A retail build-out prepares a storefront for a shop: new partitions, lighting, flooring, storefront glass, signs and accessible entrances and restrooms.
Who pays is set in the lease. A landlord may offer a TI allowance or hand over a bare shell, and the tenant pays for fixtures, signs and finishes.
14 active B licenses in San Francisco show retail build-out permits (DataSF, 24 months) CSLB Oct 16, 2026 Verify live
Based in San Francisco
8 retail build-out permits in SF, latest Jul 2026, median permit value $218k · partitions, tenant improvement, addition
licensed 13 yrs
Active · B · #985808 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
7 retail build-out permits in SF, latest Sep 2026, median permit value $40k · tenant improvement, partitions, accessibility
licensed 11 yrs
Active · B · #1005541 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
7 retail build-out permits in SF, latest Aug 2026, median permit value $326k · tenant improvement, demolition, flooring
licensed 3 yrs
Active · B · #1104356 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
A General Engineering
Legal name: Skyline Commercial Interiors Inc · Based in San Francisco
3 retail build-out permits in SF, latest Oct 2025, median permit value $300k · demolition, flooring, interior remodel
licensed 30 yrs
Active · B · #727637 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
2 retail build-out permits in SF, latest Dec 2025, median permit value $198k · interior remodel, tenant improvement, bath
licensed 21 yrs
Active · B · #858960 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
C-10 Electrical
License renewal due Nov 30, 2026. Workers' comp policy ends Oct 27, 2026. Ask for the renewal certificate.
Based in San Francisco
2 retail build-out permits in SF, latest Dec 2025, median permit value $265k · demolition, flooring, interior remodel
licensed 19 yrs
Active · B · #894951 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
A General Engineering
Based in San Francisco
2 retail build-out permits in SF, latest Feb 2026, median permit value $1.5M · demolition, partitions, accessibility
licensed 19 yrs
Active · B · #902820 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
2 retail build-out permits in SF, latest Jan 2026, median permit value $46k · accessibility, new doors, new windows
licensed 15 yrs
Active · B · #966120 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
A General Engineering
Workers' comp policy ends Nov 8, 2026. Ask for the renewal certificate.
Based in San Francisco
2 retail build-out permits in SF, latest Aug 2025, median permit value $533k · accessibility, bath, hvac
licensed 12 yrs
Active · B · #991598 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
2 retail build-out permits in SF, latest Apr 2026, median permit value $359k · interior remodel, accessibility, demolition
licensed 12 yrs
Active · B · #995375 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
A General EngineeringC-8 Concrete
Workers' comp policy ends Nov 1, 2026. Ask for the renewal certificate.
Based in San Francisco
2 retail build-out permits in SF, latest Dec 2025, median permit value $102k · accessibility, bath, interior remodel
licensed 11 yrs
Active · B · #1004939 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
2 retail build-out permits in SF, latest Dec 2025, median permit value $777k · structural, demolition, electrical
licensed 10 yrs
Active · B · #1015908 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
2 retail build-out permits in SF, latest Jul 2026, median permit value $172k · accessibility, bath, electrical
licensed 8 yrs
Active · B · #1044466 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
2 retail build-out permits in SF, latest Jan 2025, median permit value $15k · accessibility, interior remodel, new windows
licensed 8 yrs
Active · B · #1045139 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp via leasing · Verify on CSLB
Other classes on these cards: A = General Engineering, C-8 = Concrete, C-10 = Electrical.
A store build-out needs a B (General Building) contractor; a B-2 is limited to existing homes. Storefront glass, signs and fire sprinklers are specialty trades the B either holds or subs to a licensed contractor.
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, 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 (SF DBI, checked Oct 18, 2026).
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.