Permit Expediting & Development Consulting
PermitBox helps contractors, architects, investors, and homeowners get permits through San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and across the Bay Area with fewer corrections and less waiting.
Services
PermitBox provides hands-on permit support for homeowners, architects, contractors and developers, from the first question to the issued permit.-
Got a specific permit question? Book a focused 30-minute call with a Bay Area permit specialist, ADUs, tenant improvements, contractor permits, and jurisdiction-specific requirements covered.
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We manage the full permit process for you. From plan check submissions to agency coordination to final approval, we keep your project moving while you focus on the work.
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Ongoing permit management for contractors, builders, investors and companies with multiple projects. Weekly status updates, one point of contact, one monthly package. See packages below.
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Single & Multi-Family Residential Permits
HOA & Community Association Permits
Commercial Office & Retail T.I. Building Permits
Public & Community Building Permits
Consulting & Project Navigation
Real Estate & Investment Services
Document & Application Management
OUR APPROACH
PermitBox is a woman-owned permit expediting and development consulting firm based in San Francisco, and a 2026 Best of America Small Business Award winner. I’m a general contractor and the founder of Toolbox Construction, a San Francisco design-build firm. I started PermitBox because the Bay Area permit process is slow, confusing, and unforgiving if you don’t know the system, and most people don’t.
I work directly with contractors, architects, developers, investors and homeowners on projects that need to move: SF DBI submissions, commercial tenant improvements, residential and ADU permits, plan check corrections and agency coordination. Because I build too, I know what a reviewer is looking for and what a set of plans needs before it goes in.
I work across San Francisco, the East Bay, the Peninsula, the South Bay, Marin and the North Bay through Sonoma County.
HOW IT WORKS
Before you start, a few resources that answer the most common questions:
If you’re considering an ADU, the [ADU feasibility guide] explains what to check before you invest in design. For commercial spaces, [TI permit requirements] outlines what a tenant improvement needs to get approved. And before any submittal, review the [10 most common permit mistakes] that lead to corrections and delays.STEP 1
Free 15-minute call
Tell us about your project. We'll point you to the right next step: a consulting call, a feasibility report, full expediting, or a monthly package.STEP 2
plan before you submit
We check zoning, code, and city requirements up front and build a submittal checklist for your jurisdiction, so fewer corrections come back.STEP 3
we manage it to approval
We handle submittal, city communication, and plan check comments, with weekly email updates until the permit is issued.SINGLE PROJECT
$750 · Every monthFor one long-running project: a tenant improvement, an addition, or a job in several rounds of plan check.✓ 1 active project✓ Permit tracking from submittal to issuance✓ Weekly email status update✓ Plan check comment review with a response plan✓ Monthly consulting hours✓ 3-month minimum, then month-to-monthPROJECT PACKAGE
$1,800 · Starting at, every monthFor builders and investors with two or three projects moving through the city at the same time.✓ 2–3 active projects✓ Everything in Single Project, on every project✓ A submittal checklist for each project, specific to its city✓ One weekly update covering all your projects✓ 3-month minimum, then month-to-monthMULTI-PROJECT
Custom · Scoped after a consultationFor contractors, developers and multi-site owners with a steady pipeline of permits.✓ 4+ active projects✓ Everything in Project Package✓ Monthly pipeline review: what’s coming next and what each project needs✓ Priced to your project volumePERMIT DESK PACKAGES
Every project in your pipeline, covered for one monthly fee.One point of contact, city follow-up handled, and a status update every week.
$295
Share your project details to get your Permit Guide, delivered within 2 business days of payment. The more detail you provide, the more specific your guide will be. Have drawings or photos? Attach them in a reply to your order confirmation email.
$295
Share your project details to get your Permit Guide, delivered within 2 business days of payment. The more detail you provide, the more specific your guide will be. Have drawings or photos? Attach them in a reply to your order confirmation email.
Common Questions
Do I need a permit expediter, or can I do it myself?
Simple permits are often manageable on your own. An expediter helps when your project involves zoning questions, multiple city reviews or plan check comments, or when delays cost more than the fee.
What does the free 15-minute call cover?
We learn about your project and recommend the right next step. Detailed code or permit questions are covered in a paid consulting call.
How much does a consulting call cost?
Consulting calls start at $150. We offer 30-minute, 60-minute and same-day rush sessions.
What is a feasibility report?
Before you pay for design, we check zoning, setbacks and site conditions, and deliver a written summary in 2–3 business days.
No. Full expediting, meaning we prepare submittals, write comment responses and attend city meetings, is available as an add-on at a reduced package rate.
What are Permit Desk packages?
Monthly permit management for clients with a long-running project or several projects at once. Packages include permit tracking, weekly email updates, plan check comment review and consulting hours, starting at $750/month.
Is full permit expediting included in a package?
Do you handle commercial projects?
Yes. Tenant improvements, office and retail, multi-family and public projects, along with residential and ADU permits.
Packages have a 3-month minimum, then continue month-to-month. Cancel anytime after that with 30 days' notice.
Can I cancel a package?
It depends on the city and the scope. Over-the-counter permits can be issued quickly. Projects that go through plan check often take several weeks to several months. We'll give you a realistic timeline on the call.
How long does a permit take?
San Francisco, the East Bay, the Peninsula, the South Bay, Marin and the North Bay through Sonoma County.
Which areas do you serve?
Book an APPOINTMENT
GET STARTED.
Book a free 15-minute call, or share a few details below and we'll get back to you within one business day.
