MEP Plans in San Bernardino County, CA
Permit-ready mechanical, electrical and plumbing plans for ADUs, garage conversions, additions and single-family homes anywhere in San Bernardino County, in its cities and in unincorporated areas, with Title 24 available in the same order.
San Bernardino County project facts we design around
| County seat | San Bernardino |
|---|---|
| Population | 2,214,281 (Census 2024 estimate) |
| Incorporated cities | 24 |
| Unincorporated residents | About 299,736 (14% of the county) |
| Permits in unincorporated areas | San Bernardino County Land Use Services – Building & Safety |
| Title 24 climate zones | CZ 10 (about 72% of residents), CZ 14 (about 22% of residents), CZ 16 (about 6% of residents). Confirmed by ZIP for every project |
| ADU approval timeline | Approve or deny within 60 days of a complete application (state law) |
HVAC design across San Bernardino County
Climate Zone 10: inland climate with hot summers (about 72% of residents)
Summer afternoons regularly push well into the 90s and beyond, so cooling — not heating — sets the equipment size. West-facing glazing, roof insulation and where the ducts run make a large difference to the load. Plan check will expect the Manual J to back up the capacity you show, and the heat pump's electrical load has to be carried through to the panel calculation.
- Cooling-driven Manual J with real window orientation and glazing
- Heat pump and heat pump water heater loads carried into the NEC 220 calc
- Duct location and insulation that match the Title 24 assumptions
Climate Zone 14: high-desert / desert climate with extreme summer heat (about 22% of residents)
Extreme summer temperatures make cooling capacity the defining design decision, and the outdoor unit has to be rated to perform at high ambient temperatures. Cooling loads per square foot run well above coastal projects, so the electrical side follows: the AC circuit, the panel calculation, and sometimes the utility service all need to be planned around it.
- Cooling capacity and equipment rated for high outdoor temperatures
- Electrical load calculation that reflects heavy AC use
- Envelope, shading and duct decisions that keep the Title 24 margin
Climate Zone 16: mountain climate with cold, snowy winters (about 6% of residents)
Heating, not cooling, sets the design here. Climate Zone 16 is the most heating-dominated zone in California, with freezing nights for much of the year and snow at higher elevations. Heat pumps need to be cold-climate models that keep their capacity at low outdoor temperatures, with the outdoor unit mounted above expected snow depth and clear of snow sliding off the roof. Where there is no natural gas service, propane often supplies backup heat, cooking or water heating, and its piping belongs on the plan.
- Cold-climate heat pump sized for the local winter design temperature
- Outdoor unit placed above snow depth and away from roof snow shedding
- Freeze protection for water lines and a protected water heater location
Unincorporated San Bernardino County
Unincorporated communities are permitted by the county, not by a city. County plan check reviews MEP drawings against the same California Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Codes and the Title 24 Energy Code as any city, but the submittal checklist, forms and fees are the county's own, so we prepare the set to match. In rural areas, parcels outside a sewer district often rely on a private septic system; adding an ADU can require the county's environmental health division to confirm the system has capacity, and the plumbing plan then shows the connection to the septic tank instead of a sewer lateral.
What's in a San Bernardino County MEP set
- Mechanical: HVAC layout, Manual J load calculation, equipment schedule, exhaust and whole-unit ventilation
- Electrical: power and lighting plan, panel schedule, NEC 220 load calculation, single-line diagram
- Plumbing: supply and DWV layout, fixture units, water heater, gas (if any), sewer or septic connection
- Title 24 (add-on): energy compliance for your address's climate zone, coordinated with the MEP design so the two documents agree
Pricing is flat statewide: ADU plans from $995, full ADU MEP package from $2,295, Title 24 add-on $240. Standard turnaround is 5 business days with two revisions and corrections included.
San Bernardino County cities and communities
| Place | Climate zone | Electric utility |
|---|---|---|
| Adelanto | CZ 14 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Apple Valley | CZ 14 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Barstow | CZ 14 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Big Bear City (unincorporated) | CZ 16 | Bear Valley Electric Service |
| Big Bear Lake | CZ 16 | Bear Valley Electric Service |
| Bloomington (unincorporated) | CZ 10 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Chino | CZ 10 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Chino Hills | CZ 10 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Colton | CZ 10 | Colton Electric Utility |
| Crestline (unincorporated) | CZ 16 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Fontana | CZ 10 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Grand Terrace | CZ 10 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Hesperia | CZ 14 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Highland | CZ 10, 16 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Joshua Tree (unincorporated) | CZ 14 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Lake Arrowhead (unincorporated) | CZ 16 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Loma Linda | CZ 10 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Mentone (unincorporated) | CZ 16, 10 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Montclair | CZ 10 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Morongo Valley (unincorporated) | CZ 14 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Oak Hills (unincorporated) | CZ 14 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Ontario | CZ 10 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Phelan (unincorporated) | CZ 14 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Piñon Hills (unincorporated) | CZ 14, 16 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Rancho Cucamonga | CZ 10 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Redlands | CZ 10 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Rialto | CZ 10 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Running Springs (unincorporated) | CZ 16 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| San Bernardino | CZ 10, 16 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Twentynine Palms | CZ 14 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Upland | CZ 10 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Victorville | CZ 14 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Yucaipa | CZ 10 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
| Yucca Valley | CZ 14 | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
Shown for most addresses in each city. We also serve San Bernardino County's other 1 city and every unincorporated community.
San Bernardino County ADU MEP questions
Who issues building permits for an ADU in unincorporated San Bernardino County?
In unincorporated areas, home to about 299,736 residents (14% of the county), ADU and residential permits go through San Bernardino County Land Use Services – Building & Safety. Inside the county's 24 incorporated cities, that city's own building department reviews the plans instead. We prepare the MEP set for whichever office has jurisdiction over your address.
What Title 24 climate zones are in San Bernardino County?
San Bernardino County spans 3 Title 24 climate zones: CZ 10 (about 72% of residents), CZ 14 (about 22% of residents), CZ 16 (about 6% of residents). Zones follow ZIP-code boundaries, so we confirm the zone from your project address before sizing the HVAC or running the Title 24 report.
Who provides electric service in San Bernardino County?
It depends on the address. In the San Bernardino County places listed on this page, most addresses are served by Southern California Edison (SCE), Bear Valley Electric Service or Colton Electric Utility. We confirm the serving utility for every project, because service upgrades and new meters are requested from the utility, separately from the building permit.
How much do ADU MEP plans cost in San Bernardino County?
Our pricing is flat across California: single-discipline ADU plans start at $995, a full MEP package for an ADU up to 600 SF is $2,295, and a Title 24 report can be added for $240. Residential (single-family) full MEP packages start at $3,495. Standard turnaround is 5 business days, and corrections are included.
How long does ADU approval take in San Bernardino County?
California law requires local agencies, counties included, to approve or deny a complete ADU permit application within 60 days. Incomplete or inconsistent drawings are the most common reason the clock restarts, which is why MEP plans that match the architectural set, and a Title 24 report that matches the MEP design, matter.
Guides for San Bernardino County projects
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Start My OrderGeneral guidance, not legal advice. Population figures are Census Bureau 2024 estimates; climate zones are from the California Energy Commission's ZIP-code list, weighted by population. Requirements vary by project: confirm with San Bernardino County Land Use Services – Building & Safety or your city's building department.