California / San Bernardino County
Deck Permit in San Bernardino County, California
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before building a deck, balcony or porch larger than 120 square feet at a home in the unincorporated county, and before building any deck that will carry a spa.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
San Bernardino County handles decks as Residential Accessory work: its Which Permit Do I Need index routes both "Deck" and "Deck - Parking" to the Residential Accessory application, and Deck, Balcony and Porch all appear in that application's typical-project list. The Residential Accessory rule is that a permit is required for accessory structures greater than 120 square feet, which matches the county's headline "New Buildings and Structures greater than 120 square feet" trigger. The county lists a "Deck Handout (no spa)" and a "Deck Handout (with spa)" among the application's resources, and a deck built to carry a spa also pulls in the Pool and Spa requirements.
Typical threshold: floor area of a detached residential accessory structure.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
When a permit is usually needed
Before building a deck, balcony or porch larger than 120 square feet at a home in the unincorporated county, and before building any deck that will carry a spa.
What a deck permit costs in San Bernardino County
How San Bernardino County compares in California
That is the strictest deck permit threshold among the California jurisdictions we have verified: Contra Costa County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Diego, San Jose, and Santa Clara County allow up to 200.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Contra Costa County | It depends | area of a deck that is also no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling, and does not serve a code-required exit door |
| Riverside County | It depends | A deck is exempt only if it is 200 square feet or less in area, no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to a dwelling or townhouse, and does not serve the required exit door |
| Sacramento County | It depends | deck area, where the deck is also no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling, and does not serve a required exit door |
| San Bernardino Countythis page | It depends | floor area of a detached residential accessory structure |
| San Diego | It depends | deck over 200 sq ft or over 30 inches above grade or attached to a dwelling requires a permit |
| San Jose | It depends | deck over 200 sq ft or over 30 inches above grade or attached to dwelling or serving required exit requires a permit |
| Santa Clara County | It depends | deck area, paired with a 30-inch height limit, no attachment to the dwelling, and no required exit door served |
Closest deck permit thresholds outside California
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest San Bernardino County's 120 sq ft.
- Baltimore County, Maryland, deck floor area, with a permit also required for any deck more than 16 inches above the lowest grade
- Manatee County, Florida, All attached decks require a building permit regardless of size. A detached deck requires a permit if it is over 30 inches high or over 120 square feet; a detached deck under 30 inches high and under 120 square feet does not require a permit.
- Leon County, Florida, Decks greater than 100 square feet in area, or more than 30 inches above grade on any side, require a building permit (either condition alone triggers it).
- Austin, Texas, uncovered decks with area no greater than 200 sq ft and no more than 30 inches above grade and not attached to the dwelling and not providing required egress and not in floodplain are exempt
How to apply in San Bernardino County
A residential deck permit application is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the IRC deck provisions. In practice that means a scaled site plan locating the deck and its setbacks, plus deck plans and structural details covering the footings, posts, beams, joists, ledger, guards, and stairs.
What most deck permit applications include:
- A permit application identifying the work, the deck's size (square footage), and whether electrical work such as lights or receptacles is included, submitted for plan review before construction begins (IRC R106).
- A scaled site plan (for example 1/4 inch to 1 foot) showing the new deck's location relative to the house, its overall length and width, and dimensioned distances from the deck to all property lines and other structures so required setbacks can be verified (IRC R106.1.1).
- A deck plan drawn to scale showing overall dimensions and the framing layout: joist size, spacing, span, and species; beam size and span; post size and height; and footing or pier size and depth (IRC R507.4 posts, R507.5 beams, R507.6 joists, R507.3 footings).
- A section or side elevation with connection details showing the ledger attachment to the house band joist with flashing, the fastener or bolt schedule, joist hangers, post-to-beam and post-to-footing connections, and the required lateral load connection (IRC R507.9 ledger connection, R507.9.2 lateral connection, R507.2.4 flashing).
- Footing sizing derived from tributary area, the soil bearing value, and design loads per IRC Table R507.3.1, with footings shown bearing on undisturbed soil at the frost depth required by the jurisdiction (IRC R507.3).
- Details for the guards required where the walking surface is more than 30 inches above grade, and for the stairs and handrails, showing guard height and opening limits, stair riser and tread dimensions, and handrail location (IRC R312 guards, R311.7 stairs and handrails).
- For designs that fall outside the prescriptive R507 tables (for example multi-story or stacked decks, or a ledger attached to a cantilever), engineered and stamped structural plans are submitted in place of the prescriptive details (IRC R507.1 and R301).
General submittal guidance from IRC R106.1.1 (construction documents) and IRC R507 (exterior decks), 2021 IRC. Source. San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department, Building and Safety Division sets the exact checklist for San Bernardino County.
Where to apply in San Bernardino County:
San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department, Building and Safety Division
- County Government Center, 385 N. Arrowhead Ave., First Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415
- Phone: 909-387-8311
Inspections and closing out your permit
Deck work is inspected in sequence as it is built: the footings before concrete is placed, the framing before the decking boards go down, and a final inspection once the deck is complete. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if missed.
- Footing or pier inspection: after the holes are dug and any forms or reinforcing are set but before concrete is placed, the inspector checks footing depth and diameter, a flat undisturbed bearing surface, and that the holes are free of water (IRC R109.1.1 foundation inspection; R507.3 footings).
- Framing inspection: after the deck is framed but before the decking conceals it, the inspector verifies the ledger attachment and its flashing, the fastener and bolt schedule, joist hangers and metal connectors, post-to-beam and post-to-footing connections, and the lateral load connection; call it before decking is installed (IRC R109.1.4 frame inspection; R507.9 ledger and flashing).
- Final inspection: after the deck is complete and before it is used, the inspector confirms guard height and opening limits (a 4 inch sphere must not pass, 4 3/8 inch at stairs), stair riser and tread dimensions, handrail height and graspability where there are 4 or more risers, stair landings, and required stair lighting (IRC R109.1.6 final inspection; R312 guards, R311.7 stairs and handrails).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the San Bernardino County permit portal or by phone at 909-387-8311.
Inspection sequence from IRC R109 (inspections: R109.1.1 footing before concrete, R109.1.4 frame, R109.1.6 final), 2021 IRC. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Deck Permit checklist for San Bernardino County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: floor area of a detached residential accessory structure. Usually needed: Before building a deck, balcony or porch larger than 120 square feet at a home in the unincorporated county, and before building any deck that will carry a spa.
- Budget the fee. Decks are priced off the FY 2026/27 Construction Fee Schedule adopted under County Code 16.0204(a)(1), which combines plan check and inspection fees. The line item is "U Other - Awning/Canopy, Deck, Carport, Patio Cover": for Construction Type VA/VB the base cost is $691 at the 50 sq ft project-size threshold, $810 at 250 sq ft, $1,054 at 500 sq ft and $1,436 at 1,000 sq ft, with a per-100-sq-ft add-on between thresholds. A $57.00 intake processing fee under 16.0204(h)(1) is applied to each permit. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. A residential deck permit application is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the IRC deck provisions. In practice that means a scaled site plan locating the deck and its setbacks, plus deck plans and structural details covering the footings, posts, beams, joists, ledger, guards, and stairs. Start at the San Bernardino County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department, Building and Safety Division. Phone: 909-387-8311. Address: County Government Center, 385 N. Arrowhead Ave., First Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415.
- Plan for inspections. Deck work is inspected in sequence as it is built: the footings before concrete is placed, the framing before the decking boards go down, and a final inspection once the deck is complete. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if missed.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a deck permit in San Bernardino County?
- San Bernardino County handles decks as Residential Accessory work: its Which Permit Do I Need index routes both "Deck" and "Deck - Parking" to the Residential Accessory application, and Deck, Balcony and Porch all appear in that application's typical-project list. The Residential Accessory rule is that a permit is required for accessory structures greater than 120 square feet, which matches the county's headline "New Buildings and Structures greater than 120 square feet" trigger. The county lists a "Deck Handout (no spa)" and a "Deck Handout (with spa)" among the application's resources, and a deck built to carry a spa also pulls in the Pool and Spa requirements. Floor area of a detached residential accessory structure. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a deck permit cost in San Bernardino County?
- Decks are priced off the FY 2026/27 Construction Fee Schedule adopted under County Code 16.0204(a)(1), which combines plan check and inspection fees. The line item is "U Other - Awning/Canopy, Deck, Carport, Patio Cover": for Construction Type VA/VB the base cost is $691 at the 50 sq ft project-size threshold, $810 at 250 sq ft, $1,054 at 500 sq ft and $1,436 at 1,000 sq ft, with a per-100-sq-ft add-on between thresholds. A $57.00 intake processing fee under 16.0204(h)(1) is applied to each permit. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a deck permit in San Bernardino County?
- You can apply through the San Bernardino County permit portal or contact the San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department, Building and Safety Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a deck permit themselves in San Bernardino County?
- Under California law (Business & Professions Code 7044(a)-(b); Business & Professions Code 7031.5): California exempts an owner-builder from contractor licensing when the owner personally performs the work, or uses only wage employees, on their own property and does not intend the improvements for sale. A homeowner may also directly hire licensed trade contractors for up to four single-family residences a year, or improve their own principal residence without a general contractor's license, as long as they have actually lived there for the 12 months before the work is finished. Selling a self-built structure within one year of completion creates a rebuttable presumption that it was built for sale, which defeats the exemption, and selling five or more structures within a year makes that presumption conclusive. Separately, every city or county that requires a building permit must also require the applicant to file a signed statement giving their contractor license number or the basis of their claimed exemption; a false or missing statement carries a $500 civil penalty. Confirm how San Bernardino County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in San Bernardino County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | County Code 16.0204(b)(1) sets residential electrical fees effective July 1, 2026:... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | height of a fence or block wall | San Bernardino County Code section 16.0204(g)(3) prices fencing as a flat fee: "Chain... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | County Code 16.0204(d)(1) sets residential mechanical fees effective July 1, 2026: "HVAC... |
| Patio Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Patio covers are priced off the FY 2026/27 Construction Fee Schedule adopted under... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | County Code 16.0204(c)(1) sets residential plumbing fees effective July 1, 2026 for... |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Not specified | County Code 16.0204(i)(1) sets flat fees effective July 1, 2026 for "Swimming pools... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Not specified | County Code 16.0204(h)(8) sets a flat re-roof fee effective July 1, 2026: "Re-roofs: A)... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a detached residential accessory structure | Sheds are priced off the FY 2026/27 Construction Fee Schedule adopted under County Code... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | County Code 16.0204(j)(1) sets fees effective July 1, 2026 for "15KW or less... |
Deck Permit in other California localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not San Bernardino County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department, Building and Safety Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Deck Permit requirements across California localities
Permit office
San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department, Building and Safety Division
909-387-8311Permit portal