San Bernardino, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within the City of San Bernardino city limits. Work in unincorporated San Bernardino County is handled by San Bernardino County Land Use Services, not the city.

Department

Community and Economic Development Department - Building & Safety Division

Address

201 North E Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401 (permit service counter)

Phone

909-998-2000 (SB Direct; used by the city for inspections and general routing)

Website

https://insidesbpd.sanbernardino.gov/205/Building-Safety-Division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the scope is permit-exempt or eligible for counter issuance. The city says most structural, electrical, plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning work requires a permit, while minor work such as water heater replacement or panel upgrades is often issued over the counter.
2. Complete the required application form. All building permits require a Building Permit Application; MEP-only work uses the Mechanical, Electrical, or Plumbing Permit Application; a Permit Application Declaration is required before permit issuance.
3. If plans are required, submit plan check materials. The city requires three printed plan sets at least 24 by 36 inches, plus two hard copies of supporting documents such as structural calculations, energy calculations, and geotechnical reports. Most plan check submittals must be made in person.
4. For limited residential permit types, submit online or by email if the city allows it. The city lists online acceptance for single-family residential rewires, re-pipes, panel upgrades, and re-roofs; expedited residential EV charging can be submitted online or in person; residential solar may use the city solar workflow.
5. Wait for city review, then pay fees when instructed. The city states that once an online permit application is accepted, the applicant is notified with payment instructions.
6. Receive the permit, perform the work, and call SB Direct at 909-998-2000 for required inspections.

Typical processing time: No general citywide processing-time estimate is published on the Building & Safety page. The city states some minor permits are usually issued over the counter, while more complex projects require plan review before issuance.

Source: Community and Economic Development Department - Building & Safety Division

General Requirements

The city states that, with a few minor exceptions, building permits are required for all structural, electrical, plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning work.

Required Documents

• Completed permit application
• MEP application if applicable
• permit application declaration before issuance
• and, when plans are required, three printed plan sets plus two hard copies of supplemental documents such as structural calculations, energy calculations, and geotechnical reports. Plans must be signed, and professionally prepared plans must be wet-stamped and signed as specified by the city

Permit validity

Under SBMC 15.04.050, failure to obtain an inspection and demonstrate substantial progress within any 180-day period is prima facie evidence of abandoned work and the permit expires.

Building code

The city municipal code states the city currently adopts the 2022 California Building Codes under Title 24, including Parts 1 through 6, 8, 9, and 11. The public Building & Safety page specifically lists the California Building Code, Green Building Standards Code, Plumbing Code, Mechanical Code, Existing Building Code, Historical Building Code, Referenced Standards Code, Administrative Code, and the California Fire Code as enforced by the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.

Owner-builder

Homeowners may generally obtain permits for one- or two-family dwellings and related accessory structures if they reside or intend to reside there, perform the work themselves, and sign the required workers' compensation statement; identity verification is required before issuance.

Contractor requirements

Contractors must hold the appropriate California state contractor license, possess a current City business license, and provide proof of workers' compensation insurance if they have employees.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$60.00

Plan check fee

For one- and two-family residential construction, plan review is hourly; the fee schedule lists an in-house hourly plan review rate of $122.37 and states new 1- and 2-family dwellings are billed at 5 hours, with additions billed at 3 hours. Commercial, industrial, and multifamily plan review fees are valuation-based per Table 3.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Single-family additions use square-foot formulas; new homes use schedule tables; commercial, industrial, and multifamily fees are valuation-based; separate issuance, technology, archive, SMIP, and other add-on fees may apply.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fee $118.35; inspection outside normal business hours $236.70 plus $118.35 per additional hour beyond 2 hours. The fee schedule page reviewed did not separately list a generic permit penalty line item.

Payment note

The city states that after an online permit application is accepted, the applicant is notified with payment instructions. The fee schedule also notes that permit issuance fees are included on all permits.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures such as tool sheds, storage sheds, and playhouses not over 120 square feet
• Non-masonry fences not over 7 feet high; however, Planning Division approval is still required to confirm zoning compliance
• Oil derricks
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding certain liquids
• Water tanks on grade not over 5,000 gallons and within the stated height-to-width ratio
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade, not over a basement or story below, and not part of an accessible route
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Temporary motion picture, television, and theater stage sets and scenery
• Above-ground prefabricated swimming pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 24 inches deep and not greater than 5,000 gallons
• Shade cloth structures for nursery or agricultural purposes, excluding service systems
• Swings and playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings
• Certain window awnings in R-3 and U occupancies meeting the city-listed projection/support limits
• Non-fixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches high
• Detached decks not exceeding 200 square feet, not more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to a dwelling, and not serving an exit door

Important: The city directs applicants to CBC 105.2 and CRC R105.2 for the complete exemption list. Even where a building permit is not required, zoning or Planning Division review may still apply.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• and inspection status can be checked (online)
• 909-998-2000 (phone)

Time windows

The city page lists inspection requests through SB Direct but does not publish inspection arrival windows on that page. Permit counter hours are listed separately, but they are not stated as inspection windows.

Typical inspection sequence: The city page does not publish a universal inspection sequence. Inspection order depends on permit scope and approved plans; applicants should expect inspections at the required construction stages shown on the permit and approved plan set before concealment and at final completion.

Additional Resources

• Building code: The city municipal code states the city currently adopts the 2022 California Building Codes under Title 24, including Parts 1 through 6, 8, 9, and 11. The public Building & Safety page specifically lists the California Building Code, Green Building Standards Code, Plumbing Code, Mechanical Code, Existing Building Code, Historical Building Code, Referenced Standards Code, Administrative Code, and the California Fire Code as enforced by the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• https://www.sbcity.org/permitlookup
• https://insidesbpd.sanbernardino.gov/205/Building-Safety-Division
• https://www.sanbernardino.gov/187/Municipal-Code
• https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sanbernardinoca/latest/sanbernardino_ca/0-0-0-16043
• https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sanbernardinoca/latest/sanbernardino_ca/0-0-0-16070
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in San Bernardino County