According to San Francisco Building Code, please see below requirements for work that is exempt from permit.
106A.2 Work exempt from permit. Exemptions from the permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. A building permit shall not be required for the following:
- One-story detached accessory buildings or structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the projected roof area does not exceed 100 square feet (9.29 m 2 ).
- Fences not over 6 feet (1829 mm) high located at the rear and side lot lines at the rear of the property, and all fences not over 3 feet (914.4 m) in height.
- Amusement devices not on fixed foundations.
- Movable cases, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches (1753 mm) high.
- Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or III-A liquids.
- Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18 927 L) and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2.1.
- Platforms, sidewalks, walks and driveways when not part of an exit, and not more than 30 inches (762 mm) above grade and not over any basement or story below and which, for residential buildings required to be accessible to persons with disabilities, are not part of a required accessible route.
- Painting, papering and similar finish work.
- Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery.
- Minor repairs to existing interior plaster or wallboard, except when part of a fire-resistive assembly.
- Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R, Division 3 Occupancy in which the pool walls are entirely above the adjacent grade and if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18 927 L).
- State-owned buildings under the jurisdiction of the state fire marshal. Unless otherwise exempted, separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits will be required for the above-exempted items.
- Reroofing without the installation, repair or removal of roof sheathing, if the total surface area of the roof reroofed in any 12-month period does not exceed 25 percent of the entire surface area of the roof.
- Surface mounting of readily removable materials on interior walls.
- Work performed on structures owned and occupied by the Federal or State government. This exemption shall not apply to privately operated structures erected on government-owned land, or to privately owned land or structures leased to the Federal or State government, or to structures owned and operated by State educational institutions unless such structures are owned and used exclusively for educational purposes or other uses related to the institution’s educational purposes, such as student cafeterias or dormitories.
- Installations or replacement of floor coverings in areas other than bathrooms and toilet rooms not requiring the removal of existing required flooring.
- Repair and replacement of glazing in conformity with this code, and provided wire glass shall be replaced in kind.
- Replacement of doors, except garage doors, in all occupancies, provided they are not part of fire- resistive assemblies required by this code.
- Work performed on structures owned or leased by the City and County of San Francisco where the construction or modification of said structure is financed in whole or in part by the issuance of lease revenue bonds prior to July 1, 1989.
- See Section 3107.1.1 for exempt signs.
- See Section J103.2 for grading permit exemptions.
- See Section 106A.1.10.3 for Elevators regulated by the state exemption.