What's Required in San Francisco
- One detached storage shed per lot is exempt from a building permit if it is small: DBI's FAQ says up to 120 sq ft of floor area and 10 ft high, while DBI's summary page and the posted code say under 100 sq ft of roof area and 8 ft.
- The exemption covers storage, tool and playhouse use only; any habitable use, or a greenhouse, pergola, cabana, sauna or outdoor kitchen, needs a permit.
- An exempt shed may not be attached to the house or garage and may not sit on a deck or roof deck.
- A 5-foot property-line setback applies unless the walls are one-hour fire-rated, and no openings are allowed in walls within 3 feet of the line.
- Roof overhang is limited to one foot and must stay at least 2 feet from the property line.
- Lights or outlets in any shed require an electrical permit and a DBI inspection.
- A shed over the size or height limit, or a second shed, needs a building permit with plans and approval from both Planning and DBI.
- Permitted sheds pay valuation-based plan review and issuance fees at DBI plus Planning's building-permit application fee.
What Size Shed Can You Build Without a Permit in San Francisco?
San Francisco exempts one small detached storage shed per lot from a building permit, but the city publishes two versions of the limit. The Department of Building Inspection's (DBI) Technical Services FAQ on exempt storage sheds says the maximum is 120 square feet of floor area, measured inside the walls, and 10 feet high to the top of the roof under Planning Code 136(c)(23). DBI's own summary page of permit-free work, and the Building Code text as published online, say 100 square feet of projected roof area and no taller than 8 feet. A shed under 100 square feet and 8 feet is exempt on any reading; between those figures, take DBI's FAQ to Technical Services at (628) 652-3720 before you buy. Either way the exemption is narrow: storage, tools or a playhouse only, one per lot, detached, not on a deck, and no greenhouse, pergola, cabana, sauna or outdoor kitchen qualifies. Exempt sheds still have to meet the code, and any wiring needs an electrical permit.
San Francisco Shed Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| One detached storage shed under 100 sq ft and 8 ft, no utilities | None | Exempt under Building Code 106A.2 on every published reading |
| Storage shed between 100 and 120 sq ft, up to 10 ft | Ask DBI Technical Services | DBI FAQ says exempt; posted code text says permit |
| Exempt shed with lights or outlets | Electrical permit | $305 for up to 10 outlets or devices |
| Shed over 120 sq ft or over 10 ft | Building permit with plans + Planning approval | Valuation-based DBI fee plus Planning's building-permit fee |
| Second shed on the same lot | Building permit with plans | Only one exempt shed per lot or yard |
| Shed used as an office, gym, studio or with a bathroom | Building permit with plans + trade permits | Habitable use is never exempt |
| Greenhouse, pergola, cabana, sauna or outdoor kitchen | Building permit | Not covered by the shed exemption |
How Much Does a Shed Permit Cost in San Francisco?
An exempt shed costs nothing at DBI beyond a $305 electrical permit if you wire it. A shed that needs a permit is priced on valuation under Table 1A-A, effective July 12, 2026, and because it needs plans it pays both parts of the fee: for work valued between $2,001 and $50,000 the plan review fee is $310 for the first $2,000 plus $28.35 per additional $1,000 or fraction, and the issuance fee is $266 plus $8.56 per $1,000. DBI's cost schedule values sheds and similar accessory buildings at $71 per square foot, so a 150 sq ft shed is valued at about $10,650 and pays roughly $310 + 9 × $28.35 = $565 in plan review plus $266 + 9 × $8.56 = $343 to issue, about $908. The Planning Department's approval carries its own building-permit application fee, $504 for work under $10,000 or $516 plus 5.274 percent of the cost above $10,000 for work up to $49,999, about $550 for that shed, so the city total lands near $1,460. A larger 250 sq ft workshop valued near $17,750 runs about $1,167 at DBI plus about $925 at Planning, around $2,090, before trade permits and a few dollars of state fees. Sheds that hold a bathroom or sink add a plumbing permit, and everything you run to the shed counts in the valuation.
Where Can an Exempt Shed Go?
DBI's FAQ spells out the placement rules that apply even without a permit. A shed with ordinary walls needs a 5-foot setback from the property line; only one-hour fire-rated walls can sit closer. No windows or doors are allowed in a wall less than 3 feet from a property line, and the Planning Code caps the roof overhang at one foot, which the Building Code keeps at least 2 feet from the line. The shed cannot be attached to any building and cannot sit on a deck or roof deck without a permit and plans. Planning Code yard rules apply too, so check your lot on the Property Information Map first.
How the Process Works for a Permitted Shed
A shed that exceeds the exemption is an exterior residential project reviewed over the counter at the Permit Center: bring two sets of plans showing the site, setbacks and height, the owner package or contractor statement, and the Green Building form. Planning signs off on the location and height, then DBI checks the structure, and you pay plan review plus issuance before the job card is released. Property owners may pull the permit themselves and do the work, or hire a licensed B contractor; an unlicensed builder may only take a job under $1,000 that needs no permit. Wiring and plumbing get their own permits and inspections before they are covered.
How to Get a Shed Permit in San Francisco
Measure against the exemption
Under 100 sq ft and 8 ft, detached, storage only, one per lot: no building permit. Between 100 and 120 sq ft, confirm with DBI Technical Services. Over that, plan on a permit.
Check placement rules
Keep 5 feet from property lines (or build one-hour walls), no openings within 3 feet of the line, overhang under one foot, and confirm rear-yard rules on the Property Information Map.
Prepare plans for a permitted shed
Two sets showing site, setbacks, height and structure, plus the owner package or contractor statement and the Green Building form.
File over the counter and pay
Submit at the Permit Center; Planning approves the location, DBI checks the structure, and you pay plan review plus issuance (about $908 on a 150 sq ft shed) plus Planning's $504 to $550 fee before the job card issues.
Pull trade permits and inspect
Any wiring needs a $305 electrical permit and inspection before cover; a sink or toilet needs a plumbing permit. Call for the building final when the shed is done.