Yes: the City of San Bernardino approves ADUs and JADUs with a ministerial building permit under Development Code Section 19.04.030(2)(P), restated in full by Ordinance MC-1659 (Development Code Amendment 25-11, adopted February 4, 2026, effective March 6, 2026). A 'Class 1' state-law unit needs only 4-ft side and rear setbacks and a 16-ft height: one conversion ADU plus one 500 sq ft JADU plus one detached ADU of 800 sq ft or less on a single-family lot, or up to 8 detached ADUs on an existing multifamily lot. A larger 'Class 2' ADU is capped at 850 sq ft of interior livable space for a studio or one-bedroom and 1,000 sq ft for two or more bedrooms, with a 25-ft front setback, one story, one off-street parking space unless an exemption applies (half a mile from transit, a conversion, and others), a 45% floor-area ratio and 50% lot coverage and open-space limits, and matching materials, screening and window-placement rules. The city must confirm completeness within 15 business days and approve or deny within 60 days or the application is deemed approved; city plan-check and permit fees run roughly $2,300-$2,800 for a detached unit, and no impact fees apply to an ADU of 750 sq ft or less. Unincorporated addresses are regulated by San Bernardino County Land Use Services under a different code.
Outside city limits? If your property is in unincorporated San Bernardino County (not within San Bernardino's boundaries), different rules apply — see our San Bernardino County (unincorporated) ADU rules.
Zoning & Size Requirements [1][2][3][4][5]
Yes — San Bernardino allows ADUs. A detached ADU can typically be up to 1,000 sq ft under current California and San Bernardino zoning rules.
See what this means for your lot — ask San Bernardino ADU builders for a quote →
| Allowed Zones | All residential zones: ADUs are a permitted (P) use in the RE, RL, RS, RU, RM, RMH and RH zones and the RSH overlay (Table 04.01, 19.04.020). Under 19.04.030(2)(P)(6)(a) a Class 1 (state-law) ADU may be built on any lot in a residential or mixed-use zone that has a proposed or existing home, a Class 2 (locally regulated) ADU on any lot zoned for single-family or multifamily use, and a JADU only on a lot zoned for single-family residences |
| Max Size (Detached) | 1,000 sq ft of interior livable space for a unit with two or more bedrooms and 850 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom under the city's Class 2 standards (19.04.030(2)(P)(7)(a), Ordinance MC-1659); a Class 1 detached ADU under state law is 800 sq ft of livable space or less (5.a.ii). No lot-coverage, FAR, front-setback or open-space rule may force any ADU below 800 sq ft (7.a.iii). Minimum interior width 10 ft in every direction with a 7-ft ceiling (7.h.v) |
| Max Size (Attached) | 1,000 sq ft of interior livable space (two or more bedrooms) or 850 sq ft (studio or one-bedroom), and no more than 50% of the existing house's floor area, but never forced below 800 sq ft (19.04.030(2)(P)(7)(a)). A conversion ADU inside the existing house or an accessory structure may add up to 150 sq ft for entry and exit (5.a.i) |
| Max Size (JADU) | 500 sq ft of interior livable space, entirely inside the existing or proposed single-family house (an attached garage counts), with an efficiency kitchen and its own exterior entrance; it may share a bathroom with the house (19.04.030(2)(P)(3)(e)). One JADU per single-family lot, only on single-family-zoned land (6.a.iii) |
| Max Height | 16 ft for a detached ADU; 18 ft when the lot is within half a mile walking distance of a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor (plus up to 2 ft, to 20 ft, to match the house's roof pitch) or on a multifamily lot with a multi-story building; an attached ADU may reach 25 ft or the zone's height limit, whichever is lower, and at most two stories. Height is measured from existing legal grade or the lowest floor, whichever is lower, to the peak (19.04.030(2)(P)(6)(b)). A Class 2 detached ADU is limited to one story (7.k) |
| Max Units | Single-family lot: one conversion ADU (inside the house or an accessory structure, plus 150 sq ft for entry) plus one 500 sq ft JADU plus one new detached ADU of 800 sq ft or less, all Class 1 units that MC-1659 expressly lets you combine (19.04.030(2)(P)(5)(a)(i)-(ii)); a larger Class 2 ADU up to 1,000 sq ft is the alternative for one bigger unit. Multifamily lot: conversion ADUs in non-livable space (storage, garages, attics) up to 25% of the existing units, at least one, plus up to 8 detached ADUs on a lot with an existing building (not more than the number of existing units) or 2 on a lot with a proposed building (5.a.iii-iv, SB 1211). An ADU that misses an objective standard may be allowed with a conditional use permit (subsection 10) |
Setback Requirements [1][2][3][4][5]
San Bernardino requires a rear setback of about 4 ft for a detached ADU, and parking requirements vary by unit size or location. Owner-occupancy is not required — you can rent it out without living on the property.
| Rear Setback | 4 ft (19.04.030(2)(P)(5)(a)(ii) for a Class 1 detached ADU; 7.c.i for a Class 2 ADU). No setback beyond fire-code separation for a conversion inside existing space, and none when the ADU is built in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing structure (7.c.ii) |
| Side Setback | 4 ft (same subsections). An existing multifamily building that already sits closer than 4 ft does not have to be altered to add a detached ADU (5.a.iv(a)) |
| Front Setback | 25 ft for a Class 2 ADU (19.04.030(2)(P)(7)(c)(i)), but the front setback may not be used to push the unit below 800 sq ft (7.a.iii); a Class 1 detached ADU of 800 sq ft or less is bound only by the 4-ft side and rear standard. None when rebuilding on an existing structure's footprint and dimensions (7.c.ii) |
| Parking Required | 1 off-street space per Class 2 ADU (one per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less), which may sit in a setback or as tandem parking in the driveway (19.04.030(2)(P)(7)(g)). No parking is required when the ADU is within half a mile walking distance of public transit (a bus stop or train station with fixed routes and set fares), is converted from the house or an accessory structure, is in a historic district, is within one block of a car-share stop, or where on-street permits are required but not offered to the ADU occupant; no parking is required for any Class 1 unit (a JADU, a conversion ADU or a detached ADU of 800 sq ft or less), and a garage or parking space removed for an ADU is not replaced (7.g.iii) |
| Owner Occupancy | Not required for an ADU (19.04.030(2)(P)(6)(g)(i)). A JADU requires an owner (a natural person holding title) to live in the house or the JADU unless the JADU has its own bathroom, or the property is owned by a government agency, land trust or housing organization (6.g.ii, matching AB 1154); a JADU also needs a recorded deed restriction before its certificate of occupancy (6.h). ADUs no longer need a deed restriction under MC-1659 |
| Min Lot Size | None. An ADU needs only a lot in an eligible zone with a proposed or existing primary dwelling (19.04.030(2)(P)(3)(a)); a Class 2 ADU may not push total lot coverage above 50%, floor-area ratio above 45% or open space below 50%, except that none of those limits can reduce the ADU below 800 sq ft (7.a.iii, 7.b, 7.d, 7.e) |
Permit Process & Fees [6][7][8][9][10][11]
An ADU permit in San Bernardino goes through a ministerial, by-right review. Typical timeline: 15 business days for the city to tell you in writing whether the application is complete (and what is missing), the same 15 business days for each resubmittal, then 60 days from a complete application to approve or deny or the ADU is deemed approved; the clock pauses only if you ask for a delay or the ADU is filed with a new house (19.04.030(2)(P)(4)(c), SB 543). Building & Safety says a first plan-check round takes 15-20 business days and each later round 10-15 business days, with status on the online permit portal. Permit fees: The posted Building & Safety fee schedule (07/2020) has no ADU line, so a new detached unit is priced like a new in-fill dwelling: plan review at the hourly rate of $122.37 (5 hours, about $612, for a new dwelling; 3 hours, about $367, for an addition), a building permit of $1,461 for a unit up to 1,200 sq ft (Table 1B, including electrical, plumbing and mechanical inspections) or $1.92 per sq ft for an attached unit with a bath or kitchen ($375 minimum, $1,459 maximum up to 1,200 sq ft), plus a 2% technology fee and 2% General Plan maintenance fee, a $55 zoning consistency review, $167.40 for the certificate of occupancy when it is on the building permit, state SMIP at 0.0001 x valuation and archive fees of $3.15 per plan sheet; expect roughly $2,300-$2,800 in city plan-check and permit fees for a detached ADU before school, sewer and impact fees. The Planning Division's February 2024 schedule lists no ADU review fee; MC-1659 lets the city set an ADU-permit processing fee by council resolution (4.b), so confirm with Planning. Pre-approved plans are bought from their designer at the designer's price.
| Approval Process | Ministerial: every ADU and JADU needs an ADU permit and a building permit, approved without a hearing when the plans meet 19.04.030(2)(P) (subsection 4). The city's ADU page lays out the steps: 1) check zoning on the city GIS map and whether the lot is in a high-wind, high-seismic or fire-severity area; 2) submit plans to the Planning Division (909-998-2300, cityofsbplanning@sbcity.org) for planning pre-approval; 3) file at the Building & Safety counter, 201 N. E Street, 3rd floor: three sets of 24 x 36 in. plans with photovoltaic shown (it cannot be deferred), two sets of structural and energy calculations and spec sheets, the building permit application, and the hold-harmless form if you use a pre-approved plan; plan-review fees are paid at submittal and permit fees before issuance; 4) obtain clearances from San Bernardino County Fire (online only), the Water Department for a sewer capacity/will-serve letter (1350 S. E Street, 909-384-5095), the NPDES and Land Development sections of Public Works, and Real Property for the new address, then send them to Community Development or drop them at the counter; 5) plan review, then permit issuance once fees and any school-fee letter are in hand; 6) inspections by phone at 909-998-2000. A denial must list every deficiency and how to fix it, and can be appealed in writing to the Planning Commission, which rules within 60 business days (4.c.iv-v). Owner-builders may pull their own permit with the Owner-Builder Acknowledgment form |
| Review Timeline | 15 business days for the city to tell you in writing whether the application is complete (and what is missing), the same 15 business days for each resubmittal, then 60 days from a complete application to approve or deny or the ADU is deemed approved; the clock pauses only if you ask for a delay or the ADU is filed with a new house (19.04.030(2)(P)(4)(c), SB 543). Building & Safety says a first plan-check round takes 15-20 business days and each later round 10-15 business days, with status on the online permit portal |
| Permit Fees | The posted Building & Safety fee schedule (07/2020) has no ADU line, so a new detached unit is priced like a new in-fill dwelling: plan review at the hourly rate of $122.37 (5 hours, about $612, for a new dwelling; 3 hours, about $367, for an addition), a building permit of $1,461 for a unit up to 1,200 sq ft (Table 1B, including electrical, plumbing and mechanical inspections) or $1.92 per sq ft for an attached unit with a bath or kitchen ($375 minimum, $1,459 maximum up to 1,200 sq ft), plus a 2% technology fee and 2% General Plan maintenance fee, a $55 zoning consistency review, $167.40 for the certificate of occupancy when it is on the building permit, state SMIP at 0.0001 x valuation and archive fees of $3.15 per plan sheet; expect roughly $2,300-$2,800 in city plan-check and permit fees for a detached ADU before school, sewer and impact fees. The Planning Division's February 2024 schedule lists no ADU review fee; MC-1659 lets the city set an ADU-permit processing fee by council resolution (4.b), so confirm with Planning. Pre-approved plans are bought from their designer at the designer's price |
| Impact Fees | None for a JADU or for an ADU of 750 sq ft or less of interior livable space (Gov. Code 66311.5(c)(1) as amended by SB 543; MC-1659 8.a words the city's version as 'less than 750 sq ft', and the state boundary controls). Above 750 sq ft the fee is prorated: ADU floor area divided by the main house's floor area, times the full single-family fee (8.a.iii). The city's posted Land Development impact-fee schedule (effective February 15, 2022, indexed to the ENR index every July 15, so ask for current figures) totals about $17,300 per detached dwelling: local circulation $232.94, regional circulation $2,435, storm drain $3,925.91, law enforcement $639.07, library $637.89, aquatic $326.11, public meeting facilities $1,089.54 and parkland $8,044.32, so an 800 sq ft ADU behind a 1,600 sq ft house would owe about half of that. School fees are separate: San Bernardino City USD charges $5.38 per sq ft (effective August 3, 2026) on an ADU over 500 sq ft and nothing at 500 sq ft or less (66311.5(c)(3)); Rialto and Redlands USD set their own rates and the city asks for a school-fee letter at 501 sq ft and up. Sewer: SBMWD Rule 25 lists a $180 application fee, a $3,500 residential treatment capacity charge per dwelling unit and $420 per bedroom for collection capacity; a conversion ADU or JADU inside existing space owes no new connection or capacity charge (8.b.ii, 66311.5(d)), and a new detached unit may be charged only in proportion to its burden by floor area or fixture units (8.b.iii, 66311.5(e)). Addresses in the East Valley Water District pay that district instead |
| Plan Check | Plan review is paid at submittal at $122.37 per hour (5 hours for a new dwelling, 3 for an addition) and is done in-house; expedited review goes to an outside vendor at the vendor's rate. The city quotes 15-20 business days for the first round and 10-15 for each later round, inside the 60-day statutory decision window. Plans must follow the 2025 California building codes in force since January 1, 2026, and fire sprinklers are required only if the main house has them (19.04.030(2)(P)(6)(c)) |
| Pre-Approved Plans | Yes, 2 plans in the Pre-Selected ADU Plans Program: a 462 sq ft one-bedroom, one-bath detached unit and a 738 sq ft two-bedroom, two-bath detached unit, both drawn by a private structural engineering firm and purchased from the designer (the city holds no rights to them). They still go through Planning pre-approval, a hold-harmless agreement and Building & Safety plan check, and may not fit every lot or site condition; both are at or below 750 sq ft, so neither owes city impact fees, and the 738 sq ft plan owes school fees |
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Construction Costs [12][13][14]
Building an ADU in San Bernardino typically costs $150,000-$300,000 ($180-$280 per sq ft); a garage conversion runs $75,000-$150,000.
See what this means for your lot — ask San Bernardino ADU builders for a quote →
| Average Build Cost | $150,000-$300,000 |
| Cost per Sq Ft | $180-$280 |
| Garage Conversion | $75,000-$150,000 |
| Prefab ADU (Installed) | $180,000-$320,000 |
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Rental Income Potential [15][16][17]
A 2-bedroom ADU in San Bernardino rents for around $1,900-$2,200/mo, an estimated 6-17% gross rental yield on a $150,000-$300,000 new detached ADU renting at $1,550-$2,200/mo; 12-35% gross on a $75,000-$150,000 garage conversion (before taxes, vacancy and financing).
| Avg Rent (1 Bedroom) | $1,550-$1,800/mo |
| Avg Rent (2 Bedroom) | $1,900-$2,200/mo |
| Short-Term Rental | No. An ADU or JADU may not be rented for less than 30 days, whenever it was built (19.04.030(2)(P)(6)(d); Gov. Code 66333(g) for JADUs under AB 1154). |
| Est. Annual ROI | 6-17% gross rental yield on a $150,000-$300,000 new detached ADU renting at $1,550-$2,200/mo; 12-35% gross on a $75,000-$150,000 garage conversion (before taxes, vacancy and financing) |
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Recent Law Changes
What's Changed Recently
- Ordinance MC-1659 (Development Code Amendment 25-11): first reading January 21, 2026, adopted February 4, 2026 by a 6-0 vote, effective March 6, 2026. It restated Section 19.04.030(2)(P) in full around two classes of unit: Class 1 state-law units (a conversion ADU, a JADU and a detached ADU of 800 sq ft or less on a single-family lot, which may now be combined; conversions and up to 8 detached ADUs on multifamily lots) and Class 2 locally regulated ADUs capped at 850 sq ft (studio or one-bedroom) or 1,000 sq ft (two or more bedrooms) of interior livable space
- MC-1659 added Class 2 standards that were not in the February 2025 code: one off-street parking space per ADU with the state exemptions, a 45% floor-area-ratio cap and 50% minimum open space alongside the 50% lot-coverage limit, a 10-ft minimum interior width and 7-ft ceiling, no direct line of sight from ADU windows or doors to a neighboring home (clerestory or obscure glass within 30 ft of a side or rear lot line), evergreen screening or a 6-ft solid fence along the ADU walls, a 600-ft rule near California Register historic properties, and a conditional-use-permit path for a unit that misses an objective standard
- MC-1659 also dropped the recorded deed restriction for ADUs (a JADU still records one, now before the certificate of occupancy instead of before the building permit), limited the JADU owner-occupancy rule to JADUs that share a bathroom with the house (AB 1154), and wrote in SB 543's 15-business-day completeness review, 60-day deemed approval and written appeal to the Planning Commission
- Urgency Ordinance MC-1658U (December 3, 2025) kept the city's ordinance valid after the January 1, 2026 state changes (AB 462, AB 1154, SB 543) until the permanent ordinance took effect; the Planning Commission recommended DCA 25-11 on December 9, 2025 (Resolution 2025-060). The Development Code PDF on the city website still shows the February 2025 text (MC-1645), so rely on the ordinance for current standards
- SB 543 (Gov. Code 66311.5(c), effective January 1, 2026): no impact fees on an ADU of 750 sq ft or less of interior livable space or a JADU of 500 sq ft or less, and no school fees on a unit with less than 500 sq ft; San Bernardino City USD raised its residential developer fee to $5.38 per sq ft on August 3, 2026
- Permits filed on or after January 1, 2026 are reviewed under the 2025 California Building Standards Code; the city's ADU page says plan sets must follow the 2025 codes
Tips for Building an ADU in San Bernardino
- Stay at 800 sq ft or less, one story and 16 ft as a Class 1 detached unit: only the 4-ft side and rear setbacks apply, and none of the Class 2 parking, front-setback, FAR, open-space, screening or window rules; at 750 sq ft or less you also owe no city impact fees
- If you want a bigger Class 2 unit, plan the one parking space early: it can be tandem in the driveway, and it disappears if the lot is within half a mile walking distance of an Omnitrans bus stop, the unit is a conversion, or a car-share stop is within a block; map the walking route before drawing the site plan
- Confirm the address is inside the city limits before you design: unincorporated pockets such as Muscoy and Devore go to San Bernardino County Land Use Services under County Development Code 84.01.060, which has its own sizes, fees and handout (see the San Bernardino County page)
- Line up the outside clearances first, because Building & Safety will not issue the permit without them: County Fire (online), the Water Department will-serve and sewer capacity letter, NPDES and Land Development sign-off, and a new address from Real Property; plans go in on paper (three 24 x 36 in. sets) with rooftop solar drawn in
- Budget the non-city fees: $5.38 per sq ft to San Bernardino City USD on any unit over 500 sq ft (about $4,300 for an 800 sq ft ADU), and SBMWD's $3,500 treatment plus $420-per-bedroom collection capacity charges for a new detached unit, prorated to its burden; a conversion inside existing space owes neither a new connection nor a capacity charge
- The two pre-approved plans (462 and 738 sq ft) skip design cost but not review: you buy the drawings from the designer, sign the hold-harmless form, and still go through Planning pre-approval and plan check; check the city GIS map for high-wind, high-seismic and fire-severity overlays that can rule a plan out
- An ADU or JADU built without permits before January 1, 2020 can be legalized and the city may not deny it for code or ordinance violations unless it is substandard under Health and Safety Code 17920.3 (19.04.030(2)(P)(9)); the city posts an AB 2533 substandard-building checklist for these applications
- Cost basis (2026-09-20 re-verification): avg build cost $150,000-$300,000 and $180-$280 per sq ft for a new detached ADU of 800-1,000 sq ft, from Inland Empire cost guides dated May 28 and June 12, 2026 (detached ranges $144,000-$280,000 and $180,000-$320,000); garage conversion $75,000-$150,000 from the same guides; prefab $180,000-$320,000 is the all-in installed range from a statewide May 2026 guide (factory price alone $80,000-$180,000). Rents: HUD FY2026 Small Area FMRs for city ZIP codes are $1,670 (1BR) and $2,080 (2BR), $1,910 and $2,370 in 92407; the metro FMR is $1,777 and $2,201; a listings index on September 19, 2026 showed medians of $1,550 and $1,930
- Cost basis (2026-09-20 re-verification): short term allowed: No. An ADU or JADU may not be rented for less than 30 days, whenever it was built (19.04.030(2)(P)(6)(d); Gov. Code 66333(g) for JADUs under AB 1154). An ADU may be rented separately but not sold separately from the house except under Gov. Code 66341 (6.e)
ADU Builders in San Bernardino
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Sources & References
All data on this page is sourced from official government records and verified market data. View our full methodology.
- Ordinance No. MC-1659 approving Development Code Amendment 25-11 (Accessory Dwelling Units), adopted February 4, 2026 - City Clerk record Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Mayor and City Council agenda packet, February 4, 2026, Item 7: MC-1659 second reading with Exhibit A, restated Section 19.04.030(2)(P) (packet pages 260-282) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Mayor and City Council agenda packet, January 21, 2026, Public Hearing 1: DCA 25-11 staff report (AB 462, AB 1154, SB 543 summary; MC-1658U history) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- City of San Bernardino Development Code, Chapter 19.04 Residential Zones (Table 04.01 permitted uses; Section 19.04.030(2)(P) as of February 2025, MC-1645) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- CEQAnet SCH 2026020559 - Notice of Exemption, Development Code Amendment 25-11 (filed February 12, 2026) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- City of San Bernardino - Accessory Dwelling Units (Building & Safety Division): submittal steps, review times, pre-selected plans, school-fee letter building_dept — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Schedule of Fees - Building & Safety Division (07/2020): plan review hourly rate, Table 1B permit fees, additions, surcharges building_dept — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Fee Schedule - Planning Division (February 2024) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Public Works Land Development Division - Impact Fees (effective February 15, 2022) with the ADU proration note Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- San Bernardino Municipal Water Department Rule and Regulation No. 25 - Connection with Sanitary Sewer Collection System and Associated Fees/Charges (January 2026) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- San Bernardino City Unified School District - Developer Fees ($5.38 per sq ft residential effective August 3, 2026; 500 sq ft exemption) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ADU Permit Rules: Inland Empire Cities 2026 (June 12, 2026) | LA Metro Home Finder industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ADU Costs in California (2026): City-by-City Numbers (May 28, 2026) | CaliFirst Remodel industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Prefab ADU in California 2026 - Real Cost & Trade-offs (updated May 2026) | ADUscale industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- HUD Final FY 2026 Fair Market Rents - Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- HUD FY 2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents by ZIP code - Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Zumper Rent Research - San Bernardino, CA (updated September 19, 2026) industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- CA SB 543 (2025-2026) - Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units (chaptered text; Gov. Code 66311.5, 66317, 66323) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- San Bernardino County Land Use Services - ADU/JADU Handout (March 20, 2026), for unincorporated addresses only Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build an ADU in San Bernardino?
Yes. ADUs are allowed in All residential zones: ADUs are a permitted (P) use in the RE, RL, RS, RU, RM, RMH and RH zones and the RSH overlay (Table 04.01, 19.04.020). Under 19.04.030(2)(P)(6)(a) a Class 1 (state-law) ADU may be built on any lot in a residential or mixed-use zone that has a proposed or existing home, a Class 2 (locally regulated) ADU on any lot zoned for single-family or multifamily use, and a JADU only on a lot zoned for single-family residences in San Bernardino. The maximum size for a detached ADU is 1,000 sq ft of interior livable space for a unit with two or more bedrooms and 850 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom under the city's Class 2 standards (19.04.030(2)(P)(7)(a), Ordinance MC-1659); a Class 1 detached ADU under state law is 800 sq ft of livable space or less (5.a.ii). No lot-coverage, FAR, front-setback or open-space rule may force any ADU below 800 sq ft (7.a.iii). Minimum interior width 10 ft in every direction with a 7-ft ceiling (7.h.v). Owner-occupancy is not required, so you can rent out the ADU.
How much does an ADU cost in San Bernardino?
ADU construction in San Bernardino typically costs $150,000-$300,000. Garage conversions run $75,000-$150,000, and prefab ADUs cost $180,000-$320,000.
How much can I rent an ADU for in San Bernardino?
Average ADU rents in San Bernardino are $1,550-$1,800/mo for a 1-bedroom and $1,900-$2,200/mo for a 2-bedroom unit.
Do I need parking for an ADU in San Bernardino?
1 off-street space per Class 2 ADU (one per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less), which may sit in a setback or as tandem parking in the driveway (19.04.030(2)(P)(7)(g)). No parking is required when the ADU is within half a mile walking distance of public transit (a bus stop or train station with fixed routes and set fares), is converted from the house or an accessory structure, is in a historic district, is within one block of a car-share stop, or where on-street permits are required but not offered to the ADU occupant; no parking is required for any Class 1 unit (a JADU, a conversion ADU or a detached ADU of 800 sq ft or less), and a garage or parking space removed for an ADU is not replaced (7.g.iii). Check with San Bernardino planning department for the latest California ADU parking rules, as many states have relaxed requirements in recent years.
How long does it take to get an ADU permit in San Bernardino?
The permit review timeline in San Bernardino is 15 business days for the city to tell you in writing whether the application is complete (and what is missing), the same 15 business days for each resubmittal, then 60 days from a complete application to approve or deny or the ADU is deemed approved; the clock pauses only if you ask for a delay or the ADU is filed with a new house (19.04.030(2)(P)(4)(c), SB 543). Building & Safety says a first plan-check round takes 15-20 business days and each later round 10-15 business days, with status on the online permit portal. Permit fees: The posted Building & Safety fee schedule (07/2020) has no ADU line, so a new detached unit is priced like a new in-fill dwelling: plan review at the hourly rate of $122.37 (5 hours, about $612, for a new dwelling; 3 hours, about $367, for an addition), a building permit of $1,461 for a unit up to 1,200 sq ft (Table 1B, including electrical, plumbing and mechanical inspections) or $1.92 per sq ft for an attached unit with a bath or kitchen ($375 minimum, $1,459 maximum up to 1,200 sq ft), plus a 2% technology fee and 2% General Plan maintenance fee, a $55 zoning consistency review, $167.40 for the certificate of occupancy when it is on the building permit, state SMIP at 0.0001 x valuation and archive fees of $3.15 per plan sheet; expect roughly $2,300-$2,800 in city plan-check and permit fees for a detached ADU before school, sewer and impact fees. The Planning Division's February 2024 schedule lists no ADU review fee; MC-1659 lets the city set an ADU-permit processing fee by council resolution (4.b), so confirm with Planning. Pre-approved plans are bought from their designer at the designer's price.
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