City
San Bernardino
San Bernardino is a city record. City or town offices may handle local rules inside their limits, while county offices still handle records, taxes, courts, and many services.
Starting point
Confirm the address is inside local limits first.
If the address is inside San Bernardino, city or town offices may handle local permits, code, and services. If it is outside limits, county routing may be the better first stop.
A mailing city is not always the same as city government jurisdiction.
2025 population
222,044
Land area
62.141 sq mi
Water area
0.329 sq mi
Directory notes
Local layers to keep on the same page.
Confirm city or town limits.
A mailing address can use a nearby place name. If the address is outside limits, county offices may handle permits, code, and land-use routes.
County still matters.
San Bernardino County can still matter for assessor, tax collector, recorder, court, public health, social service, and election records.
Some layers are separate.
Water, sewer, fire, school, utilities, coast, earthquake maps, wildfire zones, parks, and trails may point outside city hall.
County layer
County shown for San Bernardino
Practical notes
Office, map, permit, and paperwork notes for San Bernardino
Place note · Home and property · Reviewed July 7, 2026
San Bernardino building questions split permits and inspections
San Bernardino Building and Safety handles building permits, plan check, permit status, inspection status, and inspection scheduling through SB Direct.
Place note · Home and property · Reviewed July 6, 2026
San Bernardino water and trash use two different counters
San Bernardino Municipal Water Department handles water customer service, while Burrtec handles refuse collection and street sweeping through the city's solid waste contract.
Place note · Home and property · Reviewed July 4, 2026
San Bernardino emergency alerts run through county systems too
San Bernardino residents can use city emergency management information and San Bernardino County alert systems, including TENS, for wildfire, evacuation, shelter, and public-safety messages.
Place note · Rules and licenses · Reviewed July 3, 2026
A San Bernardino County DBA starts with the Recorder-Clerk
San Bernardino County fictitious business name filings start with the Recorder-Clerk, separate from city business licenses and state tax accounts.
Place note · Rules and licenses · Reviewed July 3, 2026
Go SBCity helps San Bernardino route everyday city requests
San Bernardino residents can use Go SBCity, SB Access Online, or SB Direct to report many non-emergency city issues, ask questions, and get service requests routed.
Place note · Rules and licenses · Reviewed July 3, 2026
San Bernardino County records start with recorder or clerk
San Bernardino County record errands are easier when you split official recorded documents, vital records, marriage services, fictitious business names, notary filings, and other clerk work before you start.
Almanac notes
Stories and local context near San Bernardino
Place note · History and culture
The California Theatre keeps San Bernardino's movie-palace layer
San Bernardino's California Theatre is a 1928 downtown landmark, with movie-palace roots, live performances, and a long civic role.
Place note · History and culture
San Bernardino helped turn a drive-in into a fast-food model
San Bernardino is where the McDonald brothers opened their early restaurant and later refined the Speedee Service System that shaped modern fast food.
Place note · History and culture
San Bernardino's Wigwam Village keeps Route 66 playful
Wigwam Village No. 7 in San Bernardino is a Route 66 motel landmark, with cone-shaped rooms, roadside design, National Register status, and a vivid travel-era look.
Place note · History and culture
Santa Fe Depot shows San Bernardino's rail city side
San Bernardino's Santa Fe Depot gives the city a clear railroad landmark, a museum stop, and a reminder that its location has long mattered for movement.
Place note · Outdoors
The mountains give San Bernardino an outdoor layer right above town
San Bernardino National Forest sits close to the Inland Empire, with hiking, scenic drives, picnic areas, winter sports, and mountain conditions to check ahead of time.
County layer · History and culture
Chaffey-Garcia House keeps Rancho Cucamonga close to its citrus roots
Rancho Cucamonga's Chaffey-Garcia House gives Etiwanda a preserved home-and-citrus layer beside the city's newer foothill and Route 66 stories.
County layer · History and culture
Fontana Days Run is a community thread with long legs
The Fontana Days Run began as a local half marathon in 1955 and now helps carry one of the city's best-known civic traditions.
County layer · History and culture
Chino's Old Schoolhouse Museum keeps the first classroom close
Chino's Old Schoolhouse Museum began as the city's first schoolhouse in 1888, then became a social hall, historical society museum, and city-owned history stop.