SF Permits MCP Server

{ "metadata": { "title": "Street Use Permits in San Francisco", "source_url": "https://www.sf.gov/topics/street-use-permits", "source_type": "sf.gov official, SFMTA, DPW/BSM policy", "date_scraped": "2026-02-25", "authority": "SF Department of Public Works (DPW) Bureau of Street-Use and Mapping (BSM), SFMTA", "notes": [ "Street use permits are required whenever work or staging impacts the public right-of-way", "DPW/BSM handles most street use permits; SFMTA handles curb zones and transit impacts", "Street use permits are in addition to any building permits — they are separate applications", "Failure to obtain street use permits can result in stop-work orders on adjacent building work", "Bonds or insurance are typically required for excavation permits" ] }, "jurisdiction": { "dpw_bsm": { "name": "DPW Bureau of Street-Use and Mapping (BSM)", "handles": [ "Excavation permits", "Construction staging (concrete pourback, crane pads)", "Temporary construction fences in right-of-way", "Sidewalk repair and replacement", "Curb cut (driveway) permits", "Street closures for construction" ], "contact": "BSM Counter, 49 South Van Ness Ave", "url": "https://www.sf.gov/departments/public-works/street-use-mapping" }, "sfmta": { "name": "San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency", "handles": [ "Temporary No Parking permits", "Lane closure permits", "Parking meter hood requests", "Construction zone permits impacting bus stops or Muni", "Parklet permits (shared with DPW)" ], "url": "https://www.sfmta.com/permits-and-construction", "notes": "SFMTA coordinates with DPW for permits impacting both parking and public works" } }, "permit_types": [ { "id": "SU-01", "name": "Excavation Permit", "description": "Required for any excavation in the public right-of-way — trenching for utilities, sewer laterals, underground vaults", "when_needed": [ "Sewer lateral replacement requiring street or sidewalk cut", "Water service connection from main to building", "Utility installation or upgrade", "Underground vault or cistern installation in sidewalk" ], "jurisdiction": "DPW/BSM", "typical_fee": "$500-$5,000 depending on trench length and location", "duration": "90 days standard, extensions available", "requirements": [ "Underground Service Alert (USA/811) notification required 2 business days before excavation", "Performance bond or cash deposit required", "Pavement restoration plan", "Traffic control plan if street closure involved", "Backfill compaction report after completion" ], "restoration": "DPW requires pavement patching/restoration within 30 days of permit expiration; sidewalk must be restored to match existing", "related_permits": ["PLMB-02 (Sewer Lateral)", "PLMB-01 (Water Service)"] }, { "id": "SU-02", "name": "Construction Occupancy (Staging) Permit", "description": "Temporary occupancy of the sidewalk or parking lane for construction equipment, materials, or scaffolding", "when_needed": [ "Construction scaffolding over public sidewalk", "Dumpster, storage container, or construction trailer in parking lane", "Concrete pump truck or cement mixer staging", "Temporary fencing enclosing sidewalk during demolition or construction", "Crane pad in street or sidewalk" ], "jurisdiction": "DPW/BSM (primary), SFMTA (parking meter hoods)", "typical_fee": "$50-$300/day for sidewalk staging; meter hood fees separate", "duration": "Project duration — typically 30-90 days with renewals", "requirements": [ "Pedestrian access maintained (5-ft minimum clear path or protected walkway)", "Insurance certificate required ($1M liability minimum)", "Temporary pedestrian walkway specs if sidewalk closed", "Night lighting required if staging extends after sunset", "Height restriction may apply under Muni overhead wires" ], "related_permits": ["Building permit (parent)", "SFMTA meter hood permit"] }, { "id": "SU-03", "name": "Sidewalk Repair Permit", "description": "Required for any work in the sidewalk zone — replacement, extension, or new paving", "when_needed": [ "Damaged sidewalk replacement (owner responsibility under SF Public Works Code)", "Sidewalk widening or narrowing", "New sidewalk where none existed", "Tree grate or planting area modification" ], "jurisdiction": "DPW/BSM", "typical_fee": "$200-$500 depending on area", "duration": "30-60 days", "owner_liability": "Property owners are responsible for sidewalk maintenance and repair — DPW can order repairs and bill owner", "standards": "Sidewalks must meet DPW standard specifications: concrete mix, thickness, scoring pattern, ADA ramps at corners" }, { "id": "SU-04", "name": "Curb Cut (Driveway) Permit", "description": "Permission to create, modify, or remove a driveway opening in the curb", "when_needed": [ "New garage or parking area requiring curb cut", "Widening existing driveway", "Converting parking to other use (curb cut must be filled)", "ADU with parking requirement" ], "jurisdiction": "DPW/BSM (issues permit), Planning (reviews driveway locations on certain streets)", "typical_fee": "$300-$800", "duration": "90 days", "requirements": [ "Minimum 18-ft setback from corner required", "Not permitted on certain transit or bicycle priority streets", "Planning review required on hills and certain neighborhoods" ], "related_permits": ["Building permit (new garage or ADU)", "Planning approval on restricted streets"] }, { "id": "SU-05", "name": "Street Closure Permit", "description": "Temporary closure of one or more traffic lanes or full street closure for construction or events", "when_needed": [ "Major demolition requiring lane closure", "Tower crane erection over street", "Large concrete pour requiring pump truck in street", "Moving large equipment that cannot fit on sidewalk" ], "jurisdiction": "DPW/BSM (traffic engineering section), SFMTA (transit coordination)", "typical_fee": "$500-$2,000 plus SFMTA costs", "duration": "Per event (hours to days)", "requirements": [ "Traffic Control Plan (TCP) prepared by licensed traffic engineer", "SFMTA approval if Muni route affected", "Police Department notification", "Signage and barricade plan", "Notice to adjacent businesses and residents", "Minimum 48-hour notice to DPW" ] }, { "id": "SU-06", "name": "Parklet Permit", "description": "Conversion of on-street parking spaces to public outdoor seating or plaza (semi-permanent)", "when_needed": [ "Restaurant or cafe seeking outdoor seating in former parking spaces", "Community organization creating neighborhood plaza" ], "jurisdiction": "DPW/BSM (primary), Planning (design review), SFMTA (parking removal)", "typical_fee": "$2,500-$10,000 one-time application; ongoing annual fees", "duration": "Renewable annually", "requirements": [ "Design must meet DPW Parklet Guidelines", "ADA accessibility compliance", "Community outreach notification", "Planning Department design review", "SFMTA approval for parking removal" ] }, { "id": "SU-07", "name": "Encroachment Permit", "description": "Permanent or semi-permanent structure in the public right-of-way (stairs, stoops, planters, awnings)", "when_needed": [ "Steps or stoop that extends into sidewalk", "Awning or canopy over sidewalk", "Planter box in sidewalk zone", "Bay window or building element overhanging sidewalk", "Outdoor dining area on sidewalk (non-parklet)" ], "jurisdiction": "DPW/BSM", "typical_fee": "$500-$2,000 one-time", "duration": "Permanent (revocable license)", "requirements": [ "Revocable encroachment agreement with DPW", "Insurance required for larger structures", "Must not obstruct fire hydrants, utility boxes, or ADA paths" ] } ], "relationship_to_building_permits": { "when_both_required": [ "Any project requiring a construction dumpster or materials in the parking lane or sidewalk", "Projects requiring scaffolding over public right-of-way", "Sewer lateral work that cuts the street or sidewalk", "New construction or major remodel with delivery and staging needs", "Excavation for foundation work near property line" ], "sequence": "Building permits and street use permits are applied for separately but must coordinate on timeline. Building permit is typically filed first; street use permits are applied for as construction timing is known.", "note": "A stop-work order on the street use permit (e.g., for unpermitted sidewalk occupation) can halt all associated construction work" }, "duration_limits_and_renewals": { "standard_duration": "Most street use permits are issued for 30-90 days", "renewals": "Available upon request with fee — most permits can be renewed if construction is ongoing", "expiration_consequence": "Failure to renew can result in fines; unrestore sidewalk/street triggers DPW emergency restoration at owner expense", "long_term_construction": "Projects over 6 months should plan for quarterly renewals of staging and excavation permits" }, "common_mistakes": [ { "mistake": "Starting excavation before USA/811 clearance", "consequence": "Risk of hitting underground utilities; criminal liability; DPW stop-work" }, { "mistake": "Placing dumpster without SFMTA meter hood permit", "consequence": "Meter citation, dumpster removal by city at owner expense" }, { "mistake": "Not maintaining 5-ft pedestrian clearance when sidewalk is staging area", "consequence": "DPW stop-work order; ADA violation" }, { "mistake": "Failing to restore sidewalk after sewer lateral work", "consequence": "DPW issues Notice of Violation; emergency restoration billed to property owner" } ], "related_urls": { "dpw_permits": "https://www.sf.gov/departments/public-works/permits", "sfmta_construction_permits": "https://www.sfmta.com/permits-and-construction", "parklet_program": "https://www.sf.gov/topics/parklets", "usa_811": "https://www.usanorth811.org/" } }