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San Bernardino County, CA Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Adopts
2025 CA Green Building Standards Code
Citation
County Code Section 63.1501
Applies to
Unincorporated area only
Enforced by
Building and Safety Division
Penalty
Infraction, escalating to misdemeanor

Summary

San Bernardino County adopts the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code by reference, applying its energy, water, and waste rules to new construction in the unincorporated area.

City-specific rules exist: San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Victorville, Ontario, and Rialto have their own green building code rules that differ from San Bernardino County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

A copy of the California Green Building Standards Code, 2025 Edition, contained in Chapters 1-8 of Part 11 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, prepared and published by the California Building Standards Commission, having been filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of San Bernardino County, is hereby designated and adopted by reference as the Green Building Standards Code for the unincorporated area of San Bernardino County, State of California.

Source: SBC Building and SafetyView official code

Full Breakdown

San Bernardino County adopted the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code (Chapters 1-8 of Part 11, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations) by reference under County Code Section 63.1501, effective for the unincorporated area. The code sets mandatory minimums for energy efficiency, water conservation, construction waste diversion, and material selection on covered new-construction and renovation permits. The Building and Safety Division reviews plans for compliance before issuing permits, and enforcement runs through the same infraction and misdemeanor penalty structure that governs the rest of Title 6's adopted building codes. The county's 24 incorporated cities each adopt and enforce their own versions separately.

Violations & Fines

Violating the adopted codes is an infraction: $50-$100 fine for a first offense, $100-$200 for a second; a third offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 or six months in jail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does San Bernardino County have its own green building code?
No. It adopts the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11) by reference for the unincorporated area rather than writing separate local standards.
Does this apply inside cities like San Bernardino or Fontana?
No. This section covers only the unincorporated area; each of the county's 24 incorporated cities adopts and enforces its own version of the state green building code.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in San Bernardino County

All San Bernardino County rules

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Green Building Code in Cities Across San Bernardino County