From AIA San Francisco

This program will provide an overview and live walkthrough of the new San Francisco Public Works Permits Portal, launched as Phase 1 of the City’s broader PermitSF reform effort. Amanda Johnson will present the portal’s current functionality, including online application workflow, user account setup, fee payment procedures, and changes to the over-the-counter permit process.

The session will focus on permit types currently included in the portal, such as street space, temporary occupancy, sidewalk repair, and right-of-way conformity inspection. The presentation will also address changes to the permitting workflow, including intake fees, final fee payment, queueing, print center steps, and the elimination of certain prior requirements such as parking plans.

Following the presentation, San Francisco Public Works staff, including permit managers, will join a more conversational discussion and Q&A addressing the broader DPW permitting process, project coordination, and areas where practitioners are encountering friction or recurring difficulties. The session is intended both to give architects and related practitioners clearer insight into the City’s revised permitting system and to create a direct channel for practitioner feedback as future phases of the portal and related process improvements are developed.