable. A minimum of 7 feet is the code requirement
Height of sign or awning frame above the sidewalk. A minimum of 8 feet is the code requirement.
Depth of awning
Width of the sidewalk, measured from the building to the edge of the curb
Size and number of attachments (anchors) connecting the sign or awning to the building. Be sure to include the number, diameter, and depth of anchor if available
- Note that the wall attachments must be the appropriate anchor (generally a screw or extension bolt) for the wall type, such as wood, masonry, steel or concrete.
If the building has a fire escape above any awnings, show and label an awning flap to accommodate a drop down ladder.
Indicate if any of the windows on the floors above the commercial unit open into a bedroom.
- If yes, provide the height of the bottom of the window sill to the sidewalk for each window on each floor up to the third story. Only measure up to the third story if there are more than three floors.
- If no, indicate that the windows above the commercial spare are not bedroom windows.

Refer to a sample labeled, dimensioned photo package in English. See the same package in Chinese, Spanish, Filipino, or Vietnamese.

Draft construction drawings for signs or awnings installed after August 20, 2023

Construction drawings can be created by a contractor, awning installer, architect or engineer.

Drawings must include:

Area of the sign or awning, including dimensions
Height, as measured from the ground to the bottom of the sign or awning
Projection as measured from the building face to the end of the sign or awning
Dimensions of any lettering

Design a sign for your business

Complete the online sign or awning permit form

We will ask you about:

Sign and awning types
How far off the ground is the bottom of each sign or awning (in feet)
Dimensions in feet of each sign or awning, including thickness in inches
Weight of each sign or awning, in lbs
How far the sign or awning will project from the building, in feet
If any awnings, canopies, or marquees have support structures (such as poles) in the sidewalk
How each sign or awning is attached to the building or the ground
Type of illumination, if applicable
Information about the building, including occupancy class, existing use, and construction type
A Planning Approval Letter, if you are installing a sign or awning on a landmark historic building
Contractor information, including license number and Business Account Number (BAN)
Information about the business the work is for, including BAN
Valuation of the work, including all materials and labor
Your dimensioned photos or plans, as a PDF upload

If you are applying on behalf of a property owner, we will also ask you to upload:

The property owner's drivers' license, as a JPEG or JPG
A completed last section of a Property Owner Disclosure Form

If you are applying on behalf of a licensed contractor and are not authorized in PermitSF, we will also ask you to upload:

The licensed contractor's drivers' license, as a JPEG or JPG
A completed last section of an Licensed Contractor Statement Form

Apply online at PermitSF

and

Get an electrical permit for illuminated signs and awnings

If you have signs or awnings that have lights shining on them or have lights in them, have an electrical contractor apply for an electrical permit.

Get your photos or plans reviewed and upload revisions if needed

Once all the required reviewers have checked your PDFs, you will get an email notifying you if they are approved or if corrections are needed. You will be able to find any markups or correction notes in the Attachment section of your application.

If corrections are needed, only the primary applicant can upload revised PDFs, using the Update Application button in the alert on top of the Attachments section. Delete the existing attachment first, then upload the new one. Revisions will not work if uploaded as a new attachment. Refer to screenshots of instructions for uploading revised attachments.

Once new PDFs are uploaded, another round of reviews will start.

Get your permit issued

You will need to pay for your permit before it can be issued. You can pay online from your PermitSF portal, or with cash or check at the payment kiosk at the Permit Center.

Get your existing sign or awning inspected

You must get a final inspection of your sign or awning to complete the work. Once your permit is issued, you will be able to request inspections online in your PermitSF dashboard under your account.

A separate electrical inspection is also required if you have taken out an electrical permit for an illuminated sign. Before the electrical inspection, you must also upload a completed Title 24 Compliance Affidavit to your application.

Partner agencies

SF Planning