San Bernardino County, CA Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)
Key Facts
- Covers
- Apartment houses (3+ units), hotels, motels
- Inspector
- Dept. of Environmental Health Services (DEHS)
- Required
- Certificate of Occupancy before occupancy
- Renewal
- Expires December 31 following issuance
- Applies in
- Unincorporated San Bernardino County only
Summary
County Environmental Health Services inspects every apartment house, hotel, and motel in unincorporated San Bernardino County before issuing the Certificate of Occupancy required to legally operate, under County Code § 33.1006.
No person or entity shall allow the occupancy of any multiple apartment units, apartment house, hotel, motel, or similar operation, without possessing an unexpired, unrevoked, unsuspended certificate of occupancy (C of O) from DEHS for each operation or premises... Prior to the issuance of the C of O, DEHS shall inspect each premise to assure compliance with the provision of this Article.
Full Breakdown
Any building with three or more apartments, plus every hotel, motel, or similar lodging operation in unincorporated San Bernardino County, needs an unexpired, unrevoked Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) from the Department of Environmental Health Services before anyone can occupy it. DEHS inspects the premises first, under § 33.1008, to confirm compliance with the Article's sanitation, maintenance, and safety standards; substantial violations mean the C of O is withheld. A new C of O, and a new inspection, is triggered whenever the occupancy classification, unit count, or ownership changes. Permits expire December 31 each year and must be renewed, with fees paid, within 30 days.
Violations & Fines
Occupying an apartment house, hotel, or motel without a valid DEHS Certificate of Occupancy is unlawful; DEHS withholds or revokes the C of O, and the County can pursue public-nuisance enforcement and citations under §§ 11.0206 and 11.0208.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to single-family rental homes?
What happens if DEHS finds violations during inspection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino County to another location·View the California rental inspections overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.