Building Safety in San Francisco, CA (2026)
8 verified building safety rules for San Francisco, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Lead Paint
San Francisco's Health Department declares any inspected dwelling unit with lead hazards a nuisance and can order the owner to remediate within 14 to 30 days.
SF Lead Hazard Abatement Orders in Rentals
Significant RestrictionsSan Francisco Health Code Art. 26, § 1628
All dwelling units or nonresidential premises which have been inspected pursuant to Section 1626, and which contain lead hazards as determined by the Director, are hereby declared to be and are nuisances... Any lead hazard remediation technique which the Director determines necessary to eliminate lead hazards must be substantially completed within 14 days of the effective date of the order, exc...
Elevator Maintenance
San Francisco requires at least one passenger elevator to stay in working order and accessible to the Fire Department at all times.
SF Fire Code: One Elevator Always Working
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco Fire Code § 604.5.5
604.5.5. Maintenance of Elevators. At least one passenger elevator shall be maintained in working order and accessible for immediate use by the Fire Department at all times.
Fire Sprinkler Requirements
San Francisco follows the state rule requiring automatic fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family homes and townhouses, but its local amendment exempts additions to existing homes that never had sprinklers installed.
San Francisco Residential Fire Sprinkler Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco Building Code § 903.2.8, Exception 5
903.2.8 Add exception 5 as follows: 5. An automatic residential fire sprinkler system shall not be required when additions or alterations are made to existing townhouses, one- and two-family dwellings not more than three stories above grade plane that do not have an automatic residential fire sprinkler system installed. [California Residential Code Sections R101.2, R309.1, R309.2]
Door Locking Hardware
San Francisco requires apartment and condo entry doors to have a combination deadlatch and deadbolt lock meeting specific throw dimensions under the Building Code's Chapter 10A security requirements.
San Francisco Apartment Entry Door Locks
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco, CA, Building Code § 1005A.4.1
Locks shall be combination 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) throw deadlatch with a minimum 1-inch (25.4 mm) throw deadbolt, and so constructed that both the deadlatch and deadbolt retract simultaneously by knob or lever. The deadbolt shall have the ability to be thrown from the exterior. 1005A.5 Exit doors. All exit doors from corridors to exit stairways and from interior stairwells and interior fire escapes...
Building Permits
San Francisco requires a building permit for reroofing work once it involves roof sheathing or covers more than 25 percent of the roof in any 12-month period, per Building Code Section 106A.2.
San Francisco Reroofing Permit Threshold Rule
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco Building Code § 106A.2, Item 13
106A.2 Work exempt from permit... A building permit shall not be required for the following: ... 13. Reroofing without the installation, repair or removal of roof sheathing, if the total surface area of the roof reroofed in any 12-month period does not exceed 25 percent of the entire surface area of the roof.
Electrical Permits
San Francisco requires a Department of Building Inspection permit before any electrical installation, alteration, or repair, issued only to licensed contractors or homeowners under the Homeowner's Permit exception.
San Francisco Electrical Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco Electrical Code Section 89.120(C)
(C) Application For Permit. Permit applicants shall file with the Department of Building Inspection an application form furnished for that purpose. The permit application shall show a complete itemization of the proposed electrical installation and the correct address of the job site.
Plumbing Permits
San Francisco requires a permit and payment of Central Permit Bureau fees before most plumbing work can begin, under the local amendments to the Plumbing Code.
San Francisco Plumbing Permit Fee Rule
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco, CA, Plumbing Code § 104.5 (Permit Fees)
104.5 Permit Fees. Before any permit is issued, the applicant shall pay to the Central Permit Bureau the fees as set forth in Section 110A, Table 1A-C - Plumbing/Mechanical Permit Issuance and Inspection Fees - of the Building Code. The replacement of a plumbing fixture or a gas appliance without a change in drainage, piping or venting shall not require the payment of permit issuance fee. A sep...
Building Inspections
San Francisco permitted construction must stay accessible and exposed until the Building Official approves it at each required stage, foundation through final inspection, and no work may advance past an uninspected checkpoint.
SF Building Permit Inspection Stages
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco, CA, Building Code § 108A.1, § 108A.4, § 108A.5 (Required Inspections)
All construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official, and all such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved by the building official... No work shall be done on any part of the building or structure beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the...