San Francisco Building Permit Search & History
Look up 1,370 recent San Francisco building permits — addresses, permit types, contractors, and valuations, updated multiple times a day from the city's official records, with history back to May 3, 1982. Free email alerts when new permits match your filters.
Recent San Francisco Permits
Showing 20 of 1370 recent permits.
Sign up to see all permits and set alertsSan Francisco Permit Filing Trends
Weekly filing volume from the last 12 weeks of San Francisco permit data:
| Week | Permits filed | Declared value |
|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2026 | 336 | $13.9M |
| July 6, 2026 | 345 | $13.8M |
| June 29, 2026 | 345 | $6.8M |
| June 22, 2026 | 344 | $12.3M |
| June 15, 2026 | 429 | $15.7M |
| June 8, 2026 | 532 | $163.3M |
| June 1, 2026 | 485 | $15.4M |
| May 25, 2026 | 542 | $55.5M |
| May 18, 2026 | 487 | $27.5M |
| May 11, 2026 | 457 | $46.7M |
| May 4, 2026 | 404 | $7.2M |
| April 27, 2026 | 645 | $104.7M |
Most common permit types in the last 90 days: otc alterations permit (5176) · additions alterations or repairs (282) · sign - erect (116) · demolitions (24) · new construction wood frame (22) · new construction (5)
Busiest ZIP codes: 94110 (459 permits) · 94122 (355 permits) · 94112 (344 permits) · 94114 (310 permits) · 94118 (304 permits) · 94121 (301 permits)
San Francisco Building Permit History
Building permits are public records: every filing leaves a permanent paper trail of what was built, altered, or repaired at an address. The Permit Sheet's San Francisco feed currently covers 16,894 permits going back to May 3, 1982, refreshed multiple times a day from the city's official database.
Online records in the Permit Tracking System go back to the 1980s; via a records request, DBI holds building permits back to 1906, plumbing permits from 1976, electrical from 1986, mechanical from 2008, and Certificates of Final Completion from 1945.
For permits older than the online system (pre-1980s), submit a public building records request to DBI Records Management — online at dbiweb02.sfgov.org/dbi_rep_req, by mail, or in person at 49 South Van Ness, Suite 400 (628-652-3420) — which holds building permits back to 1906 at $0.10/page, with up to 15 days of research time. Records Management also keeps plans, job cards, and issues the 3R Report (Report of Residential Building Records) summarizing a home's permit history.
To research a specific property, start with the address search on DBI Permit / Complaint Tracking System (PTS), then use our free permit lookup to see recent filings, contractors, and valuations side by side.
Each weekly San Francisco digest also lists the biggest projects filed that week by address.
San Francisco Building Department
San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI)
On the Permit/Complaint Tracking System homepage, click "Search for documents by Site Address" and enter the street number and street name. You'll get a list of every permit application on file for that parcel — building, electrical, plumbing, and boiler permits plus complaints — with status, description, and dates. You can also search by permit or complaint number, applicant name, keyword, or by clicking an interactive map.
Which San Francisco permit tool do I use?
The city runs several official tools; each answers a different question:
Weekly San Francisco Permit Digests
Free weekly reports on the biggest San Francisco projects filed, with addresses and valuations:
San Francisco Permit Guides
About San Francisco Building Permits
Building permits in San Francisco are public records administered by the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI). They cover new construction, renovations, demolitions, electrical work, plumbing, roofing, solar installations, and more. Every permit includes the property address, type of work, estimated valuation, and the applicant and contractor on record.
The Permit Sheet monitors San Francisco's official permit records multiple times per day, so you can search recent filings on this page without paging through the city portal — and get an email the moment a new permit matches your trade, neighborhood, or valuation filters. Contractors use it to be first to new projects; investors and neighbors use it to see what's being built nearby.
How to search San Francisco permits
- Browse the live feed above — the 20 newest filings with addresses, types, and valuations, refreshed all day.
- Look up a specific address — use the free permit lookup or the city's official DBI Permit / Complaint Tracking System (PTS) to pull filings for one property.
- Set an alert — create a free account and get new San Francisco permits matching your filters by email within minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up building permits in San Francisco?
Two ways: search the city's official portal, DBI Permit / Complaint Tracking System (PTS) (On the Permit/Complaint Tracking System homepage, click "Search for documents by Site Address" and enter the street number and street name. You'll get a list of every permit application on file for that parcel — building, electrical, plumbing, and boiler permits plus complaints — with status, description, and dates. You can also search by permit or complaint number, applicant name, keyword, or by clicking an interactive map.) — or browse the live feed on this page, which tracks San Francisco filings continuously and adds contractor and valuation details.
How do I find the permit history of a San Francisco address?
Search the address on DBI Permit / Complaint Tracking System (PTS) for the city's official record. The Permit Sheet's San Francisco feed goes back to May 3, 1982 with 16,894 permits tracked — each weekly digest also lists the biggest filings by address. For permits older than the online system (pre-1980s), submit a public building records request to DBI Records Management — online at dbiweb02.sfgov.org/dbi_rep_req, by mail, or in person at 49 South Van Ness, Suite 400 (628-652-3420) — which holds building permits back to 1906 at $0.10/page, with up to 15 days of research time. Records Management also keeps plans, job cards, and issues the 3R Report (Report of Residential Building Records) summarizing a home's permit history.
How many building permits were filed in San Francisco this month?
1370 building permits appear in our San Francisco feed for the last 30 days. The most common type is otc alterations permit. The median declared valuation is $19,167.
Can I get email alerts for new San Francisco building permits?
Yes. The Permit Sheet sends real-time email alerts within minutes of new permits being filed. Filter by permit type (roofing, electrical, solar, HVAC), valuation range, and neighborhood. Free tier available.
Where is the San Francisco building department?
San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI), 49 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94103 (Permit Center; DBI Records Management is Suite 400), 628-652-3200. Mon 9:00 am–5:00 pm; Tue–Fri 8:00 am–5:00 pm; closed public holidays.