San Francisco enforces 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC with 3 local amendments on top. The amendments are the part that gets sets corrected. The state edition is only the floor. San Francisco sits in San Francisco County.
Current edition
2025 Title 24
Prior edition
2022 Title 24
Code authority
SF Department of Building Inspection (DBI)
Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-12-31 may still be reviewed under the 2022 Title 24.
Adopted code and local amendments by discipline
Adopted code editions and local amendments by discipline
Discipline
Adopted code
Local amendment
Building
2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC
2025 San Francisco Building Code: Ord. 231-25 (adopted 2025-11-21, eff. 2025-12-22, operative 2026-01-01; CBSC filings 186/226-231-25)
Residential
2025 CRC, T24 Pt 2.5 based on 2024 IRC
n/a
Existing buildings
2025 CEBC, T24 Pt 10 based on 2024 IEBC
n/a
Fire
2025 CFC, T24 Pt 9 based on 2024 IFC
San Francisco Fire Code
Electrical
2025 CEC, T24 Pt 3 based on 2023 NEC
n/a
Mechanical
2025 CMC, T24 Pt 4 based on 2024 UMC
n/a
Plumbing
2025 CPC, T24 Pt 5 based on 2024 UPC
n/a
Energy
2025 Energy Code, T24 Pt 6
n/a
Green / sustainability
2025 CALGreen, T24 Pt 11
n/a
Accessibility
2025 CBC Ch 11A/11B, T24 Pt 2
n/a
Wildland-urban interface
2025 CA-WUIC, T24 Pt 7 based on 2024 IWUIC
n/a
Historical buildings
2025 CHBC, T24 Pt 8
n/a
Administrative
2025 CAC, T24 Pt 1
n/a
Zoning
No state-adopted code
Local zoning ordinance (city or county), subject to state preemptionLocal text supersedes the state code
What San Francisco actually amended
Quoted from the adopted ordinance. These are the provisions that differ from the state code, which is where most correction lists come from. Excerpts, not the whole ordinance. Follow the source link for the full text.
1206.10
The Department of Building Inspection shall consult with the Planning Department to ensure that notice to sponsors of residential development projects affected by Sections 1206.6
through 1206.9 are provided with notice of the requirements of this Section as soon as
practicable in the project approval process.
SECTION 1208 – INTERIOR SPACE DIMENSIONS
1208.4 1208.5 Revise paragraph 1 of this section and add paragraphs 5 and 6 of this section as follows:
1208.4 1208.5. Efficiency dwelling units. [ ← ] Efficiency dwelling units shall comply with the
following:
1. The unit shall be occupied by no more than two persons and have a living room of not less
than [ ← ] 150 square feet of floor area. […]
3311.2 · Replace this section and title with the following:
3311.2 [ ← ] Fire Safety During Demolition. All existing dry standpipes shall be maintained in
an operative condition and with all inlets and outlets accessible for use within two floors of the
highest remaining portion of a floor of the building. The inlets shall be so identified at the street
level as to be easily located by the Fire Department. They shall be removed in place with floor
removal and the upper ends capped above the highest remaining valve. The remaining system on
the lower floors shall continue operative until all construction above the third floor has been
removed. […]
SECTION J112 · GRADING FEES
The permit and the plan review fees shall be per Section 110A, Table 1A-F – Specialty Permit
Fees, Table 1A-A – Building Permit Fees. The valuation shall be based on the volume of
earthwork.
(CBC) APPENDIX K
GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES PROTECTED BY THE FACILITIES
OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY FLOOD PROTECTION PLAN
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
This appendix is not adopted in San Francisco
(CBC) APPENDIX L
EARTHQUAKE RECORDING INSTRUMENTATION
No San Francisco Building Code Amendments
(CBC) APPENDIX M
TSUNAMI-GENERATED FLOOD HAZARD
This appendix is not adopted in San Francisco
(CBC) APPENDIX N
REPLICABLE BUILDINGS
This appendix is not adopted in San Francisco
(CBC) APPENDIX O
PERFORMANCE-BASED… […]
106A.1.13
Permits and fees for construction of an impervious surface in a front yard setback; penalties for violation of requirements.
(a) General. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to commence or proceed
with the construction of an impervious surface in a front yard setback area, other than a driveway
as defined in Planning Code Section 136(c)(30), unless a permit is first obtained. See
Section 110A, Table 1A-F – Specialty Permit Fees – for applicable fee.
(b) Referral to Planning Department. […]
106A.2 · Work exempt from permit. [Section 105.2 of the California Building Code.]
Exemptions from the permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization
for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other
laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. A building permit shall not be required for the following:
1. One-story detached accessory buildings or structures used as tool and storage sheds,
playhouses and similar uses, provided the projected roof area does not exceed 100 square feet
(9.29 m2).
2. Fences not over 6 feet (1829 mm) high located at the rear and side lot lines at the rear of
the property, and all fences not over 3 feet (914.4 mm) in height.
3. Amusement devices not on fixed foundations.
4. […]
106A.3.3
Information on plans and specifications. Plans and specifications shall be drawn to scale on substantial paper of a size not less than 11-inch by 17-inch (279.4 mm × 431.8 mm) and
shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature and extent of the work proposed and
show in detail that it will conform to the provisions of this code and all relevant laws,
ordinances, rules and regulations. Specific plans and information required shall include any of
the following that is appropriate for the work being proposed:
1. The Assessor’s block and lot number on the first sheet or page of each set of plans and
other submittal documents.
2. […]
106A.4.6
Notice of permit issuance. Within 24 hours after the issuance of a building permit authorizing the types of work described below, notice of such issuance shall be given in the
manner set forth below.
1. For permits to demolish or erect a building or structure, or to move a structure to a new
site, the permittee shall obtain from the Department a sign containing the following information:
permit number; filing date; address and phone number of the agency to contact for information
regarding permit issuance; the date of permit issuance; address and phone of agency to contact to
appeal issuance of permit; name, address and phone number of the permittee. […]
1314A.6
Limitation. Water conservation inspections are intended to enforce the provisions of this chapter only, and are not intended to determine compliance or noncompliance with any other
portions of this code.
Add chapter as follows:
Chapter 13B
CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS
RECOVERY PROGRAM
SECTION 1301B – TITLE
This chapter shall be known as the “Construction and Demolition Debris Recovery Program.”
SECTION 1302B – RECOVERY OF CONSTRUCTION AND
DEMOLITION DEBRIS
Under the requirements set forth herein and in Chapter 14 of the Environment Code, all
construction and demolition debris in amounts of one cubic yard or greater generated in the
course of a construction or demolition project must… […]
109A.8
Group R-1 and R-2 occupancy, apartment house/Hotel License. A license shall be required for every Group R-1 and R-2 occupancy structure. The license shall be obtained by
paying the necessary fees as set forth in Section 110A, Table 1A-P – apartment house and hotel
license fees.
The apartment house/hotel license is not transferable, and a new license must be applied for by
the new owner within 30 days of change of ownership. […]
107A.15
Building Code fee waivers for accessory dwelling unit projects on lots containing single-family homes. Notwithstanding any fee provision of the Building Code to the contrary,
the following provisions shall apply to accessory dwelling unit projects located on a lot
containing a single-family home.
(a) Building inspection fees, plan review fees, records retention fees, and site surcharge fees
shall be waived. For purposes of this subsection (a), building inspection fees do not include
electrical and plumbing fees.
(b) For purposes of this Section 107A.15, “accessory dwelling unit” shall have the meaning
set forth in Planning Code Section 102, as amended from time to time. […]
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for San Francisco County. They apply by parcel, not jurisdiction-wide, so confirm the parcel before assuming one is in play. Check CAL FIRE's fire hazard severity viewer and FEMA's flood map service.
Liquefaction hazard zone
Seismic landslide hazard zone
California Coastal Zone
Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
FEMA mapped flood hazard area
State law that overrides local zoning here
When one of these applies, the state statute governs over a conflicting local standard. This is the most common reason a local rule someone quotes you turns out not to be enforceable against a project.
Gov. Code 66310 et seq.
State ADU law preempts local zoning that would preclude a conforming ADU/JADU.
Applies when: project includes an ADU or JADU
Gov. Code 65915
State Density Bonus Law concessions/waivers override local development standards.
Applies when: project requests a density bonus
Gov. Code 65852.21 / 66411.7
SB 9 urban lot split / two-unit ministerial approval preempts conflicting local standards.
Applies when: project is an SB 9 lot split or two-unit development
San Francisco enforces 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC, the edition adopted statewide in California, amended locally in 3 disciplines.
Does San Francisco amend the California code?
Yes: building, fire, zoning.
Where do I confirm the code edition for a San Francisco permit?
With the city building department that will review the permit. Adoption ordinances are amended on a local schedule, and a set submitted days apart can fall under different editions during a changeover.
Knowing the adopted edition is the easy half. Architechtura reads your drawings, resolves which of these provisions actually apply to the project, and returns the corrections a plan checker would write up, each one cited to the section it came from.
Compiled from published state and municipal adoption ordinances. Local governments amend their codes on their own schedule, and a pending ordinance can change what applies to your permit. Confirm the governing edition with the building department before you submit. This page is reference information, not a code determination.