California / Local permit guide
San Bernardino Solar Permit Guide
Your local requirements. The official sources. A clearer next step.
- Permit authority
- City of San Bernardino Building & Safety DivisionSource linked
- Electric utility
- Southern California Edison (SCE)Source linked
- Local pathway
- SB 379 streamlined permitting (Symbium); expedited review for systems 10kW and underProject-specific eligibility conditions apply.
- Review time
- 1–3 daysSee source scope and conditions below.
San Bernardino County · Explore related utility guides
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01 / Know your path
Two approvals.
One project.
Permit & inspection
City of San Bernardino Building & Safety Division
Local requirementsA local permit and utility permission to operate are different approvals. Check the local sequence and requirements below.
How to read this guide
GridPermit collects California residential solar and permitting facts directly from official sources (city, county, and state government sites, utilities, and public utilities commissions) and shows only what we can verify, with a confidence score and a link to where it came from. Nothing here is estimated or inferred beyond what's stated below. See our methodology for the rules this page follows.
Permit timeline
1–3 days
Permit processing for expedited/streamlined application types may take approximately 1-3 business days, depending on staff availability; standard review may take longer.
Sources & confidence
Battery/solar incentive program on record
California SGIP - current category and budget check required
New applications and waitlist applications for ratepayer-funded SGIP budgets closed on December 30, 2025. New AB 209 applications have a June 30, 2028 deadline. The 2026 SGIP rate table publishes $3.10/W for solar and $1.10/Wh for storage in applicable Residential Solar and Storage Equity categories. Household eligibility and live budget availability vary by category and program administrator; check the official Program Metrics tracker before relying on an incentive.
Status on file: unknown. Verify current status before relying on this.
Sources & confidence
02 / Prepare your application
What you need.
Sources & confidence
Who files the solar permit in San Bernardino?
The City of San Bernardino's page, as recorded in this guide, lets contractors and homeowners pursuing a permit under SB 379 apply through the Symbium portal for instantaneous plan review, and says use of that platform is strongly encouraged. Applicants who are ineligible, or who choose to submit outside Symbium, may still apply in person at the Building and Safety counter; owner-builders need a completed Permit Application Declaration.
| Situation | Who files and how | What the City lists | Not verified here |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 379 project (under 38.4 kW) using Symbium | Contractor or homeowner, online | Instantaneous plan review approval through the Symbium portal. | Whether your system is eligible for Symbium. |
| System 10 kW and under, or not eligible for Symbium, filed at the counter | In person at Building and Safety | Permit Application, Contractor/Owner-Builder declarations, the Eligibility Checklist for Expedited Residential Solar Permitting, and a hard-copy set of 11x17 plans with specifications and calculations. The City says processing may take approximately 1 to 3 business days, depending on staff availability. | The City also lists a valid business license; ask the counter how that applies to an owner-builder. |
| Electric main panel upgrade | Separate permit, through the City's Solar Division | A separate electrical permit is required. | Fees and timing are not stated in the sources reviewed. |
Before you hire or file
- Ask your installer whether the project will go through Symbium or the counter, and whether a panel upgrade needs its own permit.
- If you are an owner-builder, the City lists the Owner-Builder acknowledgment and a completed Permit Application Declaration.
- Keep the SCE interconnection in mind as a separate step from the City permit.
Nothing on this page collects your address, utility bill, contact details or documents. These are questions to take to your installer or the City.
Permits and quotes are separate. GridPermit is an independent information site. It does not file, expedite, approve or price permits, and it is not an installer or a government agency. Any installer-quote option elsewhere on this page is a separate paid-referral route and does not change which permit path applies.
Permit fees
Not yet verified.
Rebates on record
Rebates on record
Not yet verified.
Utility and generation supplier
Utility
Southern California Edison (SCE)
SCE's own 'Incorporated Cities and Counties Served by SCE' fact sheet (updated 3/17/2025) explicitly lists 'San Bernardino' by name among the cities in its service area.
Sources & confidence
Generation supplier
Not yet verified.
Interconnection
Some supporting official material could not be independently confirmed from the full source in GridPermit's latest review. Verify the current requirement with the authority before relying on it.
Inspection steps
- Legible site maps (11x14), single-line diagrams, specification sheets (8x11), inspection checklists, and job cards must be onsite in hard-copy format during inspection
Sources & confidence
Eligibility constraints
- Property types: residential
- Max system size (AC): 38.4 kW
- Max system size (DC): Not yet verified.
- Max thermal capacity: Not yet verified.
- Program/pathway: SB 379 streamlined permitting (Symbium); expedited review for systems 10kW and under
- Other conditions:
- Systems under 38.4kW qualify for streamlined permitting under SB 379
- Systems 10kW and under may qualify for expedited review if they meet the Eligibility Checklist for Expedited Residential Solar Permitting
- Electric panel upgrades require separate permits through the Solar Division
Sources & confidence
Official contacts
Official contacts
- City of San Bernardino Solar Division, email: solar@sbcity.org, official website
- City of San Bernardino Building & Safety Counter, phone: 909-998-2000, official website
Official sources
Official sources
- Apply for Residential Solar Permits, City of San Bernardino (government). Accessed 2026-08-08.
- Incorporated Cities and Counties Served by SCE, Southern California Edison (utility). Accessed 2026-08-08.
- Net Energy Metering (NEM) Time of Use, Southern California Edison (utility). Accessed 2026-08-03.
- SGIP - Statewide Announcements / About, Self-Generation Incentive Program (statewide administrator site) (program_administrator). Accessed 2026-08-01.
- 2026 Self-Generation Incentive Program Handbook, Self-Generation Incentive Program Program Administrators (program_administrator). Accessed 2026-08-26.
- SGIP Program Metrics and Incentive Step Tracker, Self-Generation Incentive Program Program Administrators (program_administrator). Accessed 2026-08-26.
Frequently Asked Questions
What utility serves solar customers in San Bernardino, California?
Southern California Edison (SCE) is the interconnection and distribution utility for San Bernardino.
How long does a residential solar permit take in San Bernardino?
Permit processing for expedited/streamlined application types may take approximately 1-3 business days, depending on staff availability; standard review may take longer.
What documents are required for a solar permit in San Bernardino?
Commonly required documents include: Permit Application; Contractor/Owner Builders Declarations; Eligibility Checklist for Expedited Residential Solar Permitting; Hard copies of plans (11x17), specifications, calculations, and job card; Active City Business License; Notarized authorization letter (if signed by contractor representative).
Who do I contact about solar permits in San Bernardino?
City of San Bernardino Solar Division, email solar@sbcity.org.
Related cities
Related cities
Other verified cities related to San Bernardino. See all cities on the California solar permit guide index.
- Apple Valley, Southern California Edison (SCE)
- Barstow, Southern California Edison (SCE)
- Chino, Southern California Edison (SCE)
- Chino Hills, Southern California Edison (SCE)
- Colton, City of Colton Electric Utility
- Fontana, Southern California Edison (SCE)