Can a homeowner pull a pool permit themselves in San Bernardino County?

Under California law (Business & Professions Code 7044(a)-(b); Business & Professions Code 7031.5): California exempts an owner from contractor licensing under section 7044 when they personally perform all the work on their own property, or any work they do not perform themselves is done by their own employees paid only wages, and none of the improvements are intended or offered for sale. It also exempts an owner who directly contracts with licensed contractors for each trade, as long as no more than four of the single-family residential structures involved are intended or offered for sale in a calendar year; this route does not apply if the owner instead contracts with a general contractor for the construction. A homeowner may also improve their own principal residence without a license, as long as the work is done before any sale, they have actually resided there for the 12 months before completion, and they have not used this exemption on more than two structures more than once in any three-year period. 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 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 civil penalty of up to $500. Confirm how San Bernardino County applies this before you apply.

California / San Bernardino County

Pool Permit in San Bernardino County, California

Permit required

Yes, a permit is required

Before any construction of a swimming pool, spa or hot tub on a property in the unincorporated county.

Confirmed on official page Verified 15 Aug 2026

Issued bySan Bernardino County Land Use Services Department, Building and Safety Division

By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources

Quick answer

A Pool and Spa permit is required before construction of a pool or spa in unincorporated San Bernardino County, with no size or depth threshold published for the permit itself. The county's own list of items requiring a permit includes "Pools and Spas." Because the pool permit fee rolls in the electrical, mechanical, plumbing and solar energy permit fees for all phases of the work, a homeowner does not pull separate trade permits for the pool itself. Barrier requirements are set out in the county's Information Bulletin IB-0007, which draws on CBC Chapter 31 Section 3109, CRC Appendix CI and the California Swimming Pool Safety Act at Health and Safety Code sections 115920 to 115929.

Who is pulling this permit?

Apply yourself

Apply on the San Bernardino County permit portal

Hire it out

When a permit is usually needed

Before any construction of a swimming pool, spa or hot tub on a property in the unincorporated county.

What a pool permit costs in San Bernardino County

Line itemAmountApplies to

pool permitBy formulaCounty Code 16.0204(i)(1) sets flat fees effective July 1, 2026 for "Swimming pools accessory to single-family dwellings": $647.00 with a standard plan and $748.00 with other than a standard plan. Spas and/or hot tubs are $335.00 under 16.0204(i)(3). The ordinance states the pool fee "includes plan review fees as shown below and all inspection fees for all phases of the construction including permit issuance fees, electrical permit fees, mechanical permit fees, plumbing permit fees and solar energy permit fees." A $57.00 intake processing fee under 16.0204(h)(1) is applied to each swimming pool, spa or hot tub permit.

Fee schedule in forceOfficial scheduleRead 15 Aug 2026. Fees are the jurisdiction’s; we do not mark them up or estimate them.

How San Bernardino County compares in California

Jurisdiction	Permit needed?	Threshold
Alameda County	It depends	Depth of a prefabricated pool at which the building permit exemption stops; the exemption also requires the pool to hold no more than 5,000 gallons and to be installed entirely above ground
Contra Costa County	It depends	depth of a prefabricated pool accessory to a one or two family dwelling that is installed entirely above ground and holds no more than 5,000 gallons
Fresno County	It depends	Prefabricated pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy are exempt from a building permit only when they are less than 24 inches deep, hold not more than 5,000 gallons, and are installed entirely above ground
Los Angeles	Permit required	Any size
Los Angeles County	It depends	depth of a prefabricated pool or other body of water accessory to a one- or two-family (Group R-3) home; the same exemption also reaches pools that do not exceed 5,000 gallons and are installed entirely above adjacent grade
Orange County	Permit required	Any size
San Bernardino Countythis page	Permit required	Any size

How to apply in San Bernardino County

In San Bernardino County, a residential pool permit application covers both construction and safety: a scaled site plan, structural plans for the pool, a barrier plan showing how the pool will be enclosed, and an electrical plan covering bonding and the equipment disconnect.

What most pool permit applications include:

Pool and spa design and construction fall under the residential code chapter that folds in the swimming pool and spa code, and permit review checks plans against that chapter (IRC R326).
For San Bernardino County, the site plan must show pool equipment such as pumps, filters, and heaters set back at least 36 inches from the outside of the required barrier (ISPSC 305.2.9).
For an in-ground pool, engineered structural plans covering the shell and reinforcing steel, with the responsible structural engineer's license information, are a standard part of the submittal (per official pool submittal checklists).
For San Bernardino County, a barrier plan identifying the fence, pool structure, or dwelling wall that will enclose the pool must be submitted and must comply with the code's barrier chapter (ISPSC 305).
Electrical plans must show the pool's equipotential bonding design, since the shell, perimeter surfaces, and metal fittings within 5 feet of the water must all tie into a common bonding grid (NEC 680.26).
For San Bernardino County, the electrical plan must also show a disconnecting means for the pool equipment that is readily accessible and within sight of the equipment (NEC 680.13).

General submittal guidance from 2021 IRC R326 (adopting the ISPSC), ISPSC 2021 Section 305, and NEC 2020 Article 680. 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

Pool Permit in San Bernardino County compared with nearby California localities

Locality	Permit needed?	Threshold	What each California schedule says	Verified
San Bernardino County	Permit required	Any size	...July 1, 2026 for "Swimming pools accessory to single-family dwellings": $647.00...	15 Aug 2026
Alameda County	It depends	Depth of a prefabricated pool at which the building permit exemption stops; the exemption also requires the pool to hold no more than 5,000 gallons and to be installed entirely above ground	...A table, plus building plan review at '80% of the Building Permit fees, $140.00...	15 Aug 2026
Contra Costa County	It depends	depth of a prefabricated pool accessory to a one or two family dwelling that is installed entirely above ground and holds no more than 5,000 gallons	The Building Valuation Data Supplement sets a "Swimming pool, lump sum of: $39,514.98"...	15 Aug 2026
Fresno County	It depends	Prefabricated pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy are exempt from a building permit only when they are less than 24 inches deep, hold not more than 5,000 gallons, and are installed entirely above ground	...structural, plumbing and electrical', FY 2026-27: In ground Pool or Spa...	15 Aug 2026
Los Angeles	Permit required	Any size	...building permit with the LADBS Valuation Table pricing a concrete pool at $43 per...	17 Jun 2026

Inspections and closing out your permit

In San Bernardino County, pool inspections track the concrete pour: the steel and bonding grid are checked before gunite or shotcrete goes in, bonding is checked again before decking is poured, and the permanent barrier and remaining electrical work are checked at final before the pool can be filled and used.

In San Bernardino County: before gunite or shotcrete is sprayed, the inspector checks the rebar against the engineered plans and confirms the equipotential bonding wire is stubbed out and tied into the steel, since it will be buried in concrete afterward (NEC 680.26).
In San Bernardino County: a bonding inspection separately confirms coping, decking, ladders, handrail cups, and any other metal within 5 feet of the water are tied to the bonding grid, and it must pass before coping is installed (NEC 680.26).
In San Bernardino County: a temporary barrier at least 4 feet high must enclose the site from the moment excavation starts until the permanent barrier is finished, and inspectors check for it throughout construction (ISPSC 305.1.1).
In San Bernardino County: a pre-plaster inspection confirms the circulation equipment's electrical work is installed and all bonding is complete before the pool's interior finish goes on (NEC 680.26).
In San Bernardino County: at final inspection the permanent barrier is checked against the code's requirements and the equipment and cover-mechanism bonding must be complete before the pool can be filled and used (ISPSC 305, NEC 680.26).

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 NEC 2020 Article 680.26 (equipotential bonding) and ISPSC 2021 Section 305 (barriers). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.

Your Pool Permit checklist for San Bernardino County

Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before any construction of a swimming pool, spa or hot tub on a property in the unincorporated county.
Budget the fee. County Code 16.0204(i)(1) sets flat fees effective July 1, 2026 for "Swimming pools accessory to single-family dwellings": $647.00 with a standard plan and $748.00 with other than a standard plan. Spas and/or hot tubs are $335.00 under 16.0204(i)(3). The ordinance states the pool fee "includes plan review fees as shown below and all inspection fees for all phases of the construction including permit issuance fees, electrical permit fees, mechanical permit fees, plumbing permit fees and solar energy permit fees." A $57.00 intake processing fee under 16.0204(h)(1) is applied to each swimming pool, spa or hot tub permit. Official fee schedule.
Apply. In San Bernardino County, a residential pool permit application covers both construction and safety: a scaled site plan, structural plans for the pool, a barrier plan showing how the pool will be enclosed, and an electrical plan covering bonding and the equipment disconnect. 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. In San Bernardino County, pool inspections track the concrete pour: the steel and bonding grid are checked before gunite or shotcrete goes in, bonding is checked again before decking is poured, and the permanent barrier and remaining electrical work are checked at final before the pool can be filled and used.

Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked 15 Aug 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a pool permit in San Bernardino County?: A Pool and Spa permit is required before construction of a pool or spa in unincorporated San Bernardino County, with no size or depth threshold published for the permit itself. The county's own list of items requiring a permit includes "Pools and Spas." Because the pool permit fee rolls in the electrical, mechanical, plumbing and solar energy permit fees for all phases of the work, a homeowner does not pull separate trade permits for the pool itself. Barrier requirements are set out in the county's Information Bulletin IB-0007, which draws on CBC Chapter 31 Section 3109, CRC Appendix CI and the California Swimming Pool Safety Act at Health and Safety Code sections 115920 to 115929. Always confirm with the San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department, Building and Safety Division before starting.
How much does a pool permit cost in San Bernardino County?: County Code 16.0204(i)(1) sets flat fees effective July 1, 2026 for "Swimming pools accessory to single-family dwellings": $647.00 with a standard plan and $748.00 with other than a standard plan. Spas and/or hot tubs are $335.00 under 16.0204(i)(3). The ordinance states the pool fee "includes plan review fees as shown below and all inspection fees for all phases of the construction including permit issuance fees, electrical permit fees, mechanical permit fees, plumbing permit fees and solar energy permit fees." A $57.00 intake processing fee under 16.0204(h)(1) is applied to each swimming pool, spa or hot tub permit. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
Where do you apply for a pool 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 pool permit themselves in San Bernardino County?: Under California law (Business & Professions Code 7044(a)-(b); Business & Professions Code 7031.5): California exempts an owner from contractor licensing under section 7044 when they personally perform all the work on their own property, or any work they do not perform themselves is done by their own employees paid only wages, and none of the improvements are intended or offered for sale. It also exempts an owner who directly contracts with licensed contractors for each trade, as long as no more than four of the single-family residential structures involved are intended or offered for sale in a calendar year; this route does not apply if the owner instead contracts with a general contractor for the construction. A homeowner may also improve their own principal residence without a license, as long as the work is done before any sale, they have actually resided there for the 12 months before completion, and they have not used this exemption on more than two structures more than once in any three-year period. 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 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 civil penalty of up to $500. 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
Deck Permit	It depends	floor area of a detached residential accessory structure	...Deck, Carport, Patio Cover": for Construction Type VA/VB the base cost is $691 at...
Electrical Permit	Permit required	Any size	...fees effective July 1, 2026: "Meter change out and upgrades only" $195.00, "New...
Fence Permit	It depends	height of a fence or block wall	...flat fee: "Chain link, wood and/or wrought iron fencing: A) Residential" is $117.00...
HVAC Permit	Permit required	Any size	...residential mechanical fees effective July 1, 2026: "HVAC change out only" $156.00...
Patio Permit	Permit required	Any size	...Deck, Carport, Patio Cover": for Construction Type VA/VB the base cost is $691 at...
Plumbing Permit	Permit required	Any size	..."Fixture or traps including water drainage piping and backflow protection": $156.00...
Roof Replacement Permit	Permit required	Any size	...1, 2026: "Re-roofs: A) Residential (with detached or attached garage)" is $234.00...
Shed Permit	It depends	floor area of a detached residential accessory structure	...is "U Accessory-Barn or Shed": for Construction Type VA/VB the base cost is $3,091...
Solar Permit	Permit required	Any size	...systems for single family residential - roof mount system": plan review $215.00...

Pool Permit in other California localities

Everything above, sourced

lus.sbcounty.gov: building safety homeread 15 Aug 2026

wp.sbcounty.gov: pool and sparead 15 Aug 2026

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.

2021 IRC R326 (adopting the ISPSC), ISPSC 2021 Section 305, and NEC 2020 Article 680

How this pool permit page for San Bernardino County was verified. 2 official sources: lus.sbcounty.gov, wp.sbcounty.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked 15 Aug 2026 by Mario Bailey, 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: 15 Aug 2026Report an error on this page

Compare Pool Permit requirements across California localities

Pool permit rules nationwide