Building permits in unincorporated San Bernardino County — the largest county by area in the contiguous United States — are issued by the Building & Safety Division of the Land Use Services Department, with applications filed through EZ Online Permitting (EZOP). Offices in San Bernardino and Hesperia serve the valley and High Desert.
This San Bernardino County building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how fees work, the EZOP process, trade permits, and inspections — so your San Bernardino County project starts clean.
This guide covers unincorporated San Bernardino County. Building & Safety permits only the unincorporated areas; the county's 24 cities and towns run their own departments. Across the High Desert, Joshua trees are a state-protected candidate species — the county may not issue a permit to remove ("take") them without state authorization, so confirm early.
What requires a building permit in San Bernardino County?
Under the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) as adopted with San Bernardino County amendments, a permit is required before you construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of most structures. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New construction, additions, and tenant improvements
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Reroofing, window and door replacement, and exterior work
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Manufactured / mobile homes and grading
- Accessory structures, pools, signs, and solar
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Work expressly exempt under the County code (confirm)
- Like-for-like minor repairs not altering structure or systems
- Routine maintenance not extending or rerouting systems
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Work commencing before permit issuance is charged an amount equal to the cost of the permit, on top of penalties and possible stop-work orders. Apply through EZOP first.
Who handles permitting in San Bernardino County?
Permitting, plan review, and inspections are administered by Building & Safety within Land Use Services. Fees comprise two components — Plan Review and Building Permit — developed from a staff-time study. Note the Development Code rule that an accessory structure must accompany a legally established primary structure.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | County Government Center, 385 N. Arrowhead Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92415 |
| High Desert | Jerry Lewis High Desert Government Center, 15900 Smoke Tree St, Ste 131, Hesperia, CA 92345 |
| Online portal | EZ Online Permitting (EZOP) — submit, status, pay; plus a Fee Estimator |
| Covers | Unincorporated San Bernardino County only |
| Fees | Plan Review + Building Permit components (staff-time based) |
| Enforced code | California Building Standards Code (Title 24) + County Code |
Apply through EZOP. Submit applications, plans, and documents, check status, and pay fees online; first-time users should review the EZOP getting-started materials, and a Fee Estimator helps construction professionals estimate plan-review and inspection fees. Confirm jurisdiction before applying so you file with the right agency.
San Bernardino County building permit cost
San Bernardino County building permit fees are primarily two components — Plan Review fees and Building Permit fees — both developed from a study of staff time based on three years of plan-check and inspection data. An intake processing fee applies to each permit.
Additional school, traffic, drainage, or other fees may apply by area. Use the county's Fee Estimator for a ballpark, and confirm exact costs with Building & Safety before budgeting.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Plan Review fee | Staff-time based (from 3 years of data) |
| Building Permit fee | Staff-time based (from 3 years of data) |
| Intake processing fee | Applied to each permit |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Charged separately; electrical permits include two inspections |
| Outside fees | School, traffic, drainage, and area fees may apply |
| Work-without-permit | Cost equal to the permit, plus penalties |
Want a precise number for a specific San Bernardino County project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
San Bernardino County trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work generally needs its own permit and a CSLB-licensed contractor, each filed in EZOP.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations, performed by a C-10 licensed electrical contractor; electrical permits include two inspections.
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heater changeouts, fixtures, and gas piping, performed by a C-36 licensed plumbing contractor.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration, performed by a C-20 licensed HVAC contractor. Specialized systems are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, pools, signs, grading, and solar are permitted separately. Remember the Joshua tree protections across the High Desert and the Development Code rule that an accessory structure must exist with a legal primary structure (or a Temporary Use Permit).
Verify your contractor's license. California requires a Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license for any project where labor and materials total $500 or more — covering general (A/B) and specialty trades (C-10 electrical, C-36 plumbing, C-20 HVAC). Verify a license at (800) 321-2752 before signing. The property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in San Bernardino County
Confirm jurisdiction & scope
Verify the parcel is in unincorporated San Bernardino County, confirm the work needs a permit, and check Joshua tree / desert species constraints.
Prepare your documents
Assemble the application, valuation, Title 24 energy forms, and stamped/sealed plans; use the Fee Estimator to budget.
Apply in EZOP
Submit the application, plans, and documents through EZ Online Permitting and pay the intake processing fee.
Plan review & corrections
Building & Safety reviews plans for code compliance; resolve comments and resubmit through EZOP.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay the calculated Plan Review and Building Permit fees, then post the permit on site.
Schedule inspections through close-out
Request inspections through EZOP. Clear all required inspections to obtain your final approval / Certificate of Occupancy.
Inspections in San Bernardino County
Schedule inspections through EZOP using your permit record; electrical permits include two inspections. Typical checkpoints include foundation, rough-in MEP, framing, insulation, and final. Post the permit and approved plans on site.
A re-inspection fee applies to failed inspections and must be cleared before a final inspection or Certificate of Occupancy can be requested.
Official San Bernardino County permitting resources
- 🏛️ San Bernardino County Building & Safety
- 💻 EZ Online Permitting (EZOP)
- 📋 Permits & fee information
- 🪪 Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
- 🗺️ Land Use Services — Planning (zoning)
- 📘 California Building Standards Code (Title 24)
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More California permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department before filing. This is not legal advice.