Permit Required? Sometimes Required
Typical Fee Range $0–$400 Exempt if under 120 sq ft and no utilities; over 120 sq ft requires a building permit.
Fee Method Valuation-based
Apply Online Apply at San Francisco Department of Building Inspection →

What's Required in San Francisco

  • No permit required for detached accessory structures 120 square feet or less without utilities
  • Permit ALWAYS required if adding electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems
  • Shed must be non-habitable (no living or sleeping quarters) to qualify as accessory storage
  • Must follow specific rear yard setback and lot coverage rules in the Planning Code
  • Maximum height for exempt sheds is generally limited to 8–10 feet
  • Site plan showing property lines is required for any permitted shed

What Size Shed Needs a Permit in San Francisco

Whether you need a building permit for a shed in San Francisco usually comes down to size. In San Francisco, the cutoff is clear: detached sheds of 120 square feet or less don’t need a building permit, while anything larger does. A popular 10x12 shed (120 sq ft) lands exactly on the limit — at that size it’s still exempt, but going any bigger triggers a permit. Larger sheds, and any shed with electrical, plumbing, or a permanent foundation, almost always need a permit regardless of footprint.

Building a Shed Without a Permit in San Francisco

Even when a shed is small enough to skip a building permit in San Francisco, “no permit” doesn’t mean “no rules.” A permit-exempt shed generally must stay at or under the 120-square-foot limit, sit on a non-permanent base (sheds on skids or a gravel pad are treated more leniently than those on a poured foundation), and have no electrical or plumbing run to it. Crucially, zoning setbacks still apply — your shed usually has to sit a minimum distance from property lines and other structures, and that holds even for a permit-free shed. Confirm both the size exemption and the setback distance with the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection before you build.

How to Get a Shed Permit in San Francisco

1

Step 1: Size Verification

Confirm your shed is under the 120 sq ft threshold.

2

Step 2: Check Planning Rules

Verify your lot's rear yard coverage limits with SF Planning.

3

Step 3: Portal Submission

If over 120 sq ft, apply for a building permit via PermitSF.

4

Step 4: Fee Payment

Pay the valuation-based permit fees ($150 minimum base).

5

Step 5: Inspection

Schedule a final structural inspection for all permitted sheds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Only if it is larger than 120 sq ft or includes utilities.
If required, fees start at approx. $150 and increase based on valuation.
Generally in the rear yard, but you must not exceed total lot coverage limits.
In San Francisco, sheds of 120 square feet or less can be built without a building permit; anything larger needs one. The exemption usually also requires no permanent foundation and no electrical or plumbing, and zoning setbacks from property lines still apply even without a permit.
Often not, if it’s also within San Francisco’s 120 sq ft limit and has no utilities — many jurisdictions treat a shed on skids or a gravel pad as movable rather than a permanent building. A poured foundation or any electrical/plumbing typically triggers a permit. Confirm with the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection; zoning setbacks apply either way.