How long does an SF DBI permit take to issue?

SF DBI permit issuance times vary by track — over-the-counter (OTC) permits for minor non-structural interior work clear in the same day to about two weeks, while major or historic projects can stretch past a year.

The controlling distinction is which review path the permit application enters under SF Building Code §106A and the Planning Code:

• OTC track: minor interior alterations, like-for-like fixture replacement, water heater swap, re-roofs in the same material — same day to ~14 days.
• Standard plan-review track: kitchens and baths with relocated plumbing, gas, or electrical circuits — 6 to 14 weeks. Goes through DBI Plans Review plus any Planning Department zoning sign-off.
• Major alteration track: structural modifications, vertical/horizontal additions, change of occupancy under SFBC §3408A — 12 to 24 weeks because it picks up engineering review, MEP, and SF Fire signoff.
• Article 10/11 historic track: properties in landmark districts or rated I–IV require Historic Preservation Commission review and a Certificate of Appropriateness — 24 to 52 weeks.
• Discretionary Review track: when a neighbor within 150 feet files a §311 DR protest, the project gets calendared for a Planning Commission hearing — adds 3 to 9 months on top of standard timing.

The usual bottleneck is not DBI plan-check itself but Planning Department coordination — §311 neighborhood notification has a 30-day mandatory protest window, and any §317 demolition calculation slows projects that touch more than the soft-cap thresholds (removing 50% or more of front facade, or 65% of sum of facades).

SF's median timelines run materially slower than Los Angeles or Austin. DBI publishes performance metrics quarterly through the Permit & Project Tracking System (PPTS), and the Mayor's 2023 Permit Reform Initiative codified the OTC-favored intake but did not shorten Planning's discretionary windows. Build the calendar around Planning, not DBI plan review, and assume any addition triggering §311 will lose a season to noticing alone.