FAQs

To apply for permits please complete an online permit application and email to BSMPermitdivision@sfdpw.org.

For new or renewal Street Space or Voluntary Sidewalk Repair requests, please submit your completed application electronically here. A copy of the Street Space Submittal Guideline is available here. Following submission of your request, you will be sent an invoice via email for invoicing/payment. Tow away signs and placards will be sent by email after payment is received. There is no need to visit our offices at 49 South Van Ness Avenue. 

To pay permit fees, citations or non-sufficient funds (NSF) or to add funds to drawdown accounts using credit/debit card or echeck, visit our online payment kiosk.  

For Vault, Major/Minor Encroachment or other permits requiring recordation, please review the record a permit link.  

For additional help, please email us at one of the following based on the nature of your question:

To learn more about how Prop H may affect the permitting process, click here.

Contractor Parking Plan

• Ordinance

• Legislative Digest

• Contractor Parking Plan Brochure

• Contractor Parking Plan Overview

• Contractor Parking Plan User Guide

• Permit Fee Schedule

General Information

• A-Frames (Guidelines for the placement of A-frame signage in the public right of way)

• Awnings (Typical conditions of when a Minor Sidewalk Encroachment is needed)

• BSM Inspection and Enforcement

• Café Tables and Chairs (Guidelines for placing outdoor seating in the public right of way)                                                (中文版) (Versión en Español)

• Curb Ramp (Guidelines for the evaluation and construction of new curb ramps)

• Debris Box (Permit requirements and placement guidelines in the public right of way)

• Display Merchandise (Guidelines for displaying merchandise in sidewalk locations)  (中文版)  (Versión en Español)

• Accela

• Excavation Requirements (Guidelines for general requirements when excavating in the public right of way)

• General BSM Permit Guide

• Introduction to Pruning and Young Tree Care

• Moratorium Streets (Guidelines for excavating in newly repaved roadways)

• Parklet

• Pedestrian and Bike Safety in Construction Zones (new July 2014)

• Public Works Order (Compilation)

• Public Works Permit Fee Schedule 

• Reinforced Concrete Bus Pad

• Reinforced Concrete Sidewalk   

• SF Better Streets

• Sidewalk Landscaping - (中文版)

• Sidewalk Landscape with SIRP

• Site Protection and Housekeeping (Guidelines for site protection and housekeeping at construction sites)

• Steel Plates (Guidelines for the protection of the public right of way following excavation)

• Street Improvement (Permits and plan requirements)

• Street Space, Add'l Street Space and Temporary Occupancy

• Sub-Sidewalk Basement (Guidelines for permitting, abating and abandoning sub-sidewalk basements)

• Tow-Away Sign Activation and Photo Upload Process

• Tree Protection

• Trench Restoration (Guidelines and requirements for excavation in the right of way)
   

Presentations 

• Benefits of Greening

• Canary Island Date Palms on the Embarcadero

• Excavation Coordination (Land Use Committee) 

• Mobile Food Facilities Flow Chart

• Night Noise (Board of Supervisors) 

• Public Works Code 791 (Director's Meeting) 

• Surface Mounted Facilities (Board of Supervisors) 

• Safer Streets (Land Use Committee) 

• Temporary Occupancy Permits (Additional Street Space, Special Traffic, Street Space, Temporary Occupancy Permits) 

• Tree Maintenance Transfer

• Urban Forest Plan
   

Tow-Away Sign Procedure

• DPW Order 183160
• Tow-Away User Guide
• Tow-Away FAQ
• Tow-Away Sign Template