Change of use / change of occupancy permit (retail or office → restaurant): San Francisco restaurant guide
SF Planning / DBI
What it is
When the space was not legally a restaurant, Planning must approve the new use category and DBI must issue a change-of-occupancy building permit and a new Certificate of Occupancy (SF Building Code §109A requires one for each change in occupancy classification).
When a restaurant needs it
The prior legal use was retail, office or another non-restaurant use, or no Certificate of Occupancy covers restaurant use.
How to apply
File the change of use on the building permit application for In-House Review (a commercial use-category change in a Neighborhood Commercial district cannot go over-the-counter); Planning reviews under Prop H's 30-day process where the use is principally permitted.
Documents you’ll need
- Existing permits and Certificate of Occupancy from DBI Records
- Planning Project Application (PRJ) if in-house review
- Plans showing the new occupancy (A-2 for 50+ occupants, B below)
- Accessibility, restroom and exiting upgrades for the new occupancy
- SFPUC capacity charge fixture count
Good to know
A change of occupancy to A-2 (assembly) can trigger sprinklers, a second exit, accessible restrooms and water/sewer capacity charges — have an architect scope this before you sign.
Official source
DBI — which projects need in-house review · SF Building Code §109A — Certificate of Occupancy
Answer a few questions about your space and get every permit in order, with a timeline, a cost range, walkthroughs, and every application filled in for you to sign with Open.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.