How to file the sign and awning permit (San Francisco)
Online only through PermitSF since June 29, 2026 (Forms 4 and 7 retired): submit drawings, answer plan review, pay, then book the final inspection. Lit signs also need an electrical permit.
- Agency
- San Francisco Department of Building Inspection
- Where it applies
- San Francisco
- How it's filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Fee
- Varies
- How long it takes
- DBI doesn't publish a review time for sign or awning permits; you apply online with construction drawings, and the sign must meet the zoning rules for your district.
The form, line by line
| Line | What goes there |
|---|---|
| Sign and awning typesOne application can cover multiple signs and awnings at the same address. | |
| Heights, measurements, and weights | |
| Projection distance from the building face | |
| Any sidewalk support structures | |
| Attachment method | |
| Illumination typeIlluminated signs also need a DBI electrical permit and inspection. | |
| Building occupancy class | |
| Existing use | |
| Construction type | |
| Planning Approval Letter (if the building is a landmark) | |
| Contractor license numberC-45 contractors can install all sign/awning types including illuminated; D-42 only non-electrical signs and awnings. | |
| Contractor Business Account Number (BAN) | |
| Business information, including BAN | |
| Valuation of materials and labor | |
| Plans uploaded as a PDF |
What to attach
- Construction drawings (PDF) showing sign/awning area and dimensions, height from ground to bottom, projection from building face, and lettering dimensions
- If applying for a property owner: owner's driver's license (JPEG/JPG) and the last section of a Property Owner Disclosure Form
- If applying for a licensed contractor not authorized in PermitSF: contractor's driver's license and the last section of a Licensed Contractor Statement Form
- Planning Approval Letter (landmark buildings)
- Title 24 Compliance Affidavit (illuminated signs, before the electrical inspection)
Official links
Checked against the agency's own page.
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This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.
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