San Bernardino permit search: look up, apply and check a permit

What permits does San Bernardino require?

San Bernardino requires building permits for structural, electrical, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning work, with minor exceptions. The Building and Safety Division distinguishes minor over-the-counter work from projects needing plans and specifications for review before permit issuance. See the Building & Safety Division, read 2026-11-06.

With a few minor exceptions, building permits are required for all structural, electrical, plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning work. Permits for work that is minor in nature such as water heater replacements or electrical panel upgrades are usually issued directly over the counter. Other, or more complex, projects will require the submittal of plans and specifications, which will be reviewed for code compliance prior to the issuance of building permits. In certain circumstances, Professionally Prepared Plans by a California Registered Architect or Engineer will be required.

Source: Building & Safety Division | San Bernardino, CA, read 2026-11-06

For construction that needs a permit in San Bernardino, describe your project on InstaBids to request written bids.

San Bernardino city timing and county housing figures

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How do I find building permit records in San Bernardino?

The city labels its current lookup “Search Permit Records: 1996 to Present.” Open Online Permits for the embedded SB City Permit Lookup form. Address, permit number and parcel number are among its search choices, and the form says it is updated hourly. See the Building & Safety Division, read 2026-11-06.

Open Search Permit Records: 1996 to Present. Choose Address to use the street-number, street-prefix and street-name fields, or select Permit Number to use that identifier.

The city also provides Search Historical Permit Records Online as a separate historical-records entry.

When permit records help define your San Bernardino project, bring that scope to InstaBids for written contractor bids.

How do I check my permit status in San Bernardino?

San Bernardino directs plan-check, permit and inspection status inquiries to its Online Permits page. The embedded lookup accepts a permit number as a search option; its update note says hourly. The city routes inspection scheduling through SB Direct rather than describing it as a lookup-form function. See the Building & Safety Division, read 2026-11-06.

Use your San Bernardino permit details when describing the work you want contractors to bid on through InstaBids.

How do I apply for a building permit in San Bernardino?

San Bernardino asks for a completed Building Permit Application. Work involving mechanical, electrical or plumbing systems has a separate application form. A Permit Application Declaration is required before issuance; when plans are required, the declaration need not accompany the initial plan-check submittal. See the Building & Safety Division, read 2026-11-06.

The city lists single-family electrical re-wires, water re-pipes, electrical panel upgrades and re-roofs among residential applications accepted online. Its instructions say to send the completed application to Community Development and Housing; after acceptance, the city sends payment instructions.

The plan-submittal paragraph distinguishes expedited residential solar and electric-vehicle charging plans from the in-person process for other plans. It states that other plan and plan-check applications are not accepted by courier, mail or email.

For the work behind your San Bernardino application, InstaBids lets you describe the scope and request written bids.

What do I need before I apply in San Bernardino?

San Bernardino requests assembled, stapled printed plan sets when plans are required, along with hard copies of supporting documents such as structural calculations, energy calculations or a geotechnical report. Its printed-plan instructions also require legible detail and reject plans marked “Not for Construction.” See the Building & Safety Division, read 2026-11-06.

The published plan-set requirement is three printed copies, at least 24 inches by 36 inches. Supporting documents require two hard copies. The plan-size note says the drawings must be large enough for legible detail and print.

Complete the applicable application and prepare the Permit Application Declaration for issuance. Where plans are required, the city says the declaration is not required at the plan-check submittal stage.

A written San Bernardino project scope can accompany your request for contractor bids on InstaBids.

Can a homeowner pull their own permit in San Bernardino?

San Bernardino allows homeowners in most cases to obtain permits for work on a one- or two-family dwelling or an accessory structure, subject to its published residence, owner-performed construction and workers’ compensation conditions. The city also specifies identification requirements before permit issuance. See the Building & Safety Division, read 2026-11-06.

The owner must reside or intend to reside in the dwelling and show residence documentation, perform the construction, and sign a statement about not employing anyone in a way that triggers California workers’ compensation laws. The city requires positive identification of the applicant before issuance.

Contractors must hold the appropriate state license and a current city business license, show proof of the contractor license, and provide workers’ compensation insurance documentation when they have employees. An agent acting for an owner or contractor must carry a signed, identifiable authorization letter.

Homeowners planning work in San Bernardino can describe the project on InstaBids when they want written contractor bids.

Do I need a permit for a shed in San Bernardino?

San Bernardino lists an exemption for a one-story detached accessory structure used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use when its floor area does not exceed 120 square feet. The city refers readers to CBC 105.2 and CRC R105.2 for the complete exemption list. See the Building & Safety Division, read 2026-11-06.

One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet (11 square meters).

Source: Building & Safety Division | San Bernardino, CA, read 2026-11-06

For a complete list of work exempt from a permit and / or additional information, please refer to the California Building Code section 105.2. and the California Residential Code section R105.2

Source: Building & Safety Division | San Bernardino, CA, read 2026-11-06

For a shed project in San Bernardino, use InstaBids to put the intended work into a written bid request.

Start my request for a shed in San Bernardino

What work does not need a permit in San Bernardino?

San Bernardino includes certain detached decks in its work-exempt list under CBC 105.2 and CRC R105.2. The deck exemption combines area, height, attachment and exit-door conditions; the published wording below keeps those conditions together rather than using deck area as the deciding criterion. See the Building & Safety Division, read 2026-11-06.

Decks not exceeding 200 square feet (18.58 square meters) in area, that are not more than 30 inches (762 millimeters) above grade at any point, are not attached to a dwelling, and do not serve an exit door.

Source: Building & Safety Division | San Bernardino, CA, read 2026-11-06

For a complete list of work exempt from a permit and / or additional information, please refer to the California Building Code section 105.2. and the California Residential Code section R105.2

Source: Building & Safety Division | San Bernardino, CA, read 2026-11-06

The same city list includes painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work. The department points to the California Building Code and California Residential Code for additional exemption information.

For deck work in San Bernardino, put the scope and intended changes into an InstaBids request for written bids.

Start my request for a deck in San Bernardino

How long does a solar permit take in San Bernardino?

San Bernardino publishes approximately 1–3 business days for processing the residential solar application types described on its solar page, depending on staff availability. Missing documents can delay processing. That estimate is tied to those solar applications and does not establish a processing window for other building permits. See the Building & Safety Division, read 2026-11-06.

Please note: Permit processing for these application types may take approximately 1–3 business days, depending on staff availability. Any missing documentation may cause a delay in processing time.

Source: Apply for Residential Solar Permits | San Bernardino, CA, read 2026-11-06

For inspection, the city says hard-copy documents submitted through Symbium must be onsite and legible, including the site map, single-line diagram, specification sheets, inspection checklist and job card.

For a residential solar project in San Bernardino, describe your installation scope on InstaBids to request written bids.

How do I contact the San Bernardino building department?

The Building and Safety Division publishes permit-issuance counter hours separately from general inquiry hours. San Bernardino directs building-inspection requests to the City Information Center through SB Direct and asks callers to have their permit number ready. The department page provides the public contact details. See the Building & Safety Division, read 2026-11-06.

After defining your San Bernardino construction work, you can use InstaBids to request written bids from contractors.

Sources

• Building & Safety Division | San Bernardino, CA (sanbernardino.gov), read 2026-11-06
• Apply for Residential Solar Permits | San Bernardino, CA (sanbernardino.gov), read 2026-11-06
• (sbcity2.sanbernardino.gov), read 2026-11-06
• Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, annual county file 2025 (www2.census.gov), row 2025,06,071 San Bernardino County; Census BPS annual 2025; 1-based column 8 = '1-unit' Units; n=1 county-year row; field fill 100%., read 2026-11-06