Administrative overview · FIPS 06071
San Bernardino County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department - Building & Safety Division (unincorporated areas)
For a project in or near San Bernardino County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
(909) 387-8311
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
County Government Center, 385 N. Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92415; Jerry Lewis High Desert Government Center, 15900 Smoke Tree St., Suite 131, Hesperia, CA 92345
Operating hours
Lobby hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Inspectors are available by phone or in person from 8:00-8:30 a.m. for inspection questions and requests.
Review expectation
N/A for general building-plan review; the county publishes no single typical review time. For ADUs, the county adopted timelines of 75 calendar days for standard-plan applications and 45 calendar days for pre-approved-plan applications.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for San Bernardino County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department - Building & Safety Division (unincorporated areas) is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact (909) 387-8311.
How long might review take?
N/A for general building-plan review; the county publishes no single typical review time. For ADUs, the county adopted timelines of 75 calendar days for standard-plan applications and 45 calendar days for pre-approved-plan applications.
How are inspections scheduled?
Schedule inspections 24/7 through the EZ Online Permitting/Accela portal or the county's EZ Inspect service at https://ezinspect.sbcounty.gov/. Inspection requests received by 4:00 p.m. are generally scheduled for the following workday, subject to area capacity; the inspector calls the listed contact the morning of inspection with a two-hour arrival window. Approved full-size plans must remain on the job site and accessible.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
For applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, San Bernardino County requires the 2025 California Building Standards Code: 2025 California Building Code (CBC), California Residential Code (CRC), California Green Building Standards Code (CalGreen), California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (CWUI), California Mechanical Code (CMC), California Plumbing Code (CPC), California Fire Code (CFC), and California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (CBEES), together with San Bernardino County amendments and Title 24 disabled-access requirements. The county states that a one-story detached tool/storage shed, playhouse, or similar accessory structure may be built without a building permit when it is 120 square feet or less, contains no utilities, is under 14 feet high, and meets minimum setbacks. The current permit list also identifies fences/walls at 6 feet or less, retaining walls at 4 feet or less when no surcharge is involved, and onsite grading under 100 cubic yards as generally below listed permit thresholds. The county warns that other work may still require a permit and that setbacks apply whether or not a permit is required; verify minor or cosmetic work with Building & Safety.