Permit record · California
What San Francisco paid for a adu / guest house
Not an estimate. We read 172 permits filed with San Francisco and took the value written on each one.
Half of these jobs landed between $80,000 and $225,000. One in ten came in under $35,000; one in ten ran past $308,188.
The same job, other cities
| City | Median | Typical range | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $165,000 | $80,000 – $225,000 | 172 |
| Seattle, WA | $217,740 | $188,034 – $497,277 | 1,230 |
| Everett, WA | $177,174 | $81,370 – $262,177 | 94 |
| Corona, CA | $154,901 | $87,754 – $195,138 | 89 |
| Sacramento, CA | $123,470 | $80,483 – $186,075 | 38 |
| Raleigh, NC | $112,656 | $94,772 – $141,383 | 69 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $100,000 | $60,000 – $160,000 | 4,142 |
| Chicago, IL | $94,100 | $50,000 – $188,864 | 51 |
| New York, NY | $90,000 | $55,000 – $200,225 | 94 |
| Montgomery County, MD | $65,000 | $37,000 – $200,000 | 61 |
Across the cities we cover, the same job runs from $65,000 in Montgomery County to $217,740 in Seattle — a 3.3× spread. See all cities →
Other projects in San Francisco
| Project | Median | Permits |
|---|---|---|
| Roof Replacement | $16,000 | 7,068 |
| Kitchen Remodel | $65,000 | 5,492 |
| Bathroom Remodel | $31,128 | 2,892 |
| Siding or Stucco | $17,000 | 1,602 |
| Deck or Patio | $17,807 | 1,068 |
| Garage | $20,000 | 749 |
| Home Addition | $85,000 | 687 |
| Solar Panels | $26,208 | 394 |
| Window Replacement | $13,000 | 295 |
| Interior Remodel | $108,435 | 284 |
| HVAC Replacement | $15,000 | 220 |
| Foundation Repair | $27,694 | 80 |
| Water Heater | $5,400 | 55 |
Source
Source: City and County of San Francisco DBI — Building Permits. Permits issued in the last 24 months, classified by the work described on the permit. The figure is the declared value of the work — what the applicant reported to the city. It excludes work done without a permit and can sit below a final invoice. Read the full methodology. Data refreshed 2026-09-04.