City Building Permits

Big Bear Lake, CA Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Big Bear Lake, California. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

California San Bernardino County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Applies to construction within the incorporated City of Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino County, California.

Department
City of Big Bear Lake Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division
Address
39707 Big Bear Boulevard, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Phone
Main office (909) 866-5831; Building & Safety main office (909) 866-5831 x140; inspection line (909) 752-2896
Website
https://www.citybigbearlake.com/index.php/en/departments/community-development/building-safety

Online Permit Portal

Open Accela Citizen Access

Platform: Accela Citizen Access • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online or in-person

Application Process

  1. Confirm Planning requirements first. The City says plans and specifications should be evaluated by the Planning Services Division before Building & Safety plan review, and some development review applications are still accepted by in-person appointment only.
  2. Prepare the permit application and submittal package. The current Building Permit Application asks for project details, owner/designer/contractor information, license information, one complete electronic plan set, and supporting items such as structural calculations, truss calculations, energy calculations, plot plan details, and a green building checklist where applicable.
  3. Screen for additional agency reviews. The City requires applicants to complete other processing required by agencies having jurisdiction before permit issuance, and some projects require Engineering review and a project-specific WQMP before building plan check submittal.
  4. Submit through the City's Accela portal for online processing, or use the City's legacy counter/email workflow where the posted form set still directs applicants to Building & Safety and email submittals.
  5. Pay fees when invoiced. The portal instructions say fees are invoiced after review; the current fee schedule also states that for major commercial/industrial/MFR and SFR new/addition/remodel permits, 50% is due up front for plan check.
  6. Receive permit issuance after plan review and outside-agency approvals are complete. Permits may be issued to properly licensed contractors or to owners of property (or their authorized agent).
  7. Schedule inspections at least one business day in advance, keep approved plans and the job card on site, address correction notices if issued, and obtain final approval at project completion.

Typical processing time: Same day for small-scope plumbing/electrical/HVAC, reroof, and some rehab/window replacement permits; 5 business days for EV chargers; 10 days for residential solar PV; 20 to 30 days for many residential structural reviews; 30 to 40 days for larger commercial reviews. Subsequent reviews are generally shorter. Times are target turnaround times only and exclude weekends, holidays, and closures.

Source: City of Big Bear Lake Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division

General Requirements

The City states building permits are required to build, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, or demolish any building, and permits are also required for most plumbing and electrical improvements.

Required Documents

  • Building permit application
  • owner/designer/contractor contact information
  • contractor city business license, state license class/number, and workers' compensation information
  • one complete electronic plan set
  • stamped and signed structural calculations where applicable
  • truss and energy calculations
  • plot plan/site plan information
  • green building checklist where required
  • deed if ownership is not shown in San Bernardino County PIMS
  • and any required WQMP materials. The broader plan submittal checklist also calls for site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, foundation/framing plans, MEP plans, and any required soils, structural, civil, or specialized engineering
Permit validity
The City posts a permit extension form citing Big Bear Lake Municipal Code 15.04.20. It says an active permit holder may request an extension in writing for good cause beyond the permittee's control; each extension may not exceed 6 calendar months; no more than two extensions are allowed; and the extension fee is the greater of 2% of total project valuation or $500.
Building code
The City's Building & Safety page and November 5, 2025 notice state that California building codes were updated effective January 1, 2026. The posted plan submittal checklist still references the 2022 CBC/CRC/CEC/CMC/CPC/CFC/CalGreen/Cal Energy Code, so applicants should confirm the currently enforced 2025 California code cycle and local amendments with Building & Safety before final submittal.
Owner-builder
Owner-builders must complete the City's acknowledgment form before permit issuance. The form warns that owner-builders assume legal and financial responsibility, may become employers under state and federal law, cannot legally build single-family residences for sale unless statutory conditions are met, must verify subcontractor licensing and workers' compensation coverage, and are required to be present for all inspections unless a previously identified city-licensed subcontractor has been hired to perform the work. The City also requires identification, notarization, or other verification acceptable to the agency at permit issuance.
Contractor requirements
Permits are issued to properly licensed contractors and to owners of property or their authorized agents. The owner-builder form states contractors are required by law to be licensed and bonded in California and to list both their state license number and City of Big Bear Lake business license number on permits and contracts.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
There is not one universal minimum across all permit types. Current base construction permit minimums shown are $608.92 for commercial/industrial/MFR valuation-based permits and $685.80 for SFR new/addition/remodel square-footage permits. Separate MEP issuance is $47.
Plan check fee
For major commercial/industrial/MFR and SFR new/addition/remodel permits, the fee schedule says "Plan Check & Inspection" and 50% is due up front for plan check. Older sample City documentation shows plan check calculated at 85% of the building permit fee, but the current master fee schedule should control.
Permit fee formula
Commercial/industrial/MFR new and tenant-improvement permits are valuation-based using base amounts plus increments per additional $1,000. SFR new/addition/remodel permits are primarily square-footage based using base amounts plus increments per additional 100 square feet. Many common permit types are flat-fee.
Trade permit fee
There is not one universal minimum across all permit types. Current base construction permit minimums shown are $608.92 for commercial/industrial/MFR valuation-based permits and $685.80 for SFR new/addition/remodel square-footage permits. Separate MEP issuance is $47.
Reinspection fee
The current master fee schedule lists Requested Building Inspection at $308 and Occupancy Inspection at $194. The City also charges a 6% technology surcharge and a 0.24% General Plan Maintenance surcharge on building valuation. Permit extension fees are the greater of 2% of project valuation or $500. I did not locate a separately labeled "reinspection" or stop-work penalty fee in the posted fee schedule.
Payment note
Accela instructions say all fees are invoiced after review, and applicants can pay through the portal's Payments tab and Pay Fees button. The permit page also includes a separate "Pay your building permit fee" link. For the permit categories noted above, 50% is due up front for plan check.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • One-story detached non-habitable accessory structures for Group R-3 occupancy up to 120 square feet and up to 10 feet to roof peak
  • Non-masonry fences not over 6 feet high
  • Oil derricks
  • Certain low retaining walls no more than 30 inches high, or 18 inches max where the upper grade slopes upward more than 2:1, if not supporting surcharge and not impounding listed liquids
  • Water tanks on level compacted grade up to 5,000 gallons with height-to-width ratio not exceeding 2:1
  • Sidewalks and driveways meeting the City's slope, height, location, and accessibility limits
  • Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work that does not alter accessible egress/routes
  • Temporary motion picture, television, and theater stage sets and scenery
  • Certain above-ground prefabricated swimming pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 24 inches deep and no more than 5,000 gallons
  • Shade cloth structures for agricultural purposes, excluding service systems
  • Swings and other playground equipment accessory to Group R-3 occupancy
  • Window awnings in Group R-3 and U occupancies projecting no more than 24 inches
  • Certain small decks accessory to Group R-3 occupancy not exceeding 200 square feet and meeting the City's height, setback-from-dwelling, and exit-door conditions
  • Limited electrical, mechanical, and plumbing repair/replacement work listed in the City's handout, such as minor leak repairs, lamp replacement, portable appliances, and specified low-voltage or temporary electrical work

Important: The exemption handout states exemptions do not authorize work that violates any code or ordinance, including the Development Code. The City specifically notes forced air units, water heaters, and windows are no longer exempt under the current Big Bear Lake rules.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Scheduling deadline
The City says inspections should be scheduled at least one business day in advance.
Inspection hours
Building inspectors are available by appointment Monday through Thursday.
Time windows
The posted daily inspection schedule shows route windows such as 11-1, 12-2, and 1-3, and says the list is updated on the day of inspections around 9:00 a.m.

Typical inspection sequence: Permit issuance with approved plans and job card; inspections at required construction stages; inspector records results on the job card; correction notice issued if needed; final inspection/approval at completion. WQMP-related projects may also require drainage/BMP inspections and recorded maintenance-agreement documentation before final and, for commercial work, certificate of occupancy.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the City of Big Bear Lake Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division before applying.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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