ADU permit guide for San Francisco, California
San Francisco County, California
SF Planning Department and Department of Building Inspection (DBI) reviews local ADU permits through SF Permit Center online application (sf.gov). Use this page to plan the local process and the fee questions to verify before you submit.
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Estimated permit fees by size
7 fee lines · low to high
| ADU size | Estimated fees |
|---|---|
| 400 sq ft | $6,600 – $35,500 |
| 500 sq ft | $6,600 – $35,500 |
| 749 sq ft | $6,600 – $35,500 |
| 750 sq ftimpact-fee threshold | $6,600 – $35,500 |
| 751 sq ft | $6,600 – $35,500 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $6,600 – $35,500 |
| 1,200 sq ft | $6,600 – $35,500 |
Getting the permit
- Department
- SF Planning Department and Department of Building Inspection (DBI)
- Where to apply
- SF Permit Center online application (sf.gov)
- Typical timeline
- SF Planning cites a 4-18 month overall range depending on program and building type; State Program applications get ministerial 60-day review from a complete application; Local Program timelines vary with in-house Planning review before the DBI building permit stage.
Read before you budget
- Most fee lines are working estimates rather than verified published city rates. Confirm every line with the city before budgeting.
- Totals do not vary by ADU size for this city, so the size selector will not change the estimate.