A restaurant build-out turns a shell or a former shop into a working kitchen and dining room: grease and exhaust systems, plumbing, fire protection, finishes and accessible restrooms.
Who pays is set in the lease. Landlords often give a TI allowance, but a restaurant kitchen costs more to fit out than an office, so the tenant usually funds the gap.
16 active B licenses in San Francisco show restaurant build-out permits (DataSF, 24 months) CSLB Oct 16, 2026 Verify live
Median commercial permit value under $500,000, from the contractor's own permits.
Legal name: Skyline Commercial Interiors Inc · Based in San Francisco
12 restaurant build-out permits in SF, latest Jul 2026, median permit value $1.7M · bath, tenant improvement, interior remodel
licensed 30 yrs
Active · B · #727637 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
8 restaurant build-out permits in SF, latest Jun 2026, median permit value $33k · hood and kitchen exhaust, flooring, accessibility
licensed 27 yrs
Active · B · #761595 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
C-20 HVAC
Based in San Francisco
7 restaurant build-out permits in SF, latest Aug 2026, median permit value $175k · interior remodel, tenant improvement, flooring
licensed 11 yrs
Active · B · #1005541 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
6 restaurant build-out permits in SF, latest Sep 2026, median permit value $1.8M · addition, flooring, interior remodel
licensed 32 yrs
Active · B · #689958 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
4 restaurant build-out permits in SF, latest May 2026, median permit value $75k · demolition, kitchen, partitions
licensed 22 yrs
Active · B · #829808 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
4 restaurant build-out permits in SF, latest Sep 2026, median permit value $56k · accessibility, tenant improvement, bath
licensed 18 yrs
Active · B · #921716 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp exempt · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
3 restaurant build-out permits in SF, latest Feb 2026, median permit value $4.2M · addition, fire sprinklers, flooring
licensed 40 yrs
Active · B · #492944 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
3 restaurant build-out permits in SF, latest Mar 2026, median permit value $298k · deck, fire sprinklers, new doors
licensed 29 yrs
Active · B · #729664 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
A General Engineering
License renewal due Nov 30, 2026.
Based in San Francisco
3 restaurant build-out permits in SF, latest Jul 2026, median permit value $30k · accessibility, bath, kitchen
licensed 1 yr
Active · B · #1143200 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
A General Engineering
Based in San Francisco
2 restaurant build-out permits in SF, latest Oct 2026, median permit value $123k · electrical, flooring, kitchen
licensed 25 yrs
Active · B · #797580 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
2 restaurant build-out permits in SF, latest May 2026, median permit value $30k · kitchen, structural, tenant improvement
licensed 13 yrs
Active · B · #979493 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
2 restaurant build-out permits in SF, latest Jan 2026, median permit value $132k · accessibility, flooring, interior remodel
licensed 5 yrs
Active · B · #1080500 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp exempt · Verify on CSLB
Median commercial permit value of $500,000 or more.
Based in San Francisco
2 restaurant build-out permits in SF, latest Jun 2026, median permit value $520k · tenant improvement, kitchen, structural
licensed 6 yrs
Active · B · #1061561 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Contractors with no permit values on file are not in these two groups. Median values are rounded to the nearest $1,000 from DataSF permits.
Other classes on these cards: A = General Engineering, C-20 = HVAC.
A restaurant build-out needs a B (General Building) contractor; a B-2 can't work on commercial space. If the hood system or the space needs fire sprinklers, that part needs a C-16 license or a licensed C-16 sub.
Source: CSLB, B General Building Contractor (B&P Code 7057), checked Oct 18, 2026
Permit office: San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI), Permit Center, 49 South Van Ness
Every tenant improvement in San Francisco needs a building permit and architectural plans. Commercial TIs and office remodels can get over-the-counter review at the Permit Center; bring 2 sets of plans.
Source: San Francisco Department of Building Inspection, checked Oct 18, 2026
SF Fire Department Plan Check reviews restaurants and other assembly spaces with 50 or more occupants, plus all fire alarm and sprinkler work. A small TI that takes an hour or less can get an over-the-counter fire check; expedited review normally takes 7 days.
Source: San Francisco Fire Department, checked Oct 18, 2026
Restaurants, bars, grocery stores and employee cafeterias are routed to Environmental Health during plan check, with a DPH plan review fee separate from DBI's. DPH does a pre-final inspection at 80% complete and a final when construction is done.
Source: San Francisco Department of Public Health, Environmental Health, checked Oct 18, 2026
Since July 1, 2023, DBI handles all disabled-access plan review. Remodeling commercial space triggers upgrades to the entrance, restrooms and signage serving that area, capped at 20% of project cost below the state valuation threshold.
Source: San Francisco Department of Building Inspection, checked Oct 18, 2026
The Office of Small Business's Accessible Barrier Removal Grant pays up to $10,000 per business location for access improvements at public-facing storefronts, on a rolling basis until funding runs out or June 11, 2027.
Source: San Francisco Office of Small Business (OEWD), SF.gov, checked Oct 18, 2026
Turning a space into a restaurant or limited restaurant counts as a change of use. If it needs neighborhood notice or a Conditional Use Authorization from the Planning Commission, the permit goes to in-house review with a Planning Project Application.
Source: San Francisco Department of Building Inspection, checked Oct 18, 2026
In San Francisco, restaurants, bars and grocery stores are routed to Environmental Health during plan check, with a plan review fee separate from DBI (SF Department of Public Health, checked Oct 18, 2026). Other counties run their own food facility reviews.
A B (General Building) license. The B definition covers any structure for people or property and does not split homes from businesses. A B-2 license is limited to existing residential wood-frame buildings, so a B-2 contractor cannot take a store or office build-out. Fire sprinkler work needs a C-16 license or a licensed C-16 subcontractor (CSLB, B&P Code 7057).
Any contractor with employees must carry workers' comp. A contractor with no employees can file an exemption, and a card marked exempt means the contractor told CSLB it has no employees. Ask who will work on your site. From January 1, 2028 California requires a workers' comp certificate for every license, with a narrow joint-venture exception (CSLB, checked Oct 18, 2026).
Homes are listed separately under residential general contractors.