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Building Safety in San Bernardino County, CA (2026)

7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 8 cities in San Bernardino County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Elevator Maintenance

California Labor Code 7300-7323 and Title 8 CCR 3000+ require annual elevator inspections by Cal/OSHA in San Bernardino County, with permits to operate and licensed elevator contractors.

Elevator Maintenance Rules in San Bernardino County

Some Restrictions

California Labor Code Section 7300 et seq.; Cal/OSHA Elevator Unit, Division of Occupational Safety and Health

Mission of the Cal/OSHA Elevator Unit: To ensure the safety of the riding public and protect workers in the elevator industry, the Elevator Unit will maintain a vigilant system to meet our obligation to inspect and enforce code compliance for elevators and other conveyances. Proposed Group V Elevator Safety Orders Thank you to all who provided input on the proposed changes to the Group V Elevat...

Fire Sprinkler Requirements

San Bernardino County does not require fire sprinklers in an accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit if the primary dwelling on the same lot does not have them, under County Code § 84.36.080(a)(1). The same subsection also waives new utility connections and certain parking standards for qualifying ADUs.

San Bernardino County ADU Fire Sprinkler Exemption

Light Restrictions

San Bernardino County Code § 84.36.080(a)(1)

(a) Development Standards Exemptions. An accessory dwelling unit and a junior accessory dwelling unit are exempt from the following standards: (1) Fire Sprinklers. Fire sprinklers shall not be required for an accessory dwelling unit and junior accessory dwelling unit if they are not required for the primary dwelling.

Green Building Code

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.

San Bernardino County Green Building Code

Some Restrictions

San Bernardino County Code § 63.1501

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 ...

Building Permits

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.

San Bernardino County Building Permit Penalty Rules

Some Restrictions

San Bernardino County Code § 63.0807

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...

Electrical Permits

San Bernardino County enforces the 2025 California Electrical Code (based on the 2023 NEC) for all electrical work in the unincorporated area, requiring permits before wiring, panels, or fixtures go in.

San Bernardino County Adopts 2025 Electrical Code

Some Restrictions

San Bernardino County Code § 63.0201

A copy of the National Electrical Code, 2023 Edition, prepared and published by the National Fire Protection Association, with state amendments, also known as the 2025 California Electrical Code, contained in Part 3 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, having been filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of San Bernardino County, is hereby designated and adopte...

Plumbing Permits

San Bernardino County adopts the 2025 California Plumbing Code by reference for the unincorporated area, so any plumbing installation, alteration, or repair needs a permit and inspection from the County Building Official before work starts.

Plumbing Code Adoption in San Bernardino County

Some Restrictions

San Bernardino County Code § 63.0301

A copy of the Uniform Plumbing Code, 2024 Edition, prepared and published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, with state amendments, also known as the 2025 California Plumbing Code, contained in Part 5 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, having been filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of San Bernardino County, is hereby ...

Building Inspections

Every building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permit requires Building Official approval at each consecutive inspection step before work continues, unless the contractor holds an annual permit under County Code Section 63.0804.

San Bernardino County Building Inspection Steps

Some Restrictions

San Bernardino County Code § 63.0804(a)

Where any person, firm, or corporation... proposes to install, alter, or repair any electrical wiring, plumbing, drainage systems, or water conservation equipment in an existing facility... such person, firm, or corporation shall not be required to obtain approval at each consecutive inspection step of the installation, alteration, or repair but shall be required only to obtain an annual permit...

Building Safety by City in San Bernardino County

8 cities in San Bernardino County have their own building safety rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

All San Bernardino County ordinances

See every category we cover for San Bernardino County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

San Bernardino County Ordinance Hub →