Do you need a permit for a shed in San Francisco?
It depends on the project. San Francisco exempts some sheds from a building permit and requires one for the rest1; the exemption's limit is 120 square feet, with the conditions in the city's wording below.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
San Francisco's rule“A storage shed that exceeds the maximum floor area of 120 square feet or the maximum height of 10 feet requires a building permit with plans and the approval of the San Francisco Planning Department and the Department of Building Inspection.”1
City and County of San Francisco, Department of Building Inspection, Question 5
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Over 120 sq ft floor area or over 10 ft high (FAQ) | A storage shed that exceeds the maximum floor area of 120 square feet or the maximum height of 10 feet requires a building permit with plans and the approval of the San Francisco Planning Department and the Department of Building Inspection.1 |
| Electrical permit | Lights or outlets in a shed | Electrical lights and outlets may be installed in a storage shed if an electrical permit is obtained and the work is inspected and approved by a DBI Electrical Inspector.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 |
|---|---|---|
| Exempt up to this area | 120 square feet | The maximum allowable size or area for a storage shed exempt from permit is 120 square feet (SF) of floor area per SFBC 106A.2.1 |
| Exempt up to this height | 10 feet | The maximum allowable height for a storage shed exempt from permit is one-story per SFBC 106A.2 and not more than 10 feet high per San Francisco Planning Code Section 136(c)23, as measured from the perimeter grade of the shed to the top of the shed’s roof.1 |
| Attached to the house: permit required? | Yes | No. A storage shed exempt from permit cannot be attached or connected to the house, garage or other buildings or structures on the lot.1 |
| Exempt sheds allowed per lot | 1 | Only one storage shed exempt from permit is allowed per lot or yard.1 |
| Shed on a deck: permit required? | Yes | A building permit with plans is required to install a storage shed on a deck above the grade of the yard.1 |
| Used as living space: permit required? | Yes | Yes. A storage shed used as a habitable space such as, but not limited to, a home office, workshop, study room, extra bedroom, art studio, exercise room, dressing room, meditation room, bathroom, or sauna requires a building permit with plans and must meet all applicable building codes, including but not limited to Planning, Building, Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical.1 |
| Distance from the property line, walls without a fire rating | 5 feet | However, a 5-foot minimum property line setback is required when the storage shed exterior walls are constructed with less than a 1-hour fire resistance rating as specified CBC Table 705.5.1 |
| Windows and doors near property lines | No windows/doors in walls less than 3 ft from property lines | Window and door openings are not allowed in storage shed exterior walls that are located less than three feet from adjacent property lines.1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum roof overhang | 1 foot | The San Francisco Planning Code limits the storage shed roof overhang to one foot.1 |
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…
2
Shed 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 $2,0003 |
| 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 $2,0003 |
| 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 $50,0003 |
| 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 $50,0003 |
| 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 $200,0003 |
| 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 $200,0003 |
| 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 $500,0003 |
| 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 $500,0003 |
All of San Francisco's fee lines are on the San Francisco permit page.
Inspections
- Building, plumbing/mechanical and electrical inspections (non-PermitSF permits)4 PermitSF permits: request inspections online from the PermitSF dashboard4
Special areas and extra reviews
Who to ask
San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI)5
Building permits
- Apply online
- sanfranciscoca.portal.opengov.com5
- Phone
- (628) 652-32005
- [email protected]5
- Address
- 49 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 941035
- 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 pm5
- Inspections
- Voice Inspection Scheduling System 628-652-3401 (24/7) for non-PermitSF permits; PermitSF permits: request online from the PermitSF dashboard4
Shed permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare San Francisco with 18 other cities on the national shed permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- 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
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- Frequently Asked Questions: Storage Sheds Exempt from a Building 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