San Bernardino County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County's code applies only in unincorporated areas of the county. It limits walls along rights-of-way and accessory building size, and sorts home businesses into classes with different limits.

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Key points

Garages and storage: Detached garages or carports: at most 1,200 sq ft on parcels under 20,000 sq ft; storage structures, 1,000 sq ft up to 1 acre.
Street walls: Decorative concrete or masonry walls along rights-of-way are limited to 6 feet (county rule).
Home businesses: A Class II home business may have 1 nonresident employee and at most 12 trips per day on average; Class III, 20 trips.

Each rule below is marked San Bernardino County code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

San Bernardino County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in San Bernardino County have their own codes and their own pages.

Fences and walls

San Bernardino County code What San Bernardino County's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	Up to 6 feet, of decorative concrete or masonry. Applies: Walls along rights-of-way. § 83.06.060 · code text Walls shall be constructed of decorative concrete or masonry materials up to six feet in height.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

San Bernardino County code What San Bernardino County's code adds
Size or lot coverage	No more than 1,200 square feet. Applies: Detached carports or garages on parcels under 20,000 square feet. § 84.01.050 · code text Detached carports or garages shall be limited to 1,200 square feet when located on parcels that are less than 20,000 square feet in size. No more than 1,000 square feet. Applies: Detached storage structures on parcels of 1 acre or less. Only 1 storage structure may be over 120 square feet. § 84.01.050 · code text Parcels that are one acre or less in size shall be limited to only one detached storage structure that exceeds 120 square feet and the storage structure shall not exceed 1,000 square feet.
Distance from the house	At least 10 feet from the main home. Applies: Guest housing, which must be on the same parcel. § 84.01.050 · code text Guest housing shall be located on the same parcel as the primary dwelling unit and shall be separated from it by at least ten feet.

Running a business from home

San Bernardino County code What San Bernardino County's code adds
Space used	Up to 25% of floor area or 250 square feet, whichever is greater, for storage. Applies: Class II home occupations: storage of business materials and supplies. § 84.12.090 · code text Up to 25 percent or 250 square feet, whichever is greater, of the total floor area of the dwelling unit and related accessory structures, may be used for storage of materials and supplies related to the home occupation. Up to 35% of the home and accessory structures' floor area or 500 square feet, whichever is greater. Applies: Class III home occupations: storage of business materials, supplies and equipment. § 84.12.100 · code text Up to 35 percent of the total floor area of the dwelling unit and related accessory structures or 500 square feet, whichever is greater, may be used for storage of materials, supplies, and equipment related to the use.
Customer visits	Only a limited number of customers or clients. Applies: Class II home occupations. By appointment only, one appointment at a time. § 84.12.090 · code text only a limited number of customers or clientele shall visit the residence. Each visit shall be only by appointment. This is restricted to a single appointment at a time. No more than 12 trips per day, as a monthly average. Applies: Class II home occupations. Counts personal and business trips. § 84.12.090 · code text The monthly average of the total trip count for personal and business activities shall not exceed 12 trips per day. Only a limited number of customers or clients. Applies: Class III home occupations. By appointment only, one appointment at a time. § 84.12.100 · code text Only a limited number of customers or clientele shall visit the residence and then only by appointment. This is restricted to a single appointment at a time. No more than 20 trips per day, as a monthly average. Applies: Class III home occupations. Counts personal and business trips. § 84.12.100 · code text The monthly average of the total trip count for personal and business activities shall not exceed 20 trips per day.
Employees	No more than 1 nonresident employee. Applies: Class II home occupations. All others must be resident family members. § 84.12.090 · code text All employees, partners, or operators of the home occupation, except one, shall be members of the resident family and shall reside on the premises provided all the required standards are met. Up to 2 nonresident employees. Applies: Class II home occupations in the Mountain and Desert Regions, if the Director authorizes it. § 84.12.090 · code text In the Mountain Region and Desert Region, the Director may authorize a second nonresident employee, provided all required standards can be met. Up to 5 non-resident employees. Applies: Class III home occupations on a property of at least 5 acres. § 84.12.100 · code text If the subject property is at least five acres in area, a total of five non-resident employees shall be allowed.
Businesses not allowed	Animal hospitals; motor vehicle and other vehicle repair, upholstery, painting or storage; carpentry and cabinet making (small wood products and single pieces of furniture are not included); kennels or catteries; massage parlors; medical and dental offices, clinics, and medical laboratories; repair shops or service establishments (repair of small electrical appliances, cameras or similar items is not included); riding stables; large scale upholstering service; welding and machining; vermicomposting; any other use the Director finds not incidental to or compatible with residential activities Applies: Except home occupations allowed in the Desert Region under § 84.12.060 § 84.12.050 · code text the following uses are not incidental to or compatible with residential activities and shall not be allowed as home occupations:

Solar panels and EV chargers

San Bernardino County code What San Bernardino County's code adds
EV charger permit	Expedited, streamlined administrative review. Applies: A permit to install an electric vehicle charging station. § 63.1704 · code text The Building Official shall implement the expedited, streamlined permitting process adopted herein for the administrative, nondiscretionary review of electric vehicle charging station permit applications. Apply over the counter, by mail or electronically. Applies: The permit application and its documents. § 63.1704 · code text An applicant may submit a permit application and associated documentation over-the-counter, by mail, or through electronic submittal, using the electronic submittal method or methods specified on the County website.
Solar permit process	A building permit or other nondiscretionary permit is issued. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar; issued within a reasonable time after a complete application that meets the checklist and standard plan. § 63.1604 · code text Staff shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within a reasonable time following receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist, standard plan, and this Chapter.

Tree removal

San Bernardino County code What San Bernardino County's code adds
Permit to remove	Yes, a Tree or Plant Removal Permit is required. Applies: Removing a regulated tree or plant. § 88.01.050 · code text A Tree or Plant Removal Permit shall be required for the removal of a regulated tree or plant as identified in this Chapter.
Replacement trees	Replacement planting and care may be required; the ratio and tree sizes follow an Oak Reforestation Plan. Applies: Non-exempt oak woodland conversion projects with a significant environmental effect. § 88.01.050 · code text The review authority may require the planting and maintenance of replacement trees, including replacing dead or diseased trees. The replacement ratio and tree sizes shall be based on the recommendation of an Oak Reforestation Plan prepared by a registered professional forester. An in-lieu fee to the Oak Woodlands Conservation Fund may be required, based on the replacement trees' value. Applies: Non-exempt oak woodland conversion projects with a significant environmental effect. § 88.01.050 · code text The in-lieu fee for replacement trees shall be calculated based upon their equivalent value as established by the International Society of Arboriculture’s (ISA) current edition of Guide to Establishing Values for Trees and Shrubs, etc.).

Pets, chickens and bees

San Bernardino County code Not allowed. Yes, on at least ½ acre.

All 25 San Bernardino County rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in San Bernardino County?

Decorative concrete or masonry walls along rights-of-way are limited to 6 feet (county rule).

How big can a shed or accessory building be in San Bernardino County?

Detached garages or carports: at most 1,200 sq ft on parcels under 20,000 sq ft; storage structures, 1,000 sq ft up to 1 acre.

Can I run a business from my home in San Bernardino County?

A Class II home business may have 1 nonresident employee and at most 12 trips per day on average; Class III, 20 trips.

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in San Bernardino County?

San Bernardino County's code: Expedited, streamlined administrative review. (A permit to install an electric vehicle charging station.) (§ 63.1704); Apply over the counter, by mail or electronically. (The permit application and its documents.) (§ 63.1704).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in San Bernardino County?

San Bernardino County's code: Yes, a Tree or Plant Removal Permit is required. (Removing a regulated tree or plant.) (§ 88.01.050); Replacement planting and care may be required; the ratio and tree sizes follow an Oak Reforestation Plan. (Non-exempt oak woodland conversion projects with a significant environmental effect.) (§ 88.01.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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