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San Bernardino · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in San Bernardino

San Bernardino sets its own rules on fence permits and on which businesses may not run from a home.

Key points

  • Fence permits: Fences up to 6 feet high need no building permit, except concrete and masonry fences more than 3 feet above grade (city rule).
  • Barred businesses: The city bars home businesses such as barber shops, animal grooming or breeding, vehicle repair, medical offices, and welding.

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

Fences and walls

San Bernardino code What San Bernardino's code adds
Permit
  • No building permit for fences up to 6 feet, except concrete or masonry fences over 3 feet.
    Applies: Fences no higher than 6 feet; concrete and masonry fences over 3 feet above grade are not exempt.
    § 15.04.070 · code text
    Fences not over 6 feet high, except concrete and masonry fences greater than three (3) feet above grade.

Running a business from home

San Bernardino code What San Bernardino's code adds
Businesses not allowed
  • Barber and beauty shop
    § 19.54.040 · code text
    Barber and beauty shop;
  • Businesses which entail the harboring, training, breeding, raising, or grooming of dogs, cats, or other animals on the premises
    § 19.54.040 · code text
    Businesses which entail the harboring, training, breeding, raising, or grooming of dogs, cats, or other animals on the premises;
  • Carpentry and cabinet making
    § 19.54.040 · code text
    Carpentry and cabinet making;
  • Medical and dental offices, clinics, and laboratories
    § 19.54.040 · code text
    Medical and dental offices, clinics, and laboratories;
  • Mini storage
    § 19.54.040 · code text
    Mini storage;
  • Repair, fix-it, or plumbing shops
    § 19.54.040 · code text
    Repair, fix-it, or plumbing shops;
  • Storage of equipment, materials, and other accessories to the construction and service trades
    § 19.54.040 · code text
    Storage of equipment, materials, and other accessories to the construction and service trades;
  • Vehicle repair (body or mechanical), upholstery, and painting
    § 19.54.040 · code text
    Vehicle repair (body or mechanical), upholstery, and painting;
  • Welding and machining
    § 19.54.040 · code text
    Welding and machining;

Swimming pools

San Bernardino code What San Bernardino's code adds
Pool barrier
  • No openings, holes or gaps larger than 4 inches square.
    § 15.48.030 · code text
    There shall be no openings, holes, or gaps in the fence or wall larger than four inches square
  • Gaps between pickets or vertical members at most 4 inches wide and at least 36 inches tall.
    Applies: Picket fences or other fences made of vertical members.
    § 15.48.030 · code text
    the open space between the pickets or vertical members shall not exceed four inches horizontally and shall be not less than 36 inches vertically.
  • Must be non-climbable; openings, holes or gaps may not form horizontal steps or another way to climb.
    § 15.48.030 · code text
    This fence must be non-climbable with openings, holes, or gaps not to be constructed or maintained in a horizontal series constituting steps or other means of access.
Barrier height
  • At least 4 feet high.
    Applies: Pools and other outdoor bodies of water more than 18 inches deep.
    § 15.48.030 · code text
    a fence or wall not less than four feet in height.
Gates
  • At least 4 feet high.
    § 15.48.040 · code text
    All gates or doors opening through the required enclosure shall be not less than four feet high.
  • Self-closing, self-latching device within 3 inches of the required fence height, keeping the gate securely closed when not in use.
    § 15.48.040 · code text
    Gates or doors shall be equipped with a self-closing and self-latching device located within three inches of the required height of fence or wall.
  • Driveway gates or doors may not open into the area between the fence and the pool.
    Applies: Gates or doors across a driveway leading to a required parking area.
    § 15.48.040 · code text
    No gate or door across a driveway providing access to any required parking area may open into the area between a fence or wall and the pool or body of water.
Maintenance and empty pools
  • A fence or wall must be maintained that fully surrounds the pool or body of water.
    Applies: Pools and other outdoor bodies of water for swimming or bathing, more than 18 inches deep.
    § 15.48.030 · code text
    shall maintain on the premises, completely surrounding the pool or body of water, a fence or wall not less than four feet in height.
Setback from property lines
  • At least 5 feet.
    Applies: Pools built after the ordinance took effect; measured from the inside pool face to a side or rear lot line.
    § 15.48.050 · code text
    Any swimming pool constructed after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be constructed so that there shall be at least five feet between the inside or poolside face of the swimming pool and side or rear lot line.

Pets, chickens and bees

San Bernardino code What San Bernardino's code adds
Pet limit
  • No more than 3 dogs 4 months or older.
    Applies: Any lot, unless the zoning code allows more.
    § 6.08.020 · code text
    It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to own, harbor or keep on or at any lot, premises or place more than three dogs which are four or more months of age, except as may be permitted by the provisions of Title 19.
  • No more than 5 cats 4 months or older.
    Applies: Any lot, unless the zoning code or this chapter allows more.
    § 6.10.020 · code text
    It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to own, harbor or keep on or at any lot, premises or place more than five cats which are four or more months of age, except as may be permitted by the provisions of Title 19 or as may be permitted by this chapter.
  • No more than 12 rabbits or guinea pigs in total.
    Applies: Within 150 feet of any building used or intended for people to live in.
    § 6.03.040 · code text
    It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to keep or cause to be kept more than 12 rabbits or guinea pigs, or any combination of each totaling 12, within 150 feet of any building or structure used or intended for human occupancy.
  • No more than 4 rabbits or guinea pigs.
    Applies: Within 50 feet of any building used or intended for people to live in.
    § 6.03.040 · code text
    It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to keep or cause to be kept more than four rabbits or guinea pigs within 50 feet of any building or structure used or intended for human occupancy.

Other San Bernardino rules on this

San Bernardino's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in San Bernardino?

Fences up to 6 feet high need no building permit, except concrete and masonry fences more than 3 feet above grade (city rule).

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

The city bars home businesses such as barber shops, animal grooming or breeding, vehicle repair, medical offices, and welding.

What are the pool fence and setback rules in San Bernardino?

San Bernardino's code: No openings, holes or gaps larger than 4 inches square. (§ 15.48.030); Gaps between pickets or vertical members at most 4 inches wide and at least 36 inches tall. (Picket fences or other fences made of vertical members.) (§ 15.48.030).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in San Bernardino?

San Bernardino's code: No more than 3 dogs 4 months or older. (Any lot, unless the zoning code allows more.) (§ 6.08.020); No more than 5 cats 4 months or older. (Any lot, unless the zoning code or this chapter allows more.) (§ 6.10.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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