How long does an SF DBI permit take to issue?
Answered by AskBaily Editorial · Updated
Short answer
Over-the-counter (OTC) permits for minor interior-only non-structural work: same day to 2 weeks. Standard DBI plan-review track for kitchen/bath with plumbing or electrical moves: 6-14 weeks. Additions and structural work: 12-24 weeks. Historic-district or discretionary-review projects: 24-52 weeks. SF's median permit timeline is significantly slower than LA or Austin — SF Planning coordination is the usual bottleneck.
In detail
Over-the-counter (OTC) permits for minor interior-only non-structural work: same day to 2 weeks. Standard DBI plan-review track for kitchen/bath with plumbing or electrical moves: 6-14 weeks. Additions and structural work: 12-24 weeks. Historic-district or discretionary-review projects: 24-52 weeks. SF's median permit timeline is significantly slower than LA or Austin — SF Planning coordination is the usual bottleneck.
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