San Bernardino, CA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

The City of San Bernardino does not write its own wiring rules. 020(B)(3) of the Building Code chapter formally adopts the 2022 California Electrical Code, Title 24, Part 3 of the California Code of Regulations, itself based on the 2017 National Electrical Code, as the administrative and technical standard for every electrical installation, alteration or repair inside city limits. 030(A) makes it unlawful to erect, construct, alter, repair or maintain any building or structure, including its electrical systems, without complying with the adopted code, which is how a permit and inspection from the Building Official become required before energizing new circuits, upgrading a service panel or wiring an addition.

020(C). 050 gives the permittee 180 days to obtain an inspection and show substantial progress; failing to do so is treated as prima facie evidence the work was abandoned, and the permit expires automatically, requiring a new application. The chapter was added by Ord. MC-1433 on December 21, 2016, and the adoption list has since been updated by Ord. MC-1521 (2019), Ord. MC-1525 (2020) and Ord. MC-1643, passed October 2, 2024, to keep San Bernardino current with each new triennial state code cycle.