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.

How much does it cost?

It's pre-launch. Join the waitlist and you'll get founder pricing, your jurisdiction prioritized, and a direct line to the team. No spam, no credit card.

We're onboarding a first set of California contractors. Join the waitlist with your city and trade so we can prioritize the jurisdictions our early users actually work in.

Roofing permits in San Francisco, CA

A plain-English starting point for roofing contractors working in San Francisco (San Francisco County). This is general California guidance — it does not replace the requirements published by the city.

Short answer

Yes — a full or partial re-roof generally requires a permit in California. Code limits how many roofing layers may be overlaid before a tear-off is required, and Title 24 cool-roof rules apply to certain re-roofs by roof type and climate zone. Fees and whether a mid-roof inspection is required are set by the city. Roofing is generally done by a licensed C-39 contractor.

San Francisco-specific fees, forms, and timelines are set by San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI). Verified data — portal, fee schedule, adopted code — is sourced below.

The general picture

Re-roofing in California generally requires a permit from the local building department. The California Building/Residential Code limits roof-covering overlays (commonly no more than two layers before a full tear-off is required) and Title 24 includes cool-roof requirements for certain re-roofs depending on roof type, slope, and climate zone. The exact fee, whether a mid-roof (in-progress) inspection is required, and the submittal format are set by each city — confirm with the jurisdiction below.

Typically needs a permit

Full roof replacement (tear-off)
Re-roof / overlay where allowed
Structural sheathing or deck repair
Cool-roof / Title 24 re-roofs

Usually doesn't (general norm)

Minor repair of a small area (patching a leak, replacing a few tiles/shingles) is often treated as maintenance
The exact threshold — usually a roof-area limit — is set locally
Full or partial re-roofs, overlays, and any structural deck work always require a permit

Documents & plans generally required

Roofing permit application
Contractor license and city registration
Roof type, covering material, and number of existing layers
Structural details for sheathing/deck replacement or added load (e.g., tile over comp)
Title 24 cool-roof documentation where the re-roof triggers it

Common reasons roofing applications get bounced

These are general, code-rooted patterns across California — not a San Francisco rejection rate.

More than the code-allowed number of roofing layers proposed for an overlay
Missing Title 24 cool-roof documentation where required
No structural detail for added roof load or deck replacement
Scope on the application doesn't match the work
Fire-rating of the assembly not addressed where required

The inspection sequence

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

1Mid-roof / in-progress (nailing or underlayment) inspection where the jurisdiction requires it
2Sheathing/deck inspection if structural work is done
3Final inspection of the completed roof

Licensing — who can pull it

Roofing in California is generally performed by a licensed C-39 (Roofing) contractor; a B general contractor may perform it within a larger project under CSLB rules. The permit is typically pulled by the licensed contractor doing the work.

San Francisco permit data

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

Permit portal

Permit Services at DBI (online permits and tracking)

verified Aug 9, 2026 · source · Online filing for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and Boiler-to-Operate permits (one-time contractor registration required); In-House Review building permits are filed via Electronic Plan Review (EPR). The PermitSF portal (https://sanfranciscoca.portal.opengov.com/) covers sign, awning, no-plans reroofing, and door/window/siding replacement permits. Permit tracking at https://dbiweb02.sfgov.org/dbi_building/

Adopted code edition

SF Building Code (2025 edition, amending the 2025 California Building Code)

verified Aug 9, 2026 · source · Ordinance 231-25 repealed the 2022 Building Code and enacted the 2025 SF Building Code — the 2025 California Building Code and 2025 California Residential Code as further amended by San Francisco — operative January 1, 2026 (ordinance text: https://sfbos.org/sites/default/files/o0231-25.pdf). Designed to be used in conjunction with the 2025 California Building and Residential Codes.

Fee schedule

DBI Fee Schedule — applies to all building permits issued on or after July 12, 2026

verified Aug 9, 2026 · source

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

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to replace my roof in California?

Generally yes. A full or partial re-roof is permitted work in most California jurisdictions, and code limits roofing-layer overlays before a tear-off is required. The exact fee and whether a mid-roof inspection is needed are set by the city — confirm with the department below.

Do I need a permit for a small roof repair?

Often not — patching a small area is commonly treated as maintenance, but the threshold (usually a roof-area limit) is set by the local jurisdiction. This is a general norm, not a guarantee; confirm with the city below.

What is a cool roof and is it required?

California's Title 24 energy code requires reflective (cool-roof) materials for certain re-roofs depending on roof slope, type, and climate zone. Whether it applies depends on the energy code and the roof — confirm with the building department below.

How many layers of roofing are allowed?

California code generally limits roof-covering overlays (commonly no more than two layers) before a complete tear-off is required, with additional limits for certain conditions. The local jurisdiction enforces this — confirm specifics with the department below.

Other trades in San Francisco

Electrical permits Plumbing permits HVAC permits ADU permits Solar permits All San Francisco permits All California guides

Want getPermit to map San Francisco in depth?

Join the waitlist with your city and trade. We prioritize the jurisdictions our early users actually work in — and we'll never invent fees or timelines we haven't verified.

Join the waitlist