San Bernardino, CA Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- 2022 CPC, Title 24 Part 5
- Governing section
- SBMC § 15.04.020(B)(5)
- Permit lapses after
- 180 days without inspection
- Max misdemeanor penalty
- $1,000 fine / 6 months jail
- Enforcing office
- Building Official
- Chapter effective
- Ord. MC-1433, 12-21-2016
Summary
San Bernardino requires all plumbing work, from a water heater swap to a full re-pipe, to follow the 2022 California Plumbing Code adopted at San Bernardino Municipal Code § 15.04.020(B)(5). A permit and Building Official inspection are mandatory before covering any new plumbing installation, alteration or repair inside city limits.
(B) The city does formally adopt the state model building codes into local law as listed below: ...
(5) 2022 California Plumbing Code, Title 24, Part 5; ...
§ 15.04.030 APPLICABILITY.
(A) It shall be unlawful to erect, construct, change the occupancy, alter, repair, rehabilitate, remove, move or maintain any building or structure, or grade or alter any land, in the city in violation of, or without complying with, the appropriate provisions of this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-2: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. MC-1666, passed 8-5-2026).
Full Breakdown
020(B) formally adopts thirteen state model codes into San Bernardino's local law, and item (5) names the 2022 California Plumbing Code, Title 24, Part 5 of the California Code of Regulations, as the technical standard for every water supply, drain-waste-vent, gas piping or fixture installation in the city. 030(A) then makes it unlawful to erect, alter, repair or maintain any building or its systems, including plumbing, without complying with that adopted code, tying the state-published plumbing standard to a local permit-and-inspection duty enforced by the Building Official.
020(C) for anyone who wants to check a requirement before pulling a permit. 050 gives the plumber or homeowner 180 days to call for an inspection and show substantial progress; missing that window is treated as prima facie evidence the work was abandoned, and the permit lapses automatically. The adoption chapter dates to Ord. MC-1433 on December 21, 2016, and has been updated three times since, most recently by Ord. MC-1643 on October 2, 2024, to keep pace with the state's triennial code cycle.
Violations & Fines
Doing plumbing work without the required permit, or continuing after a stop-work order issued under § 15.04.260, is a misdemeanor, with each day of continued work charged as a separate offense. The general penalty at § 1.12.010(A) sets the maximum at six months in county jail, a $1,000 fine, or both, plus reimbursement of the city's investigation and enforcement costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in San Bernardino?
What happens if I don't schedule an inspection after getting a plumbing permit?
Which plumbing code edition currently applies in San Bernardino?
What penalty applies for unpermitted plumbing work?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino to another location·View the California building safety overview
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Plumbing Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle plumbing permits.