What to do
1. Check what records you can request
We have the following record types available:
- Building permits issued from 1906 to now
- Building permit job cards issued from 1933 to now
- Certificate of Final Completion and Occupancy (CFC) issued from 1945 to now
- Electrical permits issued from 1986 to now
- Plumbing permits issued from 1976 to now
- Mechanical permits issued from 2008 to now
- Plans to view, for wood-framed buildings from 1960 to now (you must apply separately to get copies of official building plans)
- Plans to view, for certain high-rise buildings from 1920 to now (you must apply separately to get copies of official building plans)
2. Request records
You can submit six requests per person, per company, per day.
You will fill out a records request form electronically in our office.
Department of Building Inspection
Records Management Division49 South Van Ness
Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94103
Mon to Tue,
7:30 am to 3:30 pm
Wed,
9:00 am to 3:30 pm
Thu to Fri,
7:30 am to 3:30 pm
Sign into the building before 3:30 pm so we can see you at the counter the same day.
Email or mail
Email or mail
Download and fill out the form
We will ask you:
- Occupancy type of the building
- If it’s a corner building
- Types of records you want
- If you want records from a certain date range
Email the form
If you send us an email, you will get a response within 24 hours.
Or print and mail the form
Department of Building Inspection
Records Management Division49 South Van Ness
Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94103
Sign into the building before 3:30 pm so we can see you at the counter the same day.
We will contact you to confirm the records you want to request.
If you want to get the records through the mail, we’ll send hard copies via Certified Mail with a fee.
Picking up your requested records
We will let you know via email when you can pick up the records. It may take up to 15 days, depending on the amount of research required.
We will let you know of any fees that are due, and ask how you want to pick up the records.
Special cases
Building plans
Building plans
State law allows you to view building plans in our offices. To provide you with copies of building plans, we first need approval from the following:
- Current property owner
- All design professionals listed on the plans
Apply to get copies of official building plans.
Note that you need more documents to view building plans for banks and government-owned buildings.
Last updated July 25, 2022