California note
San Francisco county is the same local government as the city
San Francisco uses one city-and-county government, so local questions usually start on SF.gov or SF Planning.
San Francisco is both a city and a county under one local government. This is called a consolidated city and county. You do not need to find a second county planning office.
Start with the department list on SF.gov. Pick the office that fits the job. SF Planning handles land use, zoning, and plan review. Building permits and inspections go through Building Inspection. Other city offices handle property records and tax work.
One local government does not mean one desk does it all. A remodel may need both planning and building review. Street or fire work may add another office. The shortcut is simple. Stay in the City and County of San Francisco system. Then follow the work to the right desk. For a zoning or land-use question, start with the address and SF Planning.
Official sources
Official pages
Reviewed July 22, 2026
Current rules, forms, fees, deadlines, maps, and office instructions.
Rules, forms, fees, deadlines, and office procedures can change. Check the current page before you file, pay, or rely on a date.
Connected places
Open the local directory
Related notes
Related California notes
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