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Which San Francisco neighborhoods are due for new roofs?

Short answerReroof permits since 2001 cover only a fraction of San Francisco's older housing. Using DataSF permit records and Census housing counts, we estimate the permit rate for each ZIP code. Outer neighborhoods with mostly single-family homes vary widely, which hints at where roofs may be due. A free roof inspection tells you about yours.

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Updated · Sources reviewed November 12, 2026 · By SF Roof Replacement

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How did we measure this?

We counted residential reroofing permits in the City's DataSF building permit records from January 2001 to November 2026, kept one per parcel, and grouped them by ZIP. We compared that with the Census Bureau's ACS 2024 5-year housing counts for each ZIP Code Tabulation Area: housing units built before 2000, median year built and the share of one-unit homes.

Which San Francisco neighborhoods have the fewest recent reroof permits?

Among ZIPs where at least 40% of homes are one-unit houses, the lowest permit rates are in Lake Merced / Parkmerced (94132), Bayview / Hunters Point (94124), Portola / Visitacion Valley (94134), Sunset (94122). A low rate doesn't prove those roofs are old: some work is done without a permit, a parcel may hold many units, and roofs replaced before 2001 don't show up. Treat it as a neighborhood-level signal, not a verdict on any one house.

Reroof permits by San Francisco ZIP

ZIP Area Median year built Housing units built before 2000 One-unit homes (share of units) Parcels with a reroof permit since 2001, per 100 pre-2000 units
94102 Tenderloin / Hayes Valley 1945 18,489 3% 2
94103 SoMa 1998 10,990 5% 6
94105 Rincon Hill 2009 2,347 6% 1
94107 Potrero / Dogpatch 2001 9,495 12% 12
94108 Chinatown / Nob Hill 1939 or earlier 7,725 3% 4
94109 Russian Hill / Nob Hill 1939 or earlier 36,443 4% 4
94110 Mission / Bernal Heights 1939 or earlier 27,789 29% 18
94111 Embarcadero 1979 2,440 3% 1
94112 Excelsior / Ingleside 1941 23,307 81% 26
94114 Castro / Noe Valley 1939 or earlier 17,522 27% 21
94115 Western Addition / Pacific Heights 1949 17,815 12% 10
94116 Parkside / Sunset 1945 16,244 85% 33
94117 Haight / Cole Valley 1939 or earlier 19,208 13% 14
94118 Inner Richmond / Laurel Heights 1939 or earlier 18,604 26% 19
94121 Outer Richmond 1939 or earlier 19,137 38% 20
94122 Sunset 1942 23,586 51% 24
94123 Marina / Cow Hollow 1939 or earlier 14,372 17% 15
94124 Bayview / Hunters Point 1970 8,865 58% 20
94127 West Portal / Miraloma 1939 or earlier 7,356 91% 47
94131 Glen Park / Twin Peaks 1962 13,345 50% 28
94132 Lake Merced / Parkmerced 1952 11,189 55% 17
94133 North Beach / Telegraph Hill 1939 or earlier 14,543 8% 8
94134 Portola / Visitacion Valley 1954 11,481 78% 22
94158 Mission Bay 2011 440 3% 1

"Median year built" of 1939 or earlier is the Census Bureau's top category. Apartment-heavy ZIPs (low one-unit share) show low rates partly because one permit covers a building with many units.

What does this mean for my roof?

If your house is in an older, mostly single-family ZIP and you can't find a reroof permit for it since 2001, the roof may be due for an inspection. You can look up permits on your address through DBI. A reroof in San Francisco needs a DBI permit (SF.gov), and the cost depends on your roof's size, slope, flat sections, layers and access, not your ZIP. See what drives roof replacement cost and repair or replace.

For your actual price, request a free written estimate: a licensed roofer measures the roof and prices your exact scope.

Every roofer we work with is licensed, insured and highly reviewed by Bay Area homeowners.

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Frequently asked questions

Does a low permit rate mean my roof is old?

No. It is a neighborhood signal. Unpermitted work, multi-unit parcels and roofs replaced before 2001 all affect it. Only an inspection tells you about your roof.

Where does the permit data come from?

DataSF's Building Permits dataset, which includes a reroofing flag, from January 2001 through November 2026.

Does my ZIP code change the price of a new roof?

Not directly. Size, slope, flat sections, tear-off layers, decking and access drive the price. A free written estimate gives your exact number.

Related questions

Sources

Sources reviewed November 12, 2026. Figures are published estimates and official fees, not quotes. Confirm prices, permits and requirements with your contractor and building department. This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice.