Off-grid site report
San Bernardino County, CA
34.4775, -117.1113 · 3,009 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for San Bernardino County, CA, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.
The local rulesSan Bernardino County, CA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyThe County Development Code splits unincorporated land into 18 zoning districts; allowed uses depend entirely on the district's use table, per County of San Bernardino Land Use Services. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county follows the state HCD classification for tiny homes/RVs and Code Enforcement pursues unpermitted occupancy; specific RV-as-dwelling rules are not confirmed on an official county page. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedSan Bernardino County's Land Use Services Building and Safety Division issues permits and inspects under the state Building Standards Code. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe county's Environmental Health Services runs its own Local Agency Management Program for OWTS, requires a half-acre minimum lot for new OWTS-served lots, and allows sewage holding tanks by Design Approval where OWTS isn't feasible. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found beyond the state Plumbing Code baseline; not confirmed whether the county adds anything stricter.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county-specific restriction beyond the state Water Code baseline was found on an official county page.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedEHS permits wells countywide, but the desert region requires an added discretionary CEQA permit, and wells within the Mojave Water Agency service area need a Notice of Intent to the watermaster; deep wells also involve Public Works Flood Control. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo standalone ordinance addresses full utility disconnection, but building, OWTS/holding tank, and Code Enforcement habitability rules effectively require a permitted dwelling with compliant water/waste systems before occupancy. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.8 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,878 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 6 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,761 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 30 to Nov 10
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Saint Mary Medical Center - 9.8 mi
- Fire station
AV Fire Station No. 1 - 4.0 mi
- Hardware store
Bear Valley Rock n Wood - 4.3 mi
- Grocery
Stater Bros. - 4.6 mi
From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.
Plan this spot
These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 92308).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in San Bernardino County, CA?The rules above are the jurisdiction. The land check runs the parcel itself: flood zone, soils and septic suitability, wetlands, slope, access, climate, and these verdicts, from a parcel number or coordinates.
Check a parcel →Share or save this report:New report
Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Public data retrieved Aug 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.