A tenant improvement (TI) is the interior build-out of leased commercial space: walls, ceilings, floors, lighting, electrical, HVAC and plumbing changes made to fit the tenant.
Who pays is set in the lease. The landlord usually offers a TI allowance toward the work and the tenant covers the rest, so get the allowance terms in writing before you sign.
41 active B licenses in San Francisco show tenant improvement permits (DataSF, 24 months) CSLB Oct 16, 2026 Verify live
Legal name: Skyline Commercial Interiors Inc · Based in San Francisco
116 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Oct 2026, median permit value $370k · tenant improvement, partitions, structural
licensed 30 yrs
Active · B · #727637 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
67 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Jun 2026, median permit value $10k · fire sprinklers, tenant improvement, flooring
licensed 46 yrs
Active · B · #392967 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
C-4 Boiler, Hot Water HeatingC-16 Fire ProtectionC-20 HVAC+1 more
Based in San Francisco
47 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Oct 2026, median permit value $650k · tenant improvement, partitions, interior remodel
licensed 32 yrs
Active · B · #689958 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
39 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Oct 2026, median permit value $1.5M · tenant improvement, partitions, demolition
licensed 40 yrs
Active · B · #492944 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
36 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Oct 2026, median permit value $960k · tenant improvement, partitions, flooring
licensed 22 yrs
Active · B · #829808 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
34 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Oct 2026, median permit value $350k · tenant improvement, partitions, demolition
licensed 10 yrs
Active · B · #1015908 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
30 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Sep 2026, median permit value $387k · tenant improvement, partitions, demolition
licensed 16 yrs
Active · B · #950183 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
26 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Aug 2026, median permit value $443k · tenant improvement, partitions, demolition
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
16 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Aug 2026, median permit value $75k · tenant improvement, partitions, structural
licensed 13 yrs
Active · B · #985808 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
13 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Sep 2026, median permit value $326k · tenant improvement, structural, flooring
licensed 3 yrs
Active · B · #1104356 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
A General Engineering
Based in San Francisco
11 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Sep 2026, median permit value $118k · tenant improvement, electrical, interior remodel
licensed 11 yrs
Active · B · #1005541 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
9 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Jun 2026, median permit value $450k · tenant improvement, partitions, structural
licensed 19 yrs
Active · B · #894951 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
A General Engineering
Based in San Francisco
8 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest May 2026, median permit value $428k · tenant improvement, partitions, structural
licensed 7 yrs
Active · B · #1048290 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
8 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Oct 2026, median permit value $167k · tenant improvement, demolition, new doors
licensed 2 yrs
Active · B · #1123938 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
7 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Aug 2026, median permit value $184k · tenant improvement, demolition, partitions
licensed 45 yrs
Active · B · #404737 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
4 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Mar 2026, median permit value $163k · 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
4 tenant improvement 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
4 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Jun 2026, median permit value $478k · partitions, tenant improvement, fire sprinklers
licensed 8 yrs
Active · B · #1035958 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
4 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Sep 2026, median permit value $514k · tenant improvement, interior remodel, bath
licensed 1 yr
Active · B · #1134971 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
3 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Apr 2026, median permit value $890k · tenant improvement, electrical, new doors
licensed 61 yrs
Active · B · #229568 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
3 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Mar 2026, median permit value $27k · tenant improvement, electrical, bath
licensed 55 yrs
Active · B · #268179 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
C-10 Electrical
Based in San Francisco
3 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Aug 2026, median permit value $800k · tenant improvement, flooring, partitions
licensed 28 yrs
Active · B · #743360 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
3 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Jul 2026, median permit value $500k · tenant improvement, flooring, accessibility
licensed 13 yrs
Active · B · #978738 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
C-36 Plumbing
License renewal due Nov 30, 2026.
Based in San Francisco
3 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Oct 2025 · tenant improvement, bath, kitchen
licensed 10 yrs
Active · B · #1008313 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Based in San Francisco
3 tenant improvement permits in SF, latest Sep 2026, median permit value $92k · tenant improvement, flooring, bath
licensed 2 yrs
Active · B · #1121342 · Bond ✓ · Workers' comp ✓ · Verify on CSLB
Other classes on these cards: A = General Engineering, C-4 = Boiler, Hot Water Heating, C-10 = Electrical, C-16 = Fire Protection, C-20 = HVAC, C-36 = Plumbing.
A tenant improvement usually combines partitions, ceilings, finishes and electrical, which is the two-or-more-trades job a B (General Building) license covers. Any fire sprinkler work 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
It is money the landlord agrees in the lease to put toward your build-out, usually paid out as work is completed or as a credit against rent. The amount and the rules for using it are lease terms, so read them before you hire anyone.
In San Francisco, every tenant improvement needs a building permit and architectural plans (SF DBI, checked Oct 18, 2026). Other cities set their own rules, so ask the building department before you start.
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.