When is SF Historic Preservation Commission review required?

SF Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) review applies to properties protected under Articles 10 and 11 of the SF Planning Code, and to buildings inside California Register or National Register historic districts — any visible exterior alteration on those properties requires a Certificate of Appropriateness (CofA) before DBI can issue a building permit.

The coverage map:

• Article 10 individual landmarks — roughly 220+ designated structures across SF.
• Article 10 Landmark Districts — 11 districts including Alamo Square, Bush Street-Cottage Row, Dogpatch, Liberty-Hill, Jackson Square, South End, Webster Street, Civic Center, Webster Street, Telegraph Place, and Duboce Park.
• Article 11 — Conservation Districts in the Downtown Plan area, with buildings rated Category I (Significant), II (Significant), III (Contributory), or IV (Contributory).
• California Register and National Register districts — including the Liberty-Hill, Duboce Park, Westerfeld, and Mission Dolores neighborhoods that overlay onto local protections.

The HPC has authority under Planning Code §1006 (Article 10) and §1111 (Article 11) to review:

• Any exterior alteration visible from a public right-of-way — windows, doors, siding, roofing, paint color in some districts, storefront changes, signage.
• Additions, including rooftop additions and rear-yard expansion that affects the historic character.
• Demolition (full or partial) under Planning Code §317 thresholds, which are stricter for historic resources.
• Site work — fences, walls, paving, mechanical equipment placement.

The CofA process:

1. Pre-application meeting with Planning Department preservation staff.
2. Submittal of HPC application, drawings, photos, historic resource evaluation if not already on file.
3. Staff review against the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation (36 CFR §67) and Article 10/11 findings.
4. HPC public hearing — calendared roughly 6–10 weeks after a complete application.
5. CofA issuance, conditional approval, or denial. The HPC's decision is appealable to the Board of Appeals.

Total added timeline runs 8 to 20 weeks on top of standard DBI review. Minor and routine alterations may qualify for a Certificate of Appropriateness — Permit to Alter (CofA-PTA) issued by staff at the counter without a hearing, which is faster but still requires Standards-compliant drawings.

Unauthorized alteration of an Article 10/11 resource is enforceable under Planning Code §176 with daily penalties, mandatory restoration, and a recordable Notice of Violation. Verify rating on the Planning Department's Property Information Map before scoping any exterior work.