San Bernardino County, CA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 63.0807
- Enforcing agency
- County Building Official
- Penalty
- Pay past-due enforcement costs first
- Annual permit option
- § 63.0804 for recurring maintenance
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county area only
Summary
In unincorporated San Bernardino County, starting construction without a required building permit blocks any permit issuance until you pay all past-due enforcement costs, and the Building Official can pursue any legal means to collect what you owe.
Where work for which a permit is required by the codes herein adopted is started or proceeded without first obtaining the required permit, a permit shall not be issued until all past due enforcement costs are paid. The enforcement costs are the actual costs, as specified in the schedule of fees set forth in Division 6 of Title 1 of the San Bernardino County Code, and must be paid on demand. The Building Official may use any legal means available to collect enforcement fees. The payment of such enforcement fees shall not relieve any persons from fully complying with the requirements of these codes in the execution of the work nor from any other penalties prescribed herein. Any provision in any of the codes herein adopted which is in conflict with this
Full Breakdown
County Code § 63.0807 applies to every permit required under the adopted California Building, Residential, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical and Energy Codes (Division 3 of Title 6). If work starts or proceeds before a permit is pulled, the Building Official withholds any permit until all past-due enforcement costs -- the County's actual investigation and enforcement expenses -- are paid on demand, collectible by any legal means available. Under § 63.0804, contractors doing routine maintenance can instead obtain an annual permit, but must keep the job site accessible for the Building Official's periodic inspections and file a written year-end work report within 30 days of the fiscal year's close.
Violations & Fines
Working without a permit blocks any new permit until you pay all past-due enforcement costs; the Building Official can use any legal means to collect them, on top of normal penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I start work without a permit in unincorporated San Bernardino County?
Does this permit rule apply inside cities like Rancho Cucamonga or Ontario?
Can a contractor skip a separate permit for each repair job?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino County to another location·View the California building safety overview
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