Fees, valuation & enforcement
Permit fees are a project input. Enforcement exposure is a project risk. Use the official schedule where available, then confirm valuation, trade permits, plan review, and inspection charges with the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
Official fee pathway
The final charge may depend on declared construction value, occupancy classification, square footage, plan review, state surcharges, trade permits, technology fees, and inspection activity. Do not use a neighboring city’s fee table as a substitute for this jurisdiction.
Fee desk contact
(909) 387-8311
Ask the counter to confirm current charges before submitting a project with multiple trades or a change of use.
Financial exposure
Plan for building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire, energy, zoning, septic, right-of-way, or other reviews that the project scope triggers. The lowest initial permit fee is not always the lowest project cost.
Enforcement exposure
When work begins without authorization, the agency may halt the site, require corrective plans, impose additional fees, withhold inspection release, or require concealed work to be exposed for review.
Closeout exposure
A missing final inspection or certificate can complicate occupancy, refinancing, sale, insurance, and utility connection. Preserve the approved plans and signed inspection record through closeout.
Professional field note
Even when a cosmetic or minor project does not require a building permit, zoning, floodplain, shoreline, historic, utility, fire, or right-of-way controls may still apply. Confirm the full jurisdictional picture before work starts.
Source trail
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Why permit costs vary
Building departments commonly calculate charges from valuation, occupancy, floor area, project type, plan review effort, trade scope, state surcharges, and inspection activity. A remodel that appears small on paper may still trigger structural, energy, fire, or utility review. Ask the permit counter which disciplines apply before you finalize the construction budget.
The same discipline applies to enforcement. Correcting unpermitted work after finishes are installed can require demolition, revised plans, additional inspections, and schedule disruption. Authorization is usually the less expensive project-management decision.