Pre-Submission Review · Free
San Francisco, California
Remodels that change the floor plan, add square footage, or modify structural elements trigger plan review in California. The #1 surprise for homeowners: existing nonconforming conditions. If your house was built under old codes and doesn't meet current requirements, a remodel may trigger expensive compliance upgrades you didn't budget for.
Remodels in San Francisco trigger plan review when they change the floor plan layout, add habitable square footage, or modify structural elements. The threshold varies — some cities require permits for any work over $500, while others only trigger review for structural or layout changes.
What remodel plan checkers look for in San Francisco:
The form above checks your remodel against San Francisco's current zoning standards. Even if you're not changing the footprint, verifying compliance avoids surprises during plan check.
Fill in the form above with your lot size, setbacks, building height, and other dimensions — the same numbers on your architectural plans.
Your project is compared against San Francisco's specific zoning requirements — setbacks, height limits, lot coverage, parking ratios, and FAR limits for your zone.
Critical violations, warnings, and advisory items — ranked by what a San Francisco plan checker will flag first. Fix issues before you submit and save weeks of correction cycles.
| Zone | Front | Side | Rear | Height | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RH-1 — Residential House, One Family | 0' | 0' | 15' | 40' | 75% |
| RH-2 — Residential House, Two Family | 0' | 0' | 15' | 40' | 75% |
| RH-3 — Residential House, Three Family | 0' | 0' | 15' | 40' | 75% |
San Francisco requires a 0' front setback, 0' side setback, and 15' rear setback in the most common residential zone. Specific requirements vary by zone — enter your zone code above for exact numbers.
Initial plan review in San Francisco typically takes 4-8 weeks. If corrections are required, each resubmission adds another 2-4 weeks. Running a pre-check before submitting can eliminate the most common correction items and save one or more review cycles.
The most common residential zone in San Francisco allows a maximum height of 40 feet. Height measurement methods vary — some cities measure to the highest ridge, others to the midpoint of the roof. Check the specific zone requirements for your property.
Yes. Create a free account to run unlimited plan checks against San Francisco's building codes. The tool checks setbacks, height limits, lot coverage, parking requirements, and flags common issues that San Francisco plan reviewers look for.
The most frequently flagged items in San Francisco include: Front setback must match block average — not a fixed number; Rear yard calculation: 25% of lot depth or 15', whichever greater; Light exposure plane analysis missing or incorrect. Our tool checks for all of these automatically.