Title 24 Solar Requirements in San Bernardino County, California

Every newly constructed detached ADU in San Bernardino County, California must include a Title 24-compliant solar PV system. San Bernardino County spans climate zones 10, 14, 15, 16, which determines exactly how many kilowatts your specific project must install for code compliance.

How Title 24 Applies Countywide

Local building departments across San Bernardino County enforce Title 24 at plan check. Plans submitted without a properly sized solar system are routinely rejected unless a documented exemption (shading, roof area, structural) applies.

The largest county by area in the contiguous U.S., San Bernardino County offers diverse ADU opportunities from suburban Inland Empire communities to mountain and desert towns. Solar production is excellent throughout the inland valleys.

San Bernardino County Sizing Snapshot

Title 24 multiplies your ADU's conditioned floor area by a climate-zone-specific kW factor. Across San Bernardino County's climate zones 10, 14, 15, 16, most ADUs land in the 1.6–4.0 kW range — typically 4 to 10 modern (~400W) panels.

  • 400–600 sq ft ADU: ~1.6–2.4 kW (4–6 panels)
  • 600–900 sq ft ADU: ~2.4–3.2 kW (6–8 panels)
  • 900–1,200 sq ft ADU: ~3.2–4.0 kW (8–10 panels)

Cost Across San Bernardino County

Title 24-compliant ADU solar packages range from $4,000 (Standard cash) to $15,000+ (Premium with battery) across San Bernardino County. HDM financing typically reduces effective cost by ~40% via commercial ITC pass-through. Main utilities serving the county: SCE, Bear Valley Electric.

FAQs

Do all San Bernardino County cities enforce Title 24?

Yes. Title 24 is California state law and every jurisdiction in San Bernardino County enforces it at permit submittal.

What climate zone is my city in?

San Bernardino County sits in climate zones 10, 14, 15, 16. Use our cost calculator to map your exact ZIP code to its Title 24 climate zone.

Are there countywide ADU solar exemptions?

Exemptions are project-specific, not countywide. The most common are shading (<70% annual solar access), insufficient roof area, and structural infeasibility. Your designer documents these on the CF1R compliance form.

San Bernardino County