San Bernardino County, CA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- County Code Ch. 41.25
- Must comply with
- Fire Code, Building Code, County Code
- No public nuisance
- operation or maintenance
- County may inspect
- unit and subject property
- Smoke detectors
- required in each dwelling space
Summary
Licensed rental dwelling units in unincorporated San Bernardino County must meet Fire and Building Code standards, stay nuisance-free, and allow county inspection or risk losing their required rental license.
(a) The rental dwelling unit, and the subject property upon which the rental dwelling unit is located, shall be in compliance with all applicable laws including, but not limited to, the California Fire Code, California Building Code, the National Fire Protection Association Standards, any other applicable uniform codes as adopted by the County of San Bernardino... (c) ...shall not be operated, conducted, or maintained so as to constitute a public nuisance. (d) ...may be inspected by the County.
Full Breakdown
Every rental dwelling unit in the unincorporated county needs a license under County Code Chapter 41.25. Holding that license means the unit and the property it sits on must comply with the California Fire Code, California Building Code, NFPA standards, and the rest of the County Code; must not be operated as a public nuisance; must accept county inspection; and must have smoke detectors in every dwelling space. Owners or their representatives must also stay reachable 24/7 to handle condition or operation complaints.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliance is grounds for license suspension or revocation (§ 41.2511); operating a rental dwelling unit without a valid license, or violating any Chapter 41.25 standard, is an infraction or misdemeanor under § 11.0201.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does San Bernardino County require rentals to meet a habitability standard?
Can the county inspect a licensed rental in unincorporated San Bernardino County?
What happens if a rental fails these standards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino County to another location·View the California rental property rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.