San Francisco Planning Department
The San Francisco Planning Department is the municipal authority for land use, zoning, permitting, and environmental review in San Francisco, serving homeowners, developers, businesses, and residents through its digital planning platform and in-person Permit Center.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What San Francisco Planning Department does
The San Francisco Planning Department is the municipal planning authority of the City and County of San Francisco, responsible for guiding land use, zoning, environmental review, and development oversight across the city. It operates under the direction of the Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Commission, with leadership provided by the Director's Office (John Rahaim prior to retirement, alongside Directors Thomas DiSanto, Jonas Ionin, and Gil Kelley). The department serves homeowners, small businesses, real estate developers, wireless providers, short-term rental hosts, and the general public through permit processing, zoning determinations, environmental review under CEQA, and long-range planning.
The department's product portfolio centers on a web-based permitting and planning platform anchored by the Property Information Map (PIM), the San Francisco Housing Dashboard (Power BI), the Streamlined Housing Projects Dashboard (beta), the Development Impact Fee Calculator, the PermitSF online permitting portal, the CEQA Exemptions Map, and the Short-Term Rental Registration System. These tools, combined with the in-person SF Planning Counter at the Permit Center, support residential, commercial, and large-scale development applications across all San Francisco neighborhoods.
Its business model is government-funded rather than commercial: it is supported by City and County of San Francisco budget allocations from general tax revenues and dedicated planning funds, supplemented by transaction-based permit, application, and development impact fees across categories including project applications, conditional use authorizations, variances, zoning verification letters, letters of determination, CEQA environmental review, and development impact fees (with a new fee schedule effective August 29, 2025, and 2025 impact fees effective January 1, 2025). The department operates from headquarters at 49 South Van Ness Avenue alongside 15 other City agencies, with hearings held at 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.
San Francisco Planning Department firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- San Francisco Planning Department
- Legal name
- San Francisco Planning Department
- Website
- https://sfplanning.org
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The San Francisco Planning Department is the municipal authority for land use, zoning, permitting, and environmental review in San Francisco, serving homeowners, developers, businesses, and residents through its digital planning platform and in-person Permit Center.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
San Francisco Planning Department industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Municipal Planning Services
- NAICS
- Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Planning, Zoning, Permitting & Code Enforcement (BPAIACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD), Building Codes, Permitting & Inspections (Building Safety) (BPAIANAF)
Keywords
Where San Francisco Planning Department is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
San Francisco Planning Department business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Permit and Application Fees: The department collects fees for various permit applications, variance requests, environmental reviews, zoning verification letters, letters of determination, and other planning services. Fee schedules are publicly available and updated periodically.
- Government Funding: Funded through the City and County of San Francisco budget allocations from general tax revenues and dedicated planning funds.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Project Application (PRJ) fees for development applications |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Conditional Use Authorization (CUA) supplemental fees |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Variance (VAR) application fees |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Zoning Verification Letter (ZAV) fees |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Letter of Determination (ZAD) fees |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Environmental Review fees under CEQA |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Development Impact Fees |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels11 records
San Francisco Planning Department product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The San Francisco Planning Department is a municipal government agency that administers land use planning, zoning, and development oversight for the City and County of San Francisco. It processes permit applications, issues zoning determinations, conducts environmental review under CEQA, oversees historic preservation, manages short-term rental registration, and publishes housing and development data. Services are delivered through a central Permit Center, online portals, and Planning Commission hearings.
Product overview
San Francisco Planning Department operates a web-based platform consisting of public-facing tools and services for land use planning, permitting, and development oversight. The core portfolio includes the Property Information Map (PIM) for property/zoning research, the San Francisco Housing Dashboard and Streamlined Housing Projects Dashboard for housing production tracking, the Development Impact Fee Calculator for fee estimation, PermitSF for permit applications, and the Short-Term Rental Registration System. Additional services include CEQA Exemptions Map for environmental review, Letters of Determination for zoning guidance, and various hearing and calendar systems. The platform also encompasses the Family Zoning Plan adopted January 2026. These tools collectively serve homeowners, developers, businesses, and the general public in navigating San Francisco's planning and permitting processes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Property Information Map (PIM)
- Development Impact Fee Calculator
- PermitSF Permitting Portal
- Streamlined Housing Projects Dashboard
- San Francisco Housing Dashboard
- Family Zoning Plan
- CEQA Exemptions Map
- Letter of Determination
- Short-Term Rental Registration System
Quantifiable outcome
- Family Zoning Plan now in effect as of January 12, 2026, expanding housing choice citywide
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use San Francisco Planning Department
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
San Francisco Planning Department technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
San Francisco Planning Department partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD)coreSF Planning works closely with OEWD to develop and review master plans for large-scale developments. These projects, which can span from 5 to over 200 acres, require planning for multiple phases over several years and may involve creating new infrastructure, blocks and streets, parks, and community facilities.
- Port of San FranciscocoreCollaborates on waterfront resilience planning including the Port of San Francisco Waterfront Resilience Program and the San Francisco Shoreline Adaptation Plan, working to ensure waterfront assets are resilient to climate hazards.
- San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)minorPartners on climate adaptation projects including the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project, which will create new public open space, protect key public assets, and ensure coastal access.
- SF EnvironmentcoreCollaborates on the San Francisco Climate Action Plan, charting a pathway to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while addressing racial and social equity, public health, and economic resilience.
- California Office of Planning and ResearchcoreImplements the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under direction of the Environmental Review Officer, conducting environmental reviews pursuant to state law requirements.
- SFGov (City and County of San Francisco)coreCo-located at the Permit Center with 15 other City agencies to provide centralized location for project needs. Uses SFGovTV for hearing broadcasts and shares infrastructure with other city departments.
- Mayor's OfficecoreWorks with the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, and other City Departments to achieve the city's long-term goals regarding land and building construction and use. Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Commission commissioners are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Board of Supervisors.
- Office of Racial EquitycoreThe Equity Plan is mandated by citywide requirements from the Office of Racial Equity (ORE). SF Planning submits annual updates to ORE and undergoes 2-year and 5-year evaluations as part of the Racial and Social Equity Action Plan framework.
- California Office of Historic PreservationminorAs a Certified Local Government, SF Planning works within state preservation standards while prioritizing local values, community knowledge, and public participation in historic preservation efforts.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
San Francisco Planning Department competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- New York City Department of City Planning: NYC's primary municipal planning agency responsible for zoning, land use, and the City Map. Most directly comparable as a large U.S. city planning authority with similar zoning, environmental review, and commission-driven decision structure, though at materially greater scale than SF Planning.
- Los Angeles Department of City Planning: LA's municipal planning department overseeing zoning, community plans, and discretionary approvals. Comparable in function to SF Planning — land use policy, environmental review, public hearings — and likewise managing state housing law compliance (SB 9, SB 423) in a high-cost West Coast city.
- Chicago Department of Planning and Development: Chicago's combined planning and development agency handling zoning, economic development, and housing programs. Directly comparable in scope to SF Planning's mix of land use planning, housing policy, and development oversight, though in a different regional context.
Direct peers
- Boston Planning & Development Agency: Boston's city planning authority, similar in size and scope to SF Planning, with responsibility for zoning review, large-project development review, and housing production tracking. Closely matched in operating model (commission hearings, digital permitting tools, urban infill focus).
- Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections: Seattle's consolidated planning, permitting, and inspections agency. Comparable because it combines planning policy with operational permitting — including online permit portals and digital dashboards — much like SF Planning's PIM, PermitSF, and Housing Dashboard stack.
- Portland Bureau of Development Services: Portland's combined planning, permitting, and inspections bureau. Comparable in role and digital-services orientation (online permitting, housing production data), serving a West Coast city with similar state-level housing and land use law obligations.
- Washington DC Office of Planning: DC's municipal planning agency, comparable in scale and function to SF Planning — comprehensive plan, zoning review, historic preservation oversight, and small-staff digital tools for tracking development activity.
Regional players
- San Diego Development Services Department: San Diego's combined planning, permitting, and code enforcement department. Comparable in function (zoning, environmental review, project intake) but in a different (less dense, more suburban) urban context than San Francisco.
- Philadelphia Department of Planning and Development: Philadelphia's combined planning and development agency, similar in housing-policy and zoning responsibilities to SF Planning, though serving a markedly different market and political environment.
Others
- OpenGov: Permitting and procurement software vendor whose portal technology underpins SF Planning's PermitSF deployment. Adjacent ecosystem participant — a private-sector enabler that increasingly shapes the digital experience of municipal planning customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
San Francisco Planning Department social profiles
Digital presenceSan Francisco Planning Department financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
San Francisco Planning Department leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
San Francisco Planning Department funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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San Francisco Planning Department M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about San Francisco Planning Department
What does San Francisco Planning Department do?
The San Francisco Planning Department is a municipal government agency that administers land use planning, zoning, and development oversight for the City and County of San Francisco. It processes permit applications, issues zoning determinations, conducts environmental review under CEQA, oversees historic preservation, manages short-term rental registration, and publishes housing and development data. Services are delivered through a central Permit Center, online portals, and Planning Commission hearings.
Is San Francisco Planning Department a public or private company?
San Francisco Planning Department is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was San Francisco Planning Department founded?
San Francisco Planning Department was founded in 2013. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is San Francisco Planning Department based?
San Francisco Planning Department is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does San Francisco Planning Department make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Permit and Application Fees are the primary driver. The others are government Funding.
Who are San Francisco Planning Department's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are New York City Department of City Planning, Los Angeles Department of City Planning and Chicago Department of Planning and Development. Direct peers are Boston Planning & Development Agency, Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, Portland Bureau of Development Services and Washington DC Office of Planning. Regional players are San Diego Development Services Department and Philadelphia Department of Planning and Development. OpenGov is listed as an others.
Does San Francisco Planning Department have an API?
No public API is recorded for San Francisco Planning Department.
What industry is San Francisco Planning Department in?
San Francisco Planning Department's product category is Municipal Planning Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAE, Planning, Zoning, Permitting & Code Enforcement, with a secondary code of BPAIANAD, Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning). Its NAICS code is 9251.