SFDPH Food Facility Plan Check: San Francisco restaurant guide
SF Department of Public Health — Environmental Health
What it is
Environmental Health reviews your floor plan, equipment, finishes, plumbing and restrooms against the California Retail Food Code before you build, then inspects at rough plumbing, 80% complete and final.
When a restaurant needs it
Remodeling or building a retail food facility, or installing/replacing cooking equipment, hoods, water heaters, plumbing, restrooms, walls, floors or ceiling finishes.
How to apply
Submit scaled, professionally drawn plans with equipment and finish schedules at the Permit Center (Counter 82, Mon–Fri 9 am–3 pm) with 'health' marked as a routing station on the building permit, or upload them with the online building permit; pay the invoice online, at Counter 83 or by mail.
Documents you’ll need
- Construction floor plans drawn to scale
- Equipment schedule with spec sheets
- Finish schedule (floors, walls, ceilings)
- Plumbing plan: sinks, grease interceptor, water heater
- Menu
Good to know
Do not order equipment or start construction until the plans are approved — changes after approval mean re-review. Plan check staff: Rochelle Veloso 415-252-3809, Joanna Huber 415-252-3858.
Official source
SFDPH — plan check guide for building/remodeling a food facility · EHB fee schedule FY 2025-26
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.