Do you need a permit for a deck in San Francisco?
Yes. San Francisco requires a permit for a deck1.
On this page
Yes
San Francisco's rule“Follow these instructions for decks, fences and other exterior residential projects that require Over-the-Counter review.”1
City and County of San Francisco, Department of Building Inspection, Get an OTC permit for your exterior residential project, intro; OTC list: "Decks less…
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Decks less than 10 feet above grade that meet Planning setbacks (OTC review) | Decks less than 10 feet above grade that meet Planning setbacks…1 |
Limits and conditions in San Francisco's rule
Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms exempt up to this height above grade (the wording covers platforms) | 30 inches | Platforms, sidewalks, walks and driveways when not part of an exit, and not more than 30 inches (762 mm) above grade and not over any basement or story below and which, for residential buildings required to be accessible to persons with disabilities, are not part of a required accessible route.2 |
| Over-the-counter permit: maximum height above grade | 10 feet | Decks less than 10 feet above grade that meet Planning setbacks…1 |
| Repairs under 50% without plans? | OTC permit without plans | In-kind repair decks and/or stairs (less than 50%)…3 |
Zoning rules: separate from the building permit
A project can be exempt from one and still need the other (zoning vs building permits).
| Zoning rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Side and rear setback | Must meet Planning setbacks for OTC | Decks less than 10 feet above grade that meet Planning setbacks…1 |
What to submit
- Plans for decks under 20 ft above grade1
- Plans for repair/replacement of more than 50% of decks/stairs1
- Two sets of plans1
Who can apply
Persons eligible to obtain a San Francisco Building Permit include: • Property Owners • State of California Licensed Contractors, or • An authorized agent for property owner or contractor…
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Deck permit fees in San Francisco
Fee lines as San Francisco's schedule states them. A minimum or base fee is not the whole price when the line says the fee grows with project value.
| Fee | Type | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit Plan Review Fee, total valuation $1 to $2,000 | Based on project valuation | $181 for the first $500 plus $8.60 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof, to and including $2,0005 |
| Building permit Permit Issuance Fee, total valuation $1 to $2,000 | Based on project valuation | $206 for the first $500 plus $4 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof, to and including $2,0005 |
| Building permit Plan Review Fee, total valuation $2,001 to $50,000 | Based on project valuation | $310 for the first $2,000 plus $28.35 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $50,0005 |
| Building permit Permit Issuance Fee, total valuation $2,001 to $50,000 | Based on project valuation | $266 for the first $2,000 plus $8.56 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $50,0005 |
| Building permit Plan Review Fee, total valuation $50,001 to $200,000 | Based on project valuation | $1,617 for the first $50,000 plus $15.60 for each additional $1000 or fraction thereof, to and including $200,0005 |
| Building permit Permit Issuance Fee, total valuation $50,001 to $200,000 | Based on project valuation | $677 for the first $50,000 plus $4.83 for each additional $1000 or fraction thereof, to and including $200,0005 |
| Building permit Plan Review Fee, total valuation $200,001 to $500,000 | Based on project valuation | $4,011 for the first $200,000 plus $13.31 for each additional $1000 or fraction thereof, to and including $500,0005 |
| Building permit Permit Issuance Fee, total valuation $200,001 to $500,000 | Based on project valuation | $1,402 for the first $200,000 plus $4.21 for each additional $1000 or fraction thereof, to and including $500,0005 |
All of San Francisco's fee lines are on the San Francisco permit page.
Inspections
- Building, plumbing/mechanical and electrical inspections (non-PermitSF permits)6 PermitSF permits: request inspections online from the PermitSF dashboard6
Special areas and extra reviews
- Roof decks OTC only in buildable area meeting setbacks1
Who to ask
San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI)7
Building permits
- Apply online
- sanfranciscoca.portal.opengov.com7
- Phone
- (628) 652-32007
- [email protected]7
- Address
- 49 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 941037
- Hours
- Mon 9:00 am-5:00 pm; Tue-Fri 8:00 am-5:00 pm; closed public holidays; Plan Review and Print Center queues close 4:30 pm7
- Inspections
- Voice Inspection Scheduling System 628-652-3401 (24/7) for non-PermitSF permits; PermitSF permits: request online from the PermitSF dashboard6
Deck permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare San Francisco with 18 other cities on the national deck permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- Seattle, WA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- Get an Over-the-Counter permit for your exterior residential projectCity and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 7, 2026
- Check if your construction project needs a permitCity and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 6, 2026
- Where to apply for your permitCity and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 7, 2026
- Who Can Obtain a Building Permit? (and Property Owner / Licensed Contractor forms)City and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 7, 2026
- Fee Schedule Table 1A-A: Building Permit Fees (July 2026)City and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionEffective July 12, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Schedule and pay for your inspectionCity and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 7, 2026
- Department of Building Inspection | SF.govCity and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 7, 2026