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Commercial tenant improvementsin San Francisco.

Tenant improvements turn leased shell or second-generation space into a working business. We build them in step with the lease: landlord approvals, permits, inspections and the date you need the space.

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Call us (415) 297-2246 Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm PT

Email Courtney Send Project Details courtney@sfbuildinggroup.com

Build-outs for leased commercial space
Landlord and building requirements built into the schedule
Permits and inspections coordinated through SF DBI and Planning

LicenseCSLB #1106131

Service AreaAll of San Francisco

EstimateFree, on-site

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We take projects that need a contractor: remodels, commercial build-outs, new construction and major repairs.

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The Approach

How we run it.

What sets the plan, the estimate and the schedule for this kind of project.

Built around the lease

Landlord approvals, work letters and key dates are part of the plan, not an afterthought.

Trades coordinated

Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and low-voltage work are sequenced as one project.

Occupied buildings respected

Work in a building with other tenants follows the building's hours, loading and noise rules. Evening and weekend work can be planned where needed.

Telehandler beside a brick and blue industrial building in San Francisco

The Scope

What a tenant improvement involves.

A tenant improvement sits between two sets of rules: the building code and city approvals on one side, and the landlord's requirements on the other. The lease says what the landlord provides, what the tenant builds and when the clock starts. Our estimate and schedule are built around those lines.

We work from your architect's drawings, price the scope in writing, coordinate trades and inspections, and carry the project through to the final walkthrough and closeout documents.

Demolition and protection of base-building elements
Partitions, ceilings, doors and glazing
Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire-protection modifications
Data, low-voltage and security coordination
Millwork, flooring, finishes and signage coordination
Accessibility upgrades required by the scope
Inspections and certificate-of-occupancy coordination
Punch list and closeout documents

In San Francisco

Tenant improvements in San Francisco.

A new use in an existing space can require Planning approval for a change of use, and the scope of work can trigger accessibility and fire and life-safety upgrades beyond the tenant space itself. Plans go through SF DBI plan review, and some projects also involve the Fire Department or the Department of Public Health.

Landlords commonly need to approve the plans and the contractor before work begins, and many buildings set rules for work hours, freight elevator and loading dock use and protection of common areas. We ask about these at the first conversation.

How It Works

How your project moves forward.

See the full process page for what you receive at each step.

Free On-Site Estimate

We walk the space with you, review the lease conditions and drawings, and put a written estimate in your hands.

Permitting & Planning

We coordinate with your architect and the landlord and run permits through SF DBI and Planning.

Build & Final Walkthrough

Regular walkthroughs and written updates during the build, punch-list resolution before final payment, and a closeout package.

Where We Work

Commercial Tenant Improvements come up in many San Francisco neighborhoods. These pages cover housing stock, permits and typical projects in each area. We work in every neighborhood in the city, listed or not.

Neighborhoods

Other commercial work

Commercial work runs on leases, landlord approvals and fixed dates. See the other build types we take on, or the commercial overview.

Common Questions

Commercial Tenant Improvements FAQ.

Anything else, ask in the form at the top of the page.

What is the difference between a tenant improvement and a new commercial building?

A tenant improvement builds out or alters space inside an existing building, usually leased. New commercial construction starts from the ground. We take on both as larger projects.

Do you coordinate with the landlord?

Yes. Landlord approval of plans and contractors, building rules and work letters affect the schedule, so we work through them with you and the property manager.

Can work happen in an occupied building?

Yes. We plan around the building's rules for hours, noise, loading and protection of shared spaces, including evening and weekend work where needed.

Who handles permits?

We coordinate with your architect and run permits through SF DBI and Planning, including correction cycles. Some uses also need Fire or Public Health review.