What does getPermit actually do?

getPermit reads your job details and tells you what a California city expects before you file: which permits the work triggers, the documents and plans you'll need, the fees to budget for, and the common reasons applications in that jurisdiction get bounced back. It produces a clear checklist you can act on. It does not submit to the city for you — you (or your permit person) stay in control of what gets filed.

Is there a human involved, or is it just AI?

Both. The AI does the research and drafts the assessment and checklist; an experienced permit coordinator reviews and approves it before it's treated as authoritative. The human check is the point — it's how we keep it trustworthy in a process where a wrong filing has real consequences.

Which cities do you cover?

We're starting deep in California rather than shallow everywhere. For a city we haven't fully mapped yet, we'll give you accurate general California guidance and point you to that city's official building department — and you can join the waitlist to be notified when we cover it in depth. We will not invent city-specific fees or timelines we haven't verified.

Solo electricians, plumbers, and HVAC contractors, and small general contractors who don't have a dedicated permit department and lose billable hours to permit admin.

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Mini-split installation permits in San Francisco, CA

General California guidance last updated August 2, 2026 · San Francisco data verified May 22, 2026

What HVAC contractors need to know about pulling a mini-split installation permit in San Francisco (San Francisco County).

Short answer

In California, installing a ductless mini-split heat pump requires a mechanical permit plus electrical scope for the new dedicated circuit and disconnect — even for a single-zone unit. The work falls under the California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4), the California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3), and the Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6). A C-20 (HVAC) licensed contractor generally pulls it.

San Francisco accepts submittal through the DBI Online Permits and Permit Tracking and has adopted the SF Building Code (2022 edition, amending the 2022 California Building Code). Fee details and sources are below.

San Francisco permit data

Sourced from public City of San Francisco documents — every field carries the source URL and verification date.

Permit portal

DBI Online Permits and Permit Tracking

verified May 22, 2026 · source · Online filing for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and Boiler-to-Operate permits; In-House Review building permits are filed via Electronic Plan Review (EPR). Permit tracking at https://dbiweb02.sfgov.org/dbi_building/

Adopted code edition

SF Building Code (2022 edition, amending the 2022 California Building Code)

verified May 22, 2026 · source · Adopted by the SF Board of Supervisors as Ordinance 225-22 (Nov 10, 2022), effective Dec 11, 2022, with amendments to the 2022 California Building Code; designed to be used in conjunction with the 2022-2025 California Building and Residential Codes

Fee schedule

DBI Fee Schedule — applies to all building permits issued on or after September 1, 2025

verified May 22, 2026 · source

San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) →All verified San Francisco data →

The general picture in California

Cities treat a mini-split like any other permanent HVAC installation: mechanical scope for the refrigerant lines, mounting, and condensate under the California Mechanical Code, and electrical scope for the dedicated circuit and outdoor disconnect under the California Electrical Code. The electrical half is the part that gets underestimated — a "simple" single-zone install still means a new circuit from the panel, a disconnect at the condenser, and sometimes a load calculation on an older service. The Energy Code touches the job too: ductless equipment sidesteps duct testing, but compliance paperwork can still be required, and the unit must meet current federal SEER2/HSPF2 minimums. On top of the building codes, many cities apply zoning standards — setbacks and property-line noise limits — to outdoor units in side yards. Fees, forms, and which inspections the city actually runs are set locally — confirm with the building department.

For deeper background that isn't San Francisco-specific, see the statewide mini-split installation guide.

Typically needs a permit

Mini-split installation itself triggers a permit in nearly every California jurisdiction, San Francisco included. San Francisco-specific variations are confirmed with the issuing department above.

Usually doesn't (general norm)

Plug-in portable air conditioners and window units
Routine service on an existing permitted system — cleaning filters and coils, clearing condensate
Replacing a remote or wall controller

Documents & plans generally required

Mechanical and electrical permit application (many cities issue a combined HVAC install/changeout permit)
Contractor license and city business registration
Equipment cut sheets for the indoor and outdoor units (SEER2/HSPF2 ratings, listing)
Circuit detail — dedicated circuit size, disconnect at the outdoor unit, and panel capacity (a load calc when capacity is tight)
Line-set routing and penetration-sealing detail
Condensate-termination detail for the indoor heads
Energy-compliance form (CF1R-ALT) where the city requires it for the alteration
Outdoor-unit placement showing clearances — some cities also apply setback and property-line noise standards (verify locally)

Common reasons mini-split installation applications get bounced

Code-rooted patterns across California — not a San Francisco-specific rejection rate.

No dedicated circuit shown, or no disconnect within sight of the outdoor unit
Equipment below current federal minimum efficiency (SEER2/HSPF2) on the cut sheet
Condensate from indoor heads terminating to an unapproved location
Missing energy-compliance paperwork where the city requires a CF1R-ALT for the alteration
A panel without capacity for the new circuit and no load calculation provided
Outdoor unit placed in a required setback, or too close to openings or the property line where local standards apply

The inspection sequence

A typical order — the number of stops and exact sequence vary by jurisdiction and scope.

1Rough inspection if the line set, condensate line, or wiring is concealed in walls before cover
2Final inspection with the units mounted, circuit and disconnect complete, condensate terminated, and the system operating

Licensing — who can pull it

Mini-split installation in California is generally performed by a C-20 (HVAC) licensed contractor; the line-voltage circuit is C-10 (Electrical) work, and many shops hold both classifications or sub the circuit. A B (General Building) contractor may pull within a larger project under CSLB rules. The contractor doing the work typically pulls the permit.

Other verified San Francisco notes

DBI Permit Services phone: (415) 558-6088. Online contractor registration is required before filing trade permits; the registration includes signing DBI's Contractor's Agreement & Terms of Service.
verified May 22, 2026 · source
Building Permit Fee = Plan Review Fee + Permit Issuance Fee. The current schedule applies to all permits issued on or after September 1, 2025.
verified May 22, 2026 · source
In-House Review building permits require 100% Electronic Plan Review (EPR) — DBI does not accept paper plans for these projects. Title 24 Energy and Green Building Special Inspection forms must accompany new construction submittals.
verified May 22, 2026 · source

Frequently asked questions

Do I really need a permit for a single-zone mini-split?

Generally yes. A mini-split is a permanently wired heat pump with refrigerant lines, condensate, and a new dedicated circuit — permitted mechanical and electrical work in essentially every California city. Only plug-in portable and window units fall outside permitting.

Does a mini-split need HERS testing?

Ductless systems avoid the duct-leakage testing that ducted changeouts trigger under Title 24 — part of their appeal. Energy-compliance paperwork (CF1R-ALT) can still be required for the alteration, and a ducted mini-split air handler is treated like any ducted system. The exact form set depends on scope and climate zone — confirm what the city expects.

Can the outdoor unit go anywhere?

No — it needs the manufacturer's listed clearances, a disconnect within sight, and compliant condensate routing, and many California cities additionally apply zoning standards to equipment in side yards: setbacks and noise limits measured at the property line. That layer is local, so confirm placement rules with the city before committing the location.

Is a multi-zone system a different permit?

Usually the same permit with more scope — more heads mean more penetrations, more condensate terminations, and a larger or additional circuit. Panel capacity and the load calculation get more scrutiny as connected tonnage grows, which is where multi-zone applications most often pick up corrections.

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