Retail build-out contractors in the Bay Area, CA

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

A San Jose tenant improvement needs plans reviewed for zoning, building and fire code. You apply on SJPermits and upload drawings and answer comments through SJePlans.

Source: City of San José, Planning, Building & Code Enforcement, checked Oct 18, 2026

The published first review for a small commercial job (a Miscellaneous Commercial Project) is 10 working days, then 5 per resubmittal, for building, MEP and fire review alike.

Source: City of San José, Planning, Building & Code Enforcement, checked Oct 18, 2026

Office interiors up to 50,000 sq ft on one floor, with no change of use, no addition and no major structural work, can go through STAR: one 90-minute meeting with several departments, for 50% more in plan review fees.

Source: City of San José, Planning, Building & Code Enforcement, checked Oct 18, 2026

Path-of-travel accessibility upgrades required by CBC 11B-202.4 can be done under the same STAR permit as the interior work. Projects that need Health Department approval, such as food facilities, can't use STAR.

Source: City of San José, Planning, Building & Code Enforcement, checked Oct 18, 2026

Restaurant, cafe and bar remodels still need zoning, building and fire review, but qualifying projects can use the Office of Economic Development's Streamlined Restaurant Program at no extra fee.

Source: City of San José, Planning, Building & Code Enforcement, checked Oct 18, 2026

Oakland lists 15 days as the processing time for a commercial tenant improvement permit with plans, counted once the application is complete.

Source: City of Oakland, Planning & Building Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

Every TI needs a building permit plus permits for the related mechanical, electrical and plumbing work, and Planning Design Review comes first only if it changes the exterior or the use. A restaurant or bar build-out also needs Alameda County Department of Environmental Health approval and separate Oakland Fire Department permits.

Source: City of Oakland, Planning & Building Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

Oakland Fire Prevention Bureau plan review is prepaid (the invoice is due within 14 days) and takes an estimated 4 to 6 weeks after payment. Submittals go by email with the Plan Review Intake Form.

Source: City of Oakland, Fire Prevention Bureau, checked Oct 18, 2026

Oakland's Accessibility Checklist compares your project cost with a 2026 accessibility threshold of $209,208. At or below it, path-of-travel upgrades follow the 20% rule, and the city advises owners and tenants to get a CASp inspection.

Source: City of Oakland, Planning & Building Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

A business needs a Zoning Clearance Permit for each location before it can apply for an Oakland business tax certificate. Some uses also need a Conditional Use Permit.

Source: City of Oakland, Planning & Building Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

Fire plan check for a Santa Clara build-out goes to the Fire Department's Community Risk Reduction Division (408-615-4970), which takes applications online only.

Source: City of Santa Clara, Fire Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

Tenant improvements can use expedited review, a 90-minute hybrid meeting on Wednesday or Thursday, for 50% more in plan review fees. Apply on the portal at least a week ahead.

Source: City of Santa Clara, Building Division, checked Oct 18, 2026

Overtime plan review is offered for limited-scope tenant improvements, but it covers building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing only. The Fire Department's overtime review needs its own request form.

Source: City of Santa Clara, Building Division, checked Oct 18, 2026

Every business in Santa Clara files a New Business Tax Affidavit and pays a Business License Tax based on headcount. A business at a Santa Clara address must include a Planning zoning clearance (Business Tax Unit: 408-615-2310).

Source: City of Santa Clara, Finance Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

You can't occupy the space until the final inspections pass, and they must all be scheduled for the same day. An open Fire Department or Public Works condition holds up the building final.

Source: City of Santa Clara, Building Division, checked Oct 18, 2026

A Palo Alto tenant improvement is reviewed under the 2025 California Building Standards Code, and the whole submittal goes through Accela Citizen Access as exactly three PDF files: APPLY, PLAN and DOCS.

Source: City of Palo Alto, Tenant Improvement (TI) Checklist, checked Oct 18, 2026

If the TI changes a food service facility, the submittal must include Santa Clara County Health approval.

Source: City of Palo Alto, Tenant Improvement (TI) Checklist, checked Oct 18, 2026

TI plan sets must include a building and fire code analysis, accessibility plans and details, and a parking plan covering EV and accessible spaces.

Source: City of Palo Alto, Tenant Improvement (TI) Checklist, checked Oct 18, 2026

Fire alarms and sprinklers need a separate Fire Permit, checked by the city's Fire Inspectors; the Fire Plan Check Desk is (650) 329-2194.

Source: City of Palo Alto, Planning & Development Services, checked Oct 18, 2026

Every business with a fixed location in Palo Alto files an annual business registration, and a new business moving into commercial space will likely also need a one-time Certificate of Use and Occupancy.

Source: City of Palo Alto, Licenses and Permits, checked Oct 18, 2026

Before Walnut Creek issues a commercial permit, you need sign-off from the Fire Prevention Bureau and the Sanitary District on every project, and from the Health Department for food service. Finals run through Planning, Engineering, Fire and Health, with Building last.

Source: City of Walnut Creek, Community Development Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

The agencies for a Walnut Creek TI are Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (925-941-3300), Contra Costa County Health Services (925-692-2500) and Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (925-229-7371).

Source: City of Walnut Creek, Community Development Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

Commercial Express Review is a 90-minute virtual meeting on Tuesdays for interior-only TIs, at a 50% surcharge on plan review fees. Offices up to 20,000 sq ft and retail up to 10,000 sq ft qualify; salons and restaurant kitchen expansions don't.

Source: City of Walnut Creek, Community Development Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

Changes of use, such as office to restaurant, and new or replaced restaurant hoods and sinks all need a building permit.

Source: City of Walnut Creek, Community Development Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

The city's TI submittal documents include its Guidelines for Access Compliance, forms for Title 24 access exceptions, and a guide to calculating accessible parking spaces for tenant improvements.

Source: City of Walnut Creek, Community Development Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

A commercial TI in unincorporated Alameda County has its own submittal checklist, and the County publishes an ADA notice for commercial building permit applicants under AB 3002.

Source: Alameda County Public Works Agency, Building Inspection, checked Oct 18, 2026

Alameda County Fire Department reviews fire plans for unincorporated areas except Fairview, which goes to Hayward Fire, and responds to plan check submittals within 10 days.

Source: Alameda County Fire Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

A food facility needs Environmental Health plan approval before construction. First response takes 20 working days on normal review or 7 on expedited, and approved plans are good for 6 months.

Source: Alameda County Department of Environmental Health, checked Oct 18, 2026

Alameda County Environmental Health covers food facilities in every city in the county except Berkeley, which runs its own program; (510) 567-6700.

Source: Alameda County Permit Portal, Food & Restaurant Permits, checked Oct 18, 2026

Every business in an unincorporated area needs an annual County business license for each location. The license is a tax and doesn't replace any other permit.

Source: Alameda County Permit Portal, Business License, checked Oct 18, 2026

Every commercial tenant improvement in the County's permit area needs sanitary district approval, even with no plumbing work, and fire department approval is required for any commercial change of use. All agency approvals must be in hand before you submit to Building.

Source: Contra Costa County, Department of Conservation and Development, checked Oct 18, 2026

For a county business license in an unincorporated area, get zoning approval from Conservation and Development (925-655-2700) first and attach it to the application. If the use isn't allowed outright, it needs a discretionary Land Use Permit.

Source: Contra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector, checked Oct 18, 2026

Contra Costa Environmental Health reviews plans for any new or remodeled food facility, including a new hood or replaced floors, walls or ceilings. Initial review should take 20 business days, and you submit one set of plans to start and four for final approval.

Source: Contra Costa Health, Environmental Health, checked Oct 18, 2026

Under AB 671, in effect since Jan 1, 2026, Environmental Health should review resubmittals for restaurant tenant improvements within 10 business days. The rule doesn't cover new buildings or other food facility types.

Source: Contra Costa Health, Environmental Health, checked Oct 18, 2026

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District's TI application requires sprinkler plans from a C-16 licensed contractor and fire alarm plans from a C-10, and kitchen hood suppression plans to meet UL300.

Source: Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, checked Oct 18, 2026

A commercial or office permit in unincorporated San Mateo County needs three sets of plans with signed calculations and the locations of hydrants, standpipes, sprinklers and utilities. Fees cover building, plan check, health and planning.

Source: County of San Mateo, Planning and Building Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

Fire review depends on the address: the county has many fire departments, each with its own requirements, so check San Mateo County Fire's jurisdiction map to find the right fire marshal.

Source: County of San Mateo, San Mateo County Fire, checked Oct 18, 2026

San Mateo County Environmental Health must approve plans before any food facility is built or remodeled. Submit 3 sets of plans and the equipment cut sheets through MyEHS; review takes up to 20 business days and the first revision is free.

Source: San Mateo County Health, Environmental Health Services, checked Oct 18, 2026

A conditionally permitted use needs a Use Permit decided at a public hearing, with notice to owners within 300 feet. The County estimates 4 to 6 months and $7,700 to $14,000.

Source: County of San Mateo, Planning and Building Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

Commercial plans are referred to Planning, Public Works, Fire, Civil/Drainage and Geotechnical, which generally respond within 30 days. The space can't be occupied until it passes a final inspection.

Source: County of San Mateo, Planning and Building Department, checked Oct 18, 2026

In unincorporated Santa Clara County, a new non-residential use needs a planning land-use application before the building permit.

Source: County of Santa Clara, Department of Planning and Development, checked Oct 18, 2026

The County Fire Marshal's Office reviews building plans for fire and life safety in most unincorporated areas, and handles sprinkler, alarm and hazmat permits separately: (408) 341-4420.

Source: County of Santa Clara, Department of Planning and Development, checked Oct 18, 2026

A new or remodeled food facility needs a plan check by the County Department of Environmental Health: scaled plans with equipment and finish schedules, hood counts, the menu and spec sheets. Since April 1, 2026, packets go by email only, to dehplancheck@deh.sccgov.org.

Source: County of Santa Clara, Department of Environmental Health, checked Oct 18, 2026

Environmental Health starts review only once the packet is complete and paid, and it can take up to 20 business days. A deli kiosk or coffee bar inside a larger store needs its own plan check.

Source: County of Santa Clara, Department of Environmental Health, checked Oct 18, 2026

After approval, Environmental Health inspects three times (framing and plumbing, finishes, then working equipment), booked at 408-918-3400. The permit to operate is billed after the final.

Source: County of Santa Clara, Department of Environmental Health, checked Oct 18, 2026