San Bernardino, California Building Permits
Learn San Bernardino, California building permit steps, fees, timelines, zoning, seismic, flood, wildfire and plan requirements before remodeling or building.
Wind
ASCE 7 basic wind speed: typically about 95 mph ultimate wind speed for Risk Category II buildings in central San Bernardino, with site-specific checks required for exposure, foothill topography, and any special wind conditions associated with canyon or Santa Ana wind areas.
Snow Load
Ground snow load: minimal to 0 psf in most of the city floor. Foothill or higher-elevation edge conditions should be verified with the city and project engineer.
Flood
San Bernardino uses FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Flood concerns are associated with the Santa Ana River system, Lytle Creek, Warm Creek, local washes, alluvial drainage paths, and mapped Zone A or AE areas. Projects in Special Flood Hazard Areas may need floodplain review, elevation certificates, drainage studies, flood-resistant construction, and restrictions on work in floodways or channels.
Earthquake
Seismic design category: typically D or higher depending on site class. San Bernardino is in a very high seismic region influenced by the San Andreas, San Jacinto, and related fault systems, so structural design, anchorage, cripple-wall bracing, masonry reinforcement, and geotechnical hazards such as liquefaction or fault rupture must be considered.
Wildfire
Wildfire risk is significant in foothill and wildland-interface areas north and east of the city and near open space. Sites in mapped Fire Hazard Severity Zones or WUI areas may require CBC Chapter 7A ignition-resistant materials, Class A roofing, ember-resistant vents, defensible space, fire access, water supply, and Fire Department review.
Building Department
City of San Bernardino Community Development and Housing Department, Building and Safety Division
Approval Timeline
Simple residential trade permits can often be issued same day to 1 week if the application is complete. Residential remodels, additions, ADUs, patio covers, and solar projects that need plan review commonly take 2 to 6 weeks for initial review. New homes or larger residential projects can take 6 to 10+ weeks. Commercial tenant improvements often take 4 to 8 weeks, while restaurants, assembly occupancies, industrial, hazardous materials, fire sprinkler/alarm, accessibility-heavy, or large shell-building projects may take 8 to 12+ weeks plus correction cycles.
Common Requirements
Typical San Bernardino submittals include a permit application, site plan, assessor parcel information, construction drawings, floor plans, elevations, structural details, foundation plans, framing plans, roof plans, accessibility details for commercial work, Title 24 energy forms, CALGreen checklists, plumbing/mechanical/electrical plans, fire sprinkler and alarm drawings when applicable, soils or geotechnical reports where required, grading and drainage plans, erosion-control or stormwater documents, special inspection forms, truss calculations, product approvals, contractor license information, and owner-builder forms if applicable.
Zoning Information
San Bernardino zoning is regulated through the city’s Development Code and zoning map, with residential, commercial, industrial, office, public, mixed-use, specific plan, overlay, airport influence, hillside, floodplain, and redevelopment or corridor districts. Zoning review may address allowed use, setbacks, height, density, parking, landscaping, design standards, signs, nonconforming uses, ADU standards, industrial performance standards, and special conditions for foothill, fire, drainage, or transportation corridors.
Permit Costs
San Bernardino permit costs are based on project valuation and may include plan check, building permit, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire, technology, state, sewer, traffic, school, development impact, and inspection-related fees. Simple residential trade permits may be roughly $100 to $400. Reroofs, water heaters, HVAC changeouts, panels, and minor repairs often cost a few hundred dollars. Residential remodels may range from $500 to $2,500+. Additions, ADUs, and new homes commonly reach several thousand dollars to $12,000+ depending on valuation and impact fees. Commercial tenant improvements may range from $1,500 to $20,000+ for larger or more complex occupancies.
Engineering Requirements
California-licensed engineering is commonly required in San Bernardino for new buildings, additions, structural remodels, second stories, roof framing changes, removal of bearing or shear walls, retaining walls over about 4 feet or supporting surcharge, hillside or slope construction, seismic strengthening, foundation repairs, concrete or masonry walls, commercial tenant improvements, industrial equipment anchorage, solar structures that exceed prescriptive limits, and projects with unusual soil or drainage conditions. Geotechnical reports may be required near slopes, washes, liquefaction-prone soils, or significant grading.
Local Code Adoption
San Bernardino enforces the California Building Standards Code, Title 24, including the 2022 California Building Code and 2022 California Residential Code, based on the 2021 IBC and 2021 IRC, together with California amendments and local municipal amendments. Applicable provisions may also include the California Fire, Existing Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Green Building, and accessibility codes.
Typical Projects
Common San Bernardino permit projects include roof replacements, HVAC and electrical panel upgrades, garage conversions, ADUs, room additions, patio covers, kitchen and bathroom remodels, solar and batteries, seismic and foundation repairs, block walls and retaining walls, warehouse and logistics tenant improvements, restaurant buildouts, retail remodels, multifamily repairs, fire-damage restoration, and industrial equipment installations.