San Francisco Building Permits Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Information comes from SF.gov and the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection; sources are listed at the end.

San Francisco’s Department of Building Inspection (DBI) keeps building permit records going back to 1906 and offers a permit tracking system, so you can see a property’s permit history before you sell. The city also issues a Report of Residential Building Record, known as a 3R report, that owners and realtors can request to see a residential building’s authorized use and permit history.

San Francisco building permit records at a glance

Who keeps the records	Department of Building Inspection, Records Management Division
Building permits	Issued from 1906 to now
Building permit job cards	Issued from 1933 to now
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical	Electrical from 1986, plumbing from 1976, mechanical from 2008
Status and history online	DBI permit tracking system; a separate PermitSF portal covers certain permit types such as no-plan reroofing and in-kind kitchen and bath work
3R report	Report of Residential Building Record: authorized use and building permit history, available to owners and realtors
Plan copies	Require permission from the building owners and the buildings’ design professionals
Records email	dbi.records3R@sfgov.org

How do I look up permits on a San Francisco property?

Start with the DBI permit tracking system, which shows building permit status and history. Permits obtained through the newer PermitSF portal, such as signs and awnings, no-plan reroofing, plumbing and electrical work, and in-kind kitchen and bath replacements, are tracked in a separate search, so check both. For older paper records, DBI Records Management is where building plans, permit applications and job cards are stored.

What is a 3R report in San Francisco?

The 3R report summarizes the authorized use and permit history of a residential building. Owners and realtors can request it from DBI Records Management.

For a seller it is a practical way to see how the city classifies the building, for example how many units are on record, before a buyer’s agent asks.

If what the report shows does not match what is actually on the property, that gap is the thing to sort out first.

How permits affect selling a house in San Francisco

In California, sellers generally have to disclose known problems, including work you know was done without a permit. A buyer’s inspector may notice an extra room, a converted garage or an extra kitchen that the records do not show.

On a traditional sale the usual choices are to close out the permit, legalize the work, cut the price or let the buyer take on the problem, and each costs time. A cash buyer can purchase the house with the permit issue unresolved.

How to sell a house in San Francisco with unpermitted work or open permits

1. Pull the permit history. Check DBI’s tracking system and consider a 3R report.
2. List what you know. Who did the work, when, and whether you have receipts or plans.
3. Compare your options. Close out the permit, sell with a price credit, or sell as-is to a cash buyer who prices the risk in.
4. Disclose honestly. A cash offer does not change what you must disclose, but it removes the repair and inspection steps that cause delays.

We buy San Francisco houses as they are, with no permit clean-up, repairs or showings. Read how selling a house as-is in San Francisco works, or see our San Francisco cash-offer process. If the house has been cited, read our San Francisco code enforcement guide, and for extra units see our San Francisco zoning and ADU guide.

Not sure what your permit history means for a sale? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

San Francisco building permits FAQ

How far back do San Francisco building permit records go?

Building permits are available from 1906 to now and job cards from 1933. Electrical permits start in 1986, plumbing in 1976 and mechanical in 2008.

Can I get copies of my San Francisco building plans?

Only with permission from the building owners and the buildings’ design professionals. Permit records are easier to get than plans.

Can I sell a house in San Francisco with an open permit?

Yes. An open permit does not legally stop a sale, but it can slow a traditional one. A cash buyer can purchase the house with the permit still open.

How do I sell a house in San Francisco with unpermitted additions?

Disclose the work, then choose between permitting it, discounting the price, or selling as-is to a cash buyer who accounts for the risk in the offer.

Sources

• SF.gov: Request public building records
• SF.gov: Records Management at DBI
• SF.gov: Department of Building Inspection

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Permit rules change; confirm requirements with the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection.