San Bernardino, CA Environmental Rules: Coastal Development (2026)

San Bernardino County has no Pacific shoreline, so the California Coastal Act and Coastal Commission permits do not apply. The inland equivalent is the Floodplain Safety (FP) Overlay in Title 8 (Development Code) Chapter 82.14, originally adopted by Ordinance 4046 (April 8, 2008) and amended by Ordinances 4251 and 4254 (effective August 7 and August 21, 2014). Section 82.14.050 sets development standards for projects within FP1 and FP2 Floodplain Safety Review Areas, requiring that fill and pad elevations be certified to meet or exceed the applicable Floodplain Safety elevation and that the cumulative effect of development not increase the base flood water-surface elevation at any point. In Zone A the lowest floor must be at least 2 feet above the natural highest adjacent ground; in Zone AE it must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation; in Zone AO it must be at least 1 foot above the mapped shallow-flood depth. Section 86.04.010 makes Public Works the Floodplain Administrator. Floodway encroachments require an engineered HEC-RAS no-rise certification by a registered civil engineer. Many alluvial fans and desert washes (Mojave River, Cajon Wash, Lytle Creek, Yucaipa Creek) are mapped SFHAs with active flood control easements.