New construction · San Francisco
How long does new construction take in San Francisco?
New construction in San Francisco typically follows a 10-phase sequence — feasibility, design, entitlements, plan check, permit issuance, sitework, foundation, framing/MEP, finishes, and final inspections. Local plan-check queues at San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) and San Francisco-specific risk factors are the main schedule levers; we publish the city's phase-by-phase timeline rather than a generic month count.
What changes the answer in San Francisco.
Schedule risk in San Francisco is concentrated in: Section 311/312 notification (30 days minimum); Discretionary Review schedule; Site Permit + Addenda process. DBI plan check; structural is rigorous given seismic context. Site Permit + Addenda process common on larger jobs.
- Section 311/312 notification (30 days minimum)
- Discretionary Review schedule
- Site Permit + Addenda process
- Wet-season constraints Nov–Mar
Source-backed note
Plan check and inspection cadence is published by San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI); entitlement review (where required) runs in parallel with design.
Local authority: San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI)
Get a San Francisco-specific answer for your parcel.
Send us the address and we'll respond with a feasibility note that cites San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) and the parcel's actual constraints — not a generic checklist.
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