What's Required in San Francisco
- A building permit is required for any deck more than 30 inches above grade; decks over 3 feet also need Planning Department review.
- Platforms not more than 30 inches above grade, not over a basement or story below, are exempt from a building permit.
- Plans are required for new decks and for repairs or replacement of more than 50 percent of a deck or stair; repairs under 50 percent are over the counter without plans.
- A deck on posts is approvable over the counter if under 10 feet tall, at least 3 feet from neighboring property lines and within the buildable area.
- Decks over 10 feet, in the required rear yard, or needing a firewall over 10 feet trigger a 30-day Section 311 neighborhood notice.
- Building within 3 to 5 feet of a property line may require a firewall; check with DBI.
- All decks above 3 feet are subject to the Residential Design Guidelines; open railings up to 42 inches need no public notice.
- Permitted decks pay DBI plan review plus issuance on valuation, plus Planning's building-permit application fee when Planning reviews the deck.
- Deck lighting or outlets need a separate electrical permit.
When Does a Deck Need a Permit in San Francisco?
Above 30 inches. The Planning Department's residential deck handout states that all decks over 30 inches require a building permit and all decks over 3 feet also require Planning Department review, and the Building Code's exemption list matches: platforms not more than 30 inches above grade, not over a basement or story below, need no permit. So a deck under 30 inches is permit-free, a deck between 30 and 36 inches gets a Department of Building Inspection (DBI) permit without Planning review, and anything taller is reviewed by both. Repairs are split at half: repairing decks and stairs at less than 50 percent is over the counter without plans, while replacing more than 50 percent needs plans. Build within 3 to 5 feet of a neighboring property line and DBI may also require a firewall.
San Francisco Deck Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Patio deck under 30 inches above grade | None | Building Code 106A.2 platform exemption; no Planning review under 3 feet |
| Deck 30 to 36 inches above grade | OTC building permit, no Planning review | Planning deck handout matrix |
| Deck on posts under 10 feet, in the buildable area, 3 feet off the lines | OTC building permit with plans + Planning stamp | Approvable over the counter per Planning |
| Deck on posts over 10 feet, or in the required rear yard | Building permit + Section 311 neighborhood notice | 30-day notice; $121 plus $4.25 per envelope |
| Roof deck set back 3 to 5 feet within the buildable area | OTC building permit with plans | Stair penthouse adds a 30-day notice |
| Repairing less than 50 percent of an existing deck or stair | OTC building permit, no plans | Over 50 percent requires plans |
| Deck lighting or an outdoor outlet | Electrical permit | $305 for up to 10 outlets or devices |
How Much Does a Deck Permit Cost in San Francisco?
DBI's building permit fee is a valuation formula from Table 1A-A, effective July 12, 2026, and a deck that needs plans pays both parts: plan review of $310 for the first $2,000 plus $28.35 per additional $1,000 or fraction, and issuance of $266 plus $8.56 per $1,000, for work valued between $2,001 and $50,000. DBI's cost schedule values a wood deck with decking and railings at $53 per square foot, so a 150 sq ft deck is about $8,000 and pays $310 + 6 × $28.35 = $480.10 plus $266 + 6 × $8.56 = $317.36, roughly $800. A 300 sq ft deck valued near $16,000 pays $706.90 plus $385.84, about $1,093. When the deck is over 3 feet and Planning reviews it, Planning's building-permit application fee is added: $504 for work under $10,000 and $516 plus 5.274 percent of the cost above $10,000 up to $49,999, so about $832 on the $16,000 deck, for a city total near $1,925. A $30,000 deck comes to about $1,609 at DBI plus $1,571 at Planning, close to $3,200, before a few dollars of state fees and any electrical permit. Decks that need neighborhood notification also pay Planning's $121 plus $4.25 per envelope, and any structural review beyond the standard check is billed at $602 per hour.
What Planning Looks At
Planning's handout lays out the review path by deck type. A deck on posts is approvable over the counter if it is under 10 feet tall excluding railings, set back at least 3 feet from the neighboring property lines and within the buildable area; a cantilevered balcony within the buildable area is treated the same way. Push the deck above 10 feet, into the required rear yard, or to a point where its firewall would exceed 10 feet, and you get a Section 311 neighborhood notice with a 30-day period. Roof decks with a 3-to-5-foot setback from building edges and lightwells go over the counter; a stair penthouse triggers the 30-day notice. All decks above 3 feet are subject to the Residential Design Guidelines, and open railings up to 42 inches are allowed without public notice. Email PIC@sfgov.org for a Planning consultation before drawing plans.
How the Process Works
Decks less than 10 feet above grade that meet Planning setbacks are on DBI's over-the-counter exterior list. Bring two sets of plans, the owner package or contractor statement and the Green Building form to the Permit Center; DBI budgets 2 to 8 hours for the visit, routes the plans to Planning and its own plan checker, and you pay plan review plus issuance before the job card is released. Property owners may pull the permit and build the deck themselves or hire a licensed B contractor; an unlicensed builder may only take a job under $1,000 that needs no permit. DBI's technical desk at TechQ@sfgov.org answers whether plans are needed for a borderline scope.
How to Get a Deck Permit in San Francisco
Measure the height and locate the deck
Under 30 inches needs no permit; 30 to 36 inches is DBI only; over 3 feet brings Planning in. Check the buildable area and required rear yard on the Property Information Map.
Get a Planning consultation
Email PIC@sfgov.org with the height, setbacks and location; decks under 10 feet in the buildable area, 3 feet off the lines, are approvable over the counter, others need a 30-day notice.
Draw the plans
Two sets showing site, height, setbacks, railings and framing; DBI's TechQ@sfgov.org confirms whether a borderline repair needs plans.
Submit at the Permit Center and pay
Bring the plans, owner package or contractor statement and Green Building form; pay DBI plan review plus issuance (about $800 on a 150 sq ft deck) plus Planning's $504 and up before the job card issues.
Build and inspect
Owners may build it themselves or hire a licensed B contractor; request inspections through PermitSF and keep any wiring open until the electrical inspector approves it.