Where do I start?
If you are planning to build, demolish, renovate, or expand a home, or add one or more dwelling units to a residential building, you will first need a Planning Approval and then a building permit to construct.
Depending on the type of work you wish to do and the zoning district of your property, your project may be approved by Planning concurrently with the building permit, issued over the counter on the same day you apply at the Permit Center , or it may require a more thorough review process, including pre-application requirements, a more complex technical review, public notice and steps possibly a public hearing.
You should first find out the zoning and permitted uses of your property to determine whether your project can be approved there. See more detailed Zoning information.
Contact staff at the Planning Counter by emailing pic@sfgov.org.
View the Workflow for Typical Projects that require Intake, Neighborhood Notice, Entitlements and/or CEQA Review.
Design Review
During the permit review process, Planning staff review the design of projects involving new construction or renovation that will expand an existing building or change exterior features (for example, by constructing an addition, adding dormer windows, decks, or stairs, adding a garage, or changing the façade). The most commonly used design guidelines for residential projects are the Planning Department's Residential Design Guidelines, which Planning staff use to review residential building permit applications. If you are using the services of an architect, she or he should be familiar with these guidelines. For building expansions, which require neighborhood notification, Current Planners also consult the Residential Design Team, a group of planners that is well versed in the Residential Design Guidelines and helps by providing a consistent review process.
Neighborhood Notification
When an applicant submits a Building Permit to the Department of Building Inspection (DBI), the Planning Department is the first reviewing agency and will conduct the Neighborhood Notification. Neighborhood Notification is mailed to residents and owners of properties located within 150 feet of the subject property and registered neighborhood groups for a 30-day public review period.
Most new construction or building expansion, as well as some applications to add dwelling units to an existing residential building, require notification to the public before permits can be reviewed and the project can be approved. In some cases, new decks, stairs, or other features on the exterior of your home will also require notification. For some projects, a pre-application meeting is required as well. For a Conditional Use application, a hearing before the Planning Commission is required, and all property owners within 300 feet of the property must be notified of the hearing. Any approval or review that requires a hearing also requires notification.
For more information, including a list of the types of projects that require notification and a detailed guide to the process, see the Neighborhood Notification Handout and the Conditional Use Authorization supplemental application, or contact the Planning Counter.
Regardless of notification requirements, it is always a good idea to reach out to neighbors and neighborhood groups early in your project planning process to inform them about the project and to hear about any concerns they may have. Planning staff can help with neighborhood outreach resources and contacts.
Discretionary Review
The Planning Commission has discretion over all building permit applications. Normally, this discretion is delegated to the Planning Department, which approves applications that meet the minimum standards of the Planning Code.
From time to time the Commission will review a permit application. As part of their discretionary powers, they can require the permit applicant to make changes to the project. This process of Commission consideration is commonly known as Discretionary Review, or simply DR. By filing a DR application, a member of the public is asking the Commission to exercise its discretionary power, effectively taking a second look at the proposed project.
Discretionary Review is a special power of the Commission, outside the normal building permit application approval process. It is to be used only when there are exceptional and extraordinary circumstances associated with a proposed project. The Commission has been advised by the City Attorney that the Commission’s discretion is sensitive and must be exercised with utmost constraint.
For more information and the DR Application, please visit here.
Resources
Applications
Supplemental Applications and Affidavits
- Variance (VAR) from the Planning Code Supplemental
- Unauthorized Dwelling Unit (UDU) Screening Request & Affidavit
- Dwelling Unit Removal - Merger, Conversion or Demolition Supplemental
- Ground Floor Development - Unauthorized Dwelling Unit (UDU) Affidavit
Search for additional supplemental applications.
Handouts, Guidelines, and Frequently Asked Questions
- Residential Design Guidelines
- Standards for Window Replacement
- Decks and Roof Decks
- Fences
- Plan Submittal Guidelines
- Accessory Uses for Dwellings in All Zoning Districts
- Accessory Dwelling Unit Handbook
- Neighborhood Notification
- All Electric New Construction Ordinance
- Community Engagement Recommendations
- Community Engagement FAQ
Search for additional handouts and guidelines.
Bulletins and Policies
- Zoning Administrator (ZA) Bulletin 2: Curb Cuts
- Zoning Administrator (ZA) Bulletin 3: Dormer Windows
- Zoning Administrator (ZA) Bulletin 4: Public Notification for Planning Applications in Residential and Neighborhood Commercial Districts
- Zoning Administrator (ZA) Bulletin 5: Buildable Area for Lots in RH, RM, RC, and RTO Districts
Search for additional bulletins and policies.