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San Bernardino County, CA Environmental Rules: Heat Island Mitigation (2026)

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

Key Facts

Standard
Title 24 Part 6
Climate zones
10, 14, 15, 16
Re-roof trigger
Over 50 percent area
Rating body
Cool Roof Rating Council

Summary

California Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards mandate cool-roof reflectance values for new and re-roofed buildings in San Bernardino County climate zones 10, 14, 15, and 16, covering desert and mountain communities prone to extreme heat.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

The Building Energy Efficiency Standards serve to reduce wasteful, uneconomical, and unnecessary uses of energy for the state. They include requirements in the Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) and voluntary energy efficiency provisions in CALGreen (Title 24, Part 11). The Building Energy Efficiency Standards are updated every three years.

Source: California Energy CommissionView official code

Full Breakdown

Title 24 prescribes minimum solar reflectance and thermal emittance values that vary by climate zone and roof slope. San Bernardino County spans climate zones 10 (Inland Empire valleys), 14 (high desert including Victorville and Hesperia), 15 (low desert near Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms), and 16 (mountain communities). Low-sloped roof replacements over 50 percent of total area trigger compliance. Cool roof products carry Cool Roof Rating Council labels. Building permits must show compliance documentation. The standards reduce summer cooling loads, peak grid demand, and urban heat island effects in dense logistics corridors.

Violations & Fines

Building permit denial for noncompliant roofing. Re-roofing without permits triggers stop-work orders, double permit fees, and possible removal at owner expense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Title 24 apply to existing homes?
Major re-roofing replacing more than half the roof area triggers cool-roof compliance. Minor repairs and patches are usually exempt under the existing-building provisions of Title 24.
Is white the only cool roof color?
No, cool-roof pigments allow earth tones with high reflectance. Many CRRC-rated products in tan, gray, and brown colors meet Title 24 reflectance and emittance values for desert climate zones.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in San Bernardino County

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsErosion ControlSome RestrictionsFlood Elevation RequirementsSome RestrictionsStormwater ManagementSome RestrictionsVehicle Idling RestrictionsSome RestrictionsDefensible SpaceSome RestrictionsFlood ZonesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: MicrochippingSome Restrictions

All San Bernardino County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino County to another location·View the California environmental rules overview

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