San Bernardino runs a Pre-Selected ADU Plans Program with two showcased designs (Morning Glory at 462 sq ft and Carnation at 738 sq ft). High-wind, seismic, and high-fire severity warnings are explicit on the city ADU page.
City steers users to the Residential Zones PDF in the Development Code for setbacks, height, and coverage. Pre-Selected plans: Morning Glory 462 sq ft and Carnation 738 sq ft.
State guarantee: California requires every city to allow at least an 800 sq ft ADU exempt from local lot coverage, FAR, and front-setback rules.
Height baseline: 16 ft for detached, rising to 18 ft within ½ mile of major transit. Attached ADUs follow the primary home, capped at 25 ft.
Not specified on the ADU hub page. Confirm via the Development Code and Planning.
Pre-Selected ADU Plans Program: Planning pre-approval, then Building submittal with 24x36 sets. Online permit/plan review portal for status.
State backstop: A complete ADU permit must receive a decision in 60 business days. If the city stalls past 30 business days, AB 253 lets you hire a certified private plan checker to force a 10-business-day decision.
Fee Schedule PDF linked. School fee letter typically required at 501+ sq ft.
SB 543: No impact fees on ADUs ≤750 sq ft. Above 750 sq ft, fees scale to the ratio of ADU size vs the main home.
Visit the official San Bernardino ADU page (link in hero) for current eligibility and downloads.
Standard ADUs in San Bernardino: no owner-occupancy required (made permanent in 2023).
JADUs: limited to 500 sq ft of interior livable space within an existing single-family home. Owner occupancy is required only when sanitation facilities are shared with the main house. JADUs cannot be used as short-term rentals (AB 1154 / SB 543).
Sketch a floorplan, walk through it in 3D, and have our planners review it for size, height, and setback compliance before you submit to San Bernardino.
Heads up: Local rules change frequently. This page summarizes publicly available state law (California Government Code §§ 66310–66342) and current local guidance for general planning purposes. Always confirm specifics with the San Bernardino planning desk before submitting plans. ADUMetrics does not provide legal advice.