Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Digital Permitting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Department launches PermaDSF portal for simple permits, promises broader consolidation
Summary
The Planning Department announced PermaDSF, a phased online permitting portal that goes live for window/door/siding permits, fire alarms/sprinklers and special-event intake; staff say it will improve access for homeowners and small businesses and support planned permit consolidation with DBI.
The San Francisco Planning Department on Feb. 12 announced the first phase of PermaDSF, a new online permitting portal that will allow homeowners and small businesses to file certain permits remotely, Planning staff said.
Liz, a Planning Department presenter, said the portal goes live for window, door and siding replacement permits; fire department alarms and sprinkler permits; and an advisory “front door” for special-event permitting. The portal’s first phase is deliberately narrow, she said, aimed at straightforward, high-volume work where customers typically visit city offices infrequently. She told commissioners that one of the department’s beta testers had already been issued the first real permit through the system.
Planning Director Phillips and staff framed PermaDSF as the opening move in a larger consolidation effort with the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) and the permit center. The department expects roughly 40 staff transfers as part of the initial phase; staff said deeper integration with DBI will follow, with planning entitlements moving into a single consolidated workflow over time.
Staff emphasized equity and customer experience: guided questions in the portal will surface whether projects are historic or trigger other agency reviews, reducing surprise referrals and the need for in-person visits. Commissioners and staff also flagged constraints: AB 130 at the state level, existing building-code limits and the need for interagency work on life-safety rules such as single‑stair solutions.
The city said phase 2 will expand permitting and aim for fuller integration across land-use and building reviews. The department framed PermaDSF as a technology and transparency investment intended to reduce duplicated contracts and help address a projected budget deficit by creating clearer audit trails and online records for each permit action.
Next steps: the department will continue hyper-care through an initial rollout period, publish performance metrics and return to the commission as larger scopes of permitting are added.
