Tweets by SFDBI

The Department of Building Inspection (DBI) has moved to 49 South Van Ness Avenue (49SVN). Please make a note of our new address. DBI's offices remain partially closed to the public. Our staff is answering calls and emails and providing permit and inspection services. We are available Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm. 

Limited Service for Over-the-Counter Permit Applications

Starting on August 4, we are providing limited in-person Over-the-Counter with and without plan permit services from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the new office location.

We are offering the following services daily:

• 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.  - OTC without plans drop-In service 

• 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - OTC with plans by appointment and permit pick-up and drop-off 

Visit here for more information. 

 

Limited Permit Types Accepted Online

Beginning Monday, August 17, the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) and the Permit Center are temporarily limiting the types of permits that may be submitted online through the digital permit submission process to new 100% affordable housing projects, new permits for Development Agreement projects, and addenda and revisions for already submitted digital in-house review permits. We are working to retool the digital system and make workflow and process improvements to increase efficiency and integrate the system with DBI's Permit Tracking System (PTS). Trades permits will still be offered online.

While we are improving the digital permitting system, DBI will continue to offer limited in-person services for paper applications and will continue to process digital permit applications that have already been submitted online. If you submitted a permit application online, you will remain in the queue for permit processing or be asked to resubmit your permit application in paper. Visit www.sfdbi.org/permitsubmissions for detailed information on this process change.

Together we can protect each other during this public health emergency. Stay home. Visit the City’s COVID-19 page for the latest information.

Construction Allowed During This Period

Per the Order of the Health Officer No. C19-07c that went into effect on May 4, 2020, the majority of construction in San Francisco can now resume provided owners or their agents adhere to Construction Safety Protocols as required in the Order. Read more here

Construction Safety Protocols, Appendix B-1 and B-2 in Order of the Health Officer No. C19-07c Chinese | Spanish | Filipino
 

Contacting DBI

• For general questions, you can call DBI’s main line at (628) 652-3200 or email dbicustomerservice@sfgov.org.

• For technical code questions, please email TechQ@sfgov.org.

• Need to contact a specific DBI division or Program contact, review the Department’s Program Directory here.

Helpful Links

• List of DBI's Most Requested Services

• Request a Virtual Pre-application Meeting

• Watch Our Past Virtual Events Held During this Stay Home period

Get the Latest News

Sign up for our email distribution to receive the latest update on DBI’s services here.

Contractors and property owners performing construction work during this period, please remember to:

• Obtain all required permits to conduct work (e.g. building, plumbing, electrical, street use, etc).

• Follow construction safety measures as required by the building code.

• Implement Construction Safety Protocols, as required by Order of the Health Officer No. C19-07c.

• Abide by construction hours as allowed from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily, unless a special night noise permit is obtained to extend work hours.

• Practice safe job site practices, which include Social Distancing Requirements.

  • Stay at least 6 feet apart

  • Wash hands with soap & water for 20 seconds

  • Cover coughs or sneezes

  • Wipe down tools, cabs of work vehicles and other high touch surfaces with disinfectant

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Filing Complaints with DBI

The public can call or go online to file a complaint with DBI relating to the following: building, plumbing, electrical, housing, disability access, and other construction-related complaints.

Complaints can also be made by calling 311 (open 24/7), during non-business hours.

Once a complaint is in DBI’s Complaint Tracking system, you may track it online by visiting www.sfdbi.org/dbipts.

Public Meetings

Please visit here for DBI's latest public meeting information.

We will update this page as new information becomes available.