San Bernardino Minimum Parking and EV Standards

Land Use and Zoning California 4 Minutes Read · published February 10, 2026 Flag of California

San Bernardino, California requires projects to meet municipal parking, loading and growing electric vehicle (EV) readiness expectations at the land use and permit stages. This guide summarizes how minimum parking ratios, loading berth rules and EV charging requirements are applied by the City’s planning and building authorities, what to include in permit submittals, and how enforcement, inspections and appeals normally proceed. Where specific numeric standards or penalties are not posted on the official code pages, this guide notes the absence and points to the controlling municipal code and building rules for current legal text.

Scope and where to look

The City controls minimum parking and loading through its Zoning and Development regulations and enforces construction and EV installation through Building & Safety. For official ordinance language consult the City of San Bernardino Municipal Code and the City planning/building divisions; see the municipal code for controlling provisions and any zoning tables. San Bernardino Municipal Code - Code of Ordinances[1]

Typical local standards

Local parking minimums and loading requirements are usually tied to land use (residential, retail, office, industrial) and to unit counts, floor area or seating capacity. EV requirements commonly appear in building permit checklist items as electric vehicle charging readiness or required EV parking stalls for new and renovated developments. Exact numeric ratios and installation triggers must be read from the City zoning tables and the Building code referenced at permit intake.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement is managed by the Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division, and Code Enforcement (and in some cases Parking Enforcement or Police for on-street matters). The municipal code specifies that violations of code provisions constitute infractions or misdemeanors where set by ordinance; specific fine amounts or per-day penalties are not clearly stated on the cited municipal code landing page and should be confirmed in the controlling sections or with the department.[1]

  • Enforcer: Community Development / Building & Safety and Code Enforcement.
  • Inspection and complaint pathway: file a code complaint with Code Enforcement or request Building & Safety inspection during permit review.
  • Appeals: administrative appeal to the Planning Commission or hearing officer as provided by the municipal code; specific time limits for appeal filings are not specified on the cited landing page and must be confirmed with the City.[1]
  • Fines: exact monetary fines and escalation (first/repeat/continuing penalties) are not specified on the cited municipal code page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: stop-work orders, correction notices, permit suspension or revocation, and court action may be used per ordinance and building code enforcement processes.
Contact Building & Safety early if a project may conflict with parking or EV requirements.

Applications & Forms

Permits and discretionary approvals that commonly address parking/loading and EV matters include plan check submittals, parking reduction or variance applications, and building permits that document EV charger installation or readiness. Where a specific City form number is required it is listed on the permit packet or the Planning/Building web pages; if no form number is published for a specific waiver or enforcement fee on the municipal code landing page, state "not specified on the cited page" and confirm with the department.[1]

  • Typical form: Building permit application / plan check submittal (see Building & Safety permit packet).
  • Variances or parking modifications: apply via Planning Division application forms and pay required fees as shown in the current fee schedule.
  • Fees: permit, plan check and variance fees vary by project; specific fee amounts should be checked on the City fee schedule or project intake documents.
Apply for parking modifications and EV-related reviews at the earliest design stage to avoid rework at inspection.

How enforcement typically proceeds

  • Complaint or inspection identifies noncompliance.
  • City issues a notice of violation or correction notice with required remedies and timeline.
  • Owner or contractor corrects issues, obtains any missing permits, and schedules re-inspection.
  • Failure to comply can lead to stop-work orders, administrative citations, or court enforcement.

Common violations

  • Insufficient required off-street parking for a new use or expansion.
  • Loading berth missing or obstructed for commercial/industrial sites.
  • EV stalls not provided or installed without required permits or electrical upgrades.

FAQ

What triggers EV charging requirements?
New construction and major renovations often trigger EV readiness or required EV stall counts; check permit requirements with Building & Safety and project plan check notes.
Can I reduce required parking?
Parking reductions or variances are discretionary and require a Planning Division application and justification based on site specifics and findings.
How do I report noncompliant parking or loading?
File a Code Enforcement complaint or contact Building & Safety for permitted installations; use the City complaint portals or phone contacts provided on the City web pages.

How-To

  1. Confirm the project's land use and applicable parking/loading ratios in the Zoning chapter before design begins.
  2. Include EV readiness or EV stall counts on permit drawings and submit required electrical design for plan check.
  3. Apply for any parking reductions, variances or conditional use permits with the Planning Division as early as possible.
  4. Obtain building permits for EV charger installation and schedule inspections with Building & Safety after installation.
  5. If cited, follow correction notices promptly, pay assessed fees or request an appeal within the municipal code timelines.
Early coordination with Planning and Building & Safety reduces permit delays for parking and EV items.

Key Takeaways

  • San Bernardino enforces parking, loading and EV rules through Planning and Building & Safety; consult the municipal code and permit packets.
  • Submit EV and parking information at plan check to avoid rework and potential stop-work orders.

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