San Bernardino Solar Permit Guide
Southern California Edison (SCE) territory · San Bernardino County
Overview
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.
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.
Permit fees
Not yet verified.
Rebates
Not yet verified.
Utility and generation supplier
Utility
Southern California Edison (SCE)
Generation supplier
Not yet verified.
Interconnection
SCE's own Net Energy Metering (NEM) program page — a utility-wide fact already established for other SCE-territory records this session.
Required documents
- Permit Application (required when: always)
- Contractor/Owner Builders Declarations (required when: always)
- Eligibility Checklist for Expedited Residential Solar Permitting (required when: conditional)
- Hard copies of plans (11x17), specifications, calculations, and job card (required when: always)
- Active City Business License (required when: always)
- Notarized authorization letter (if signed by contractor representative) (required when: conditional)
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
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
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
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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 California 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)