Which route your reroof takes
From DBI's Apply for a reroofing permit page (read 23 October 2026):
| Your job | DBI route | Fee DBI lists |
|---|---|---|
| R-3 house (single-family, duplex), no plans needed, not historic, no active complaints | Online reroofing permit, issued once paid | $256.62 (single-family and duplex) |
| Same, other building types | Online reroofing permit | $386.22 |
| R-3 reroof that needs plans | Over-the-counter (OTC) building permit | Building permit fees |
| Non-R-3 building | Building permit with in-house review | Building permit fees |
| Active complaint on the property | Resolve the complaint first | None listed |
DBI adds that "additional fees may apply." The exemptions from a roofing permit sit in San Francisco Building Code Section 106A.2, item 13, which the reroofing page cites without listing; if your roofer says a repair is exempt, ask which part of that section applies.
Who can file
The online permit is limited: "You must be a licensed C-39 contractor registered with the City of San Francisco to apply for a reroofing permit online." C-39 is CSLB's Roofing classification (CSLB classifications); a general contractor with a B license can roof as part of a larger job through the regular permit process.
Before DBI issues any building permit it asks for the contractor's "State of California contractor's license and classification (known as a pocket card)", a workers' compensation certificate, a current San Francisco business registration and a Licensed Contractor's Statement (DBI, read 22 October 2026). Only property owners, state-licensed contractors or their agents may apply. An owner doing the work can apply through the regular route and signs DBI's owner disclosures, which makes the roof your responsibility.
Check the roofer on CSLB's Check a License: Active status, C-39 among the classes, a current bond and workers' comp if it has employees. 91.7% of San Francisco roofing firms in our file had an active CSLB license, and 30 matched one that was not active.
After it is issued
Search your address on DBI's Permit / Complaint Tracking System. The reroofing permit should show your roofer and, after the final inspection, a completed status. Questions about the online system go to dbionlineservices@sfgov.org or 628-652-3320 (DBI).
What 9,537 San Francisco roofing permits show
| Measure | San Francisco roofing |
|---|---|
| Permits on homes, October 2023 to September 2026 | 9,537 |
| Firms | 1,072 |
| Firms with a permit in the last 12 months of the window | 535 |
| Completed (permits a year or more old) | 87.3% |
| Usual days from issue to completion | 36 |
| Usual filed value | $15,275 |
| Middle half of firms' usual value | $11,000 to $19,600 |
| 10th / 90th-percentile firm's completed share (10+ permits) | 62.2% / 98.1% |
| Firms under 70% completed | 20 of 135 |
| Busiest / quietest month | October (index 132) / December (80) |
The spread between roofers is the useful number. The 90th-percentile busy firm completed 98.1% of its permits and the 10th-percentile firm 62.2%; 20 firms with 10 or more permits completed fewer than 70%. A permit that never reaches completion means DBI never recorded a passed final on that roof. Filing peaks in October, at index 132. Prices by firm: San Francisco roofing cost; national figures: roof replacement cost; counts by year: San Francisco permit statistics.
See every San Francisco roofer by permits completed →
Before you hire
The full checklist with red flags is hiring a roofer in San Francisco; compare firms on the San Francisco roofer list. Rules in other cities: do I need a permit for roof replacement. Past permits on your address: San Francisco building permit search.
What this does not tell you
A completed permit means DBI's inspector signed off; it does not check the manufacturer's installation spec or warranty registration. Filed values are the roofer's estimate on the application. Exempt repairs and unpermitted work leave no record.
How we know this
Permit routes, eligibility, who may file and fees are quoted from DBI's reroofing permit page read 23 October 2026, and DBI's permit-issuance documents page read 22 October 2026. Permit counts are DBI permits on one- and two-family homes classified as roofing, October 2023 to September 2026; completed share uses permits a year or more old, and days to completion is the median from issue. License status is CSLB's license file joined on the license number on each permit.
Numbers come from San Francisco DBI building permits on one- and two-family homes, with the contractor from the city's permit contacts file, data through October 16, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Do I need a permit to replace my roof in San Francisco?
Yes. DBI says 'You need a permit before installing, repairing, or removing roof sheathing.' The exemptions are in San Francisco Building Code Section 106A.2, item 13, which DBI's reroofing page does not spell out, so ask DBI before skipping a permit on a small repair.
- How much is a roofing permit in San Francisco?
DBI lists $256.62 for an online reroofing permit on a single-family home or duplex and $386.22 for other building types, and says additional fees may apply. A reroof that needs plans goes through an over-the-counter building permit with its own fees.
- Can a homeowner pull a roofing permit in San Francisco?
Not the online one: DBI says 'You must be a licensed C-39 contractor registered with the City of San Francisco to apply for a reroofing permit online.' DBI lets property owners apply for building permits for work they do themselves, through the regular permit process, with the work then their responsibility.
- How long does a roofing permit take in San Francisco?
An eligible online reroofing permit is issued as soon as it is paid. After issue, the usual San Francisco roofing permit was marked complete in 36 days, and 87.3% of those a year or more old were completed.
- Does a historic house need a different roofing permit in San Francisco?
Yes. DBI's online reroofing permit is only for R-3 residential buildings that are 'not historical' and have no active complaints. Historic buildings and reroofs needing plans go through an over-the-counter or in-house review permit.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Do I need a roofing permit in Anaheim? The $375 reroof fee, the one-layer rule and two inspections
- Do I need a roofing permit in Bernalillo County? The re-roof application, the tile rule and two inspections
- Do I need a roofing permit in unincorporated Boulder County? Yes past one square, with a Class A roof and a photo final
- Do I need a roofing permit in Boulder? Yes: Class A roofing, a D-2 roofer and photo inspections
- Do I need a roofing permit in Waco? The $125 reroof permit, the 32 sq ft decking line, and who calls for final
- Do I need a roofing permit in Wheaton, IL? Yes, but no inspection: the license, the energy form and the fee
For one city
- Apply for a reroofing permit — San Francisco DBI (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Over-the-Counter (OTC) permits — San Francisco DBI (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Gather documents for your building permit issuance — San Francisco DBI (2026-10-22)
- Permit / Complaint Tracking System — San Francisco DBI (2026-10-23)
- Check a License — CSLB (2026-10-22)
- CSLB Licensing Classifications (2026-10-22)