San Bernardino City Unified developer fees take effect August 1
A new San Bernardino City Unified School District school-facilities fee schedule applies to building permits reviewed on or after August 1, 2026, with higher listed rates for residential, commercial and industrial construction within the district’s jurisdiction.
The district’s current developer-fee guidance lists a residential charge of $5.38 per assessable square foot and a commercial and industrial charge of $0.87 per assessable square foot. The self-storage rate remains $0.46 per square foot.
What changed for San Bernardino projects
The rates are tied to the date a permit is reviewed, not simply the date a project is announced. A project reviewed beginning August 1 may be subject to the listed schedule, depending on its location, project type and assessable square footage.
At the residential rate, a project with 1,000 assessable square feet would generate a $5,380 school-facilities fee. A 10,000-square-foot commercial or industrial project would generate an $8,700 fee. Those examples do not include other charges that may apply to the project.
How the fee works
San Bernardino City Unified describes the charge as a statutory school-facilities fee authorized under California Education Code Section 17620 and Government Code Section 65995. The fee is intended to help address the effect of new construction on school facilities.
The charge is calculated using assessable square footage determined by the local building department. Assessable square footage is not necessarily the same as a property’s total lot size or the total area of every structure on the site.
Fees are due before a building permit is issued. Developers and property owners should confirm the project’s assessable area, applicable rate and payment timing before seeking permit issuance.
Separate from city fees
This is a school-district fee, not a City of San Bernardino building, planning or municipal development fee. A project may owe separate city charges in addition to the SBCUSD school-facilities fee.
The district also advises applicants to verify that a property is within San Bernardino City Unified’s boundaries. SBCUSD says it cannot accept payment or provide permit clearance for projects assigned to another school district.
June 2 notice and exemptions
The district’s notice said the Board of Education would hold a public hearing on June 2, 2026, to consider a school-facility-fee justification report and a resolution to increase the statutory fees. The notice said the August 1 schedule was pending board approval. SBCUSD’s meeting system lists a regular Board of Education meeting on June 2, but the accessible records reviewed for this article did not independently confirm the resolution’s final vote or minutes language.
The district’s current guidance identifies residential new construction, additions and accessory dwelling units totaling 500 square feet or less as exempt from school fees under California Education Code Section 17620. Applicants should confirm whether a particular project qualifies before relying on the exemption.
For San Bernardino builders, homeowners and commercial property owners, the practical next steps are to verify district jurisdiction, confirm assessable square footage with the local building department and check the district’s current payment procedure before the permit is issued.
Sources
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