Bolthole Index

San Bernardino County, California

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Barstow, California

The City of Barstow, California adopts its own zoning (Title 19 of the city code)1 and reviews and inspects residential construction plans through its Building and Safety Division2. San Bernardino County's building and zoning rules cover only unincorporated land3. Who issues septic permits inside city limits we could not confirm; ask Barstow Building and Safety and County Environmental Health Services.

At a glance

Zoning
City of Barstow zoning, Title 19 of the city code1
Building plan review and inspection
City Building and Safety Division, inside city limits2
Planning
City Planning Department administers the zoning ordinance4
Septic inside city limits
Not confirmed; ask the city and County Environmental Health Services5
Floodplain
City flood standards apply in special flood hazard areas6
RV or tiny-home living
No city rule for private land confirmed; state rules limit RV occupancy7
Owner-builder
State owner-builder exemption is for contractor licensing, not a permit waiver8

Who to call

Building permits

City of Barstow Community Development Department - Building and Safety Division

Plan review and inspection of residential, commercial and public works construction inside Barstow city limits; code compliance

(760) 255-5161

220 E. Mountain View St., Suite A Barstow, CA 92311

Planning & zoning

City of Barstow Planning Department

General plan, zoning ordinance (Title 19) and subdivision ordinance (Title 18) inside Barstow city limits

(760) 255-5145

220 E. Mountain View St., Suite A Barstow, CA 92311

Septic permits

San Bernardino County Environmental Health Services - Land Use & Wastewater Program

County lead agency for septic (onsite wastewater) review and wells in unincorporated San Bernardino County; whether it serves addresses inside Barstow is unconfirmed

(800) 442-2283

385 N. Arrowhead Ave, 2nd Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0160

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Barstow means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Barstow, California have zoning?

Yes. The City of Barstow adopts zoning districts in Title 19 of its city code, including the medium-density residential (MDR) district1. The city's Planning Department administers the zoning ordinance and the subdivision ordinance4. We did not confirm the full list of districts, so check the zoning of a specific parcel with the Planning Department before you buy9.

Two dimensional rules we did confirm: in the MDR district, multiple-family dwellings need at least 400 square feet per unit and bachelor or efficiency units at least 340 square feet10. In any residential district, buildings on the same parcel, including accessory structures, must be at least 5 feet apart11. That second rule is not the full front, side and rear setback schedule, so ask for the district's setbacks.

Lot-size minimums, height limits and lot coverage inside Barstow we could not confirm; the Planning Department can give them per district.

Do you need a building permit in Barstow, and who issues it?

Inside Barstow city limits, the city's Building and Safety Division, part of the Community Development Department, reviews and inspects residential construction plans2. San Bernardino County Building and Safety issues building permits only for unincorporated land12, so a parcel inside the city does not go to the county counter.

We could not confirm the city's exact list of work that needs a permit, or its inspection schedule. Call the city's Building and Safety Division at (760) 255-51612. California's statewide building standards (Title 24) apply to buildings and structures with permit applications on or after January 1, 202613. An owner-builder who signs a permit application must pull all building permits and pass inspections8.

How do septic permits work inside Barstow?

We could not confirm who permits septic systems for addresses inside Barstow city limits. San Bernardino County Environmental Health Services is the lead agency for septic systems in unincorporated areas, and the county's program states that incorporated cities and towns are outside its scope5. Statewide, a new or replacement septic system needs a permit from the local jurisdiction, generally a county, city or special district14.

For a lot inside Barstow, ask the city's Building and Safety Division first, then County Environmental Health Services at (800) 442-228315. Ask whether public sewer is available to the parcel before planning a septic system.

Wells are a separate permit: San Bernardino County requires a well permit for constructing, destroying or rehabilitating any well in the county, and its source does not say whether that supersedes city requirements16. Confirm with County Environmental Health Services before drilling.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Barstow?

We could not confirm a Barstow rule on living in an RV or tiny home on private land. We found no general private-land residential RV rule in the city code. Camping in Barstow's public parks and their parking lots requires an approved use of facilities permit17.

California's default is restrictive: RVs are not intended as permanent dwellings, and unless a local ordinance allows otherwise they generally may be occupied only in mobilehome parks or special occupancy parks7. A tiny home can be occupied only if it is approved as a manufactured home, a California Residential or Building Code home, factory-built housing, an RV, a park trailer or a camping cabin18. Ask the Planning Department about the parcel's district before you park a unit on it4.

How do you build a home in Barstow? The steps, in order

  1. Ask the Planning Department at (760) 255-5145 what the parcel's zoning district allows and what setbacks apply4.
  2. Check whether the parcel lies in a special flood hazard area; new construction there must meet the city's flood standards, including elevation or floodproofing6.
  3. Ask the Building and Safety Division at (760) 255-5161 what plans and permits your project needs2.
  4. Confirm sewer or septic with the city and County Environmental Health Services, and ask about wells if you plan one15.
  5. Build to the statewide building standards and pass inspections8.
  6. If the driveway connects to a state highway, a Caltrans encroachment permit is required19.

What stays with San Bernardino County, and what should you check before buying?

Land outside Barstow city limits follows San Bernardino County's rules, not the city's. Our San Bernardino County page covers unincorporated building permits, zoning and septic.

Countywide figures: San Bernardino County's effective property tax rate is 0.7%20, and its typical home value is about $553,85521. Annual precipitation is 6.6 inches22. Check the parcel's flood status, utility availability and legal access before closing.

Watch-outs

  • Only parcels inside Barstow city limits follow the city's zoning and Building and Safety Division; a parcel with a Barstow mailing address outside city limits falls under San Bernardino County instead3.
  • Septic and well authority for lots inside Barstow city limits is unconfirmed; ask the city's Building and Safety Division and County Environmental Health Services before you rely on either5.
  • Barstow's Community Development offices are open Monday through Thursday and closed Friday, so plan calls accordingly2.

Sources

  1. Title 19, Chapter 19.10, Sec. 19.10.050 — MDR Medium density residential (Barstow), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Barstow Community Development Department - Building and Safety Division (barstowca.org)
  3. Zoning and Overlay Maps (2026 county census)
  4. City of Barstow Planning Department (barstowca.org)
  5. San Bernardino County Local Agency Management Program, quoted and re-checked
  6. Title 15, Chapter 15.16, Sec. 15.16.050 — Provisions for flood hazard reduction (Barstow), quoted and re-checked
  7. hcd.ca.gov (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Owner-Builder Responsibilities (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Title 19, Chapter 19.10, Sec. 19.10.050 — MDR Medium density residential (Barstow), quoted and re-checked
  10. Title 19, Chapter 19.10, Sec. 19.10.050 — MDR Medium density residential (Barstow), quoted and re-checked
  11. library.municode.com (Barstow), quoted and re-checked
  12. Building and Safety Questions – Land Use Services (2026 county census)
  13. Approved Building Standards (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. 2023 OWTS Policy (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. San Bernardino County Environmental Health Services - Land Use & Wastewater Program (ehs.sbcounty.gov)
  16. Do I need a permit to construct or destroy a well?, quoted and re-checked
  17. Title 9, Chapter 9.64, Sec. 9.64.030 — Prohibited conduct in city parks (Barstow), quoted and re-checked
  18. Information Bulletin 2016-01: Tiny Homes (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Encroachment Permits | Caltrans (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  22. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Barstow

Barstow’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Barstow city limits; the city code contains Title 19 zoning districts, including MDR.

    “The MDR — Medium density residential district is intended as a higher-density residential district of multiple-family units.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Barstow city zoning districts; the opened code establishes at least the MDR district and residential zoning categories, but the complete district schedule was not opened.

    • The code excerpt states MDR is a medium-density residential district and permits specified residential and other uses subject to the section and applicable approvals.
    “The MDR — Medium density residential district is intended as a higher-density residential district of multiple-family units.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping in Barstow public parks and their parking lots.

    • Camping, camp facilities, and camp paraphernalia require an approved use of facilities permit in public parks.
    • The rule does not establish a general private-land camping rule.
    “Camp, occupy camp facilities or use camp paraphernalia in or on a public park or the parking lot of a public park, except with an approved use of facilities permit.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    New construction and substantial improvements in Barstow special flood hazard areas.

    • The applicable standards include anchoring, flood-resistant materials and utilities, elevation or floodproofing, flood openings, and other chapter-specific requirements.
    • Residential structures in specified zones must elevate the lowest floor as stated in Sec. 15.16.050(a)(3)(a).
    “In all special flood hazard areas the following standards are required:”

Rules another office applies inside Barstow

Barstow does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    MDR — Medium density residential district inside Barstow city limits; multiple-family dwellings must provide at least 400 square feet per dwelling unit, and bachelor or efficiency units at least 340 square feet.

    • The standards apply to multiple-family dwellings and bachelor or efficiency units in the MDR district.
    • The areas are exclusive of open porches and garages.

    minimum floor area per multiple-family dwelling unit: >= 400 square feet (exclusive of open porches and garages) · minimum floor area per bachelor or efficiency unit: >= 340 square feet (exclusive of open porches and garages)

    “Multiple-family dwellings of a permanent character placed in permanent locations and of not less than four hundred square feet of floor area per dwelling unit exclusive of open porches and garages and bachelor or efficiency units of not less than three hundred forty square feet of floor area per unit exclusive of open porches or garages;”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Buildings located on the same parcel in any residentially zoned district inside Barstow city limits.

    • This is an intra-parcel building-separation requirement, not the complete front, side, and rear yard schedule.

    minimum distance between buildings on same parcel: >= 5 feet (includes accessory structures)

    “Distance between buildings in any residentially zoned districts. The distance between buildings located on the same parcel, including accessory structures, shall not be less than five feet.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Barstow or San Bernardino County directly.

  • Building permit — New residential construction and alterations inside Barstow city limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders undertaking construction inside Barstow city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption inside Barstow city limits.
  • Inspections — Building construction inside Barstow city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Barstow city limits.
17 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit process

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Barstow publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. San Bernardino County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of San Bernardino County: county rules, score and offices