San Bernardino County · California

Septic system design in San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County septic design and OWTS planning for local cities, towns, and unincorporated communities. Start with sewer and jurisdiction confirmation, site-specific soil and percolation information, system sizing, and a workable replacement area.

Discuss a parcel Call (951) 345-3509

Parcel-specific service

Design around the site and the review authority

Septic system design connects the proposed wastewater flow and site layout to the parcel's soil conditions and the correct reviewing agency. A city name alone cannot establish whether an onsite system is allowed or what design will work.

For unincorporated areas, San Bernardino County Environmental Health Services reviews County OWTS work. Inside incorporated cities and towns, begin with the local jurisdiction and confirm sewer service, the responsible technical reviewer, and any additional local steps.

Read the County percolation-testing guide

Local conditions vary

A septic design is specific to its parcel

San Bernardino County spans urban sewered areas, mountain terrain, alluvial valleys, high-desert communities, and remote desert parcels. The right design starts by establishing jurisdiction and sewer status, then evaluates the proposed site and wastewater flow.

01 · Confirm

Jurisdiction and sewer

Identify the city or County review path and whether sewer connection is available or required.

02 · Evaluate

Soil and site conditions

Connect the soil profile and measured field behavior to slopes, drainage, setbacks, and proposed grading.

03 · Plan

Primary and reserve areas

Keep the disposal layout coordinated with the building, access, utilities, wells, and replacement area.

Browse the local guides

Septic system design by city, town, and community

Choose the closest community for location-specific context. Each guide explains local terrain and jurisdiction questions; agency responsibility and design criteria still need to be confirmed for the exact parcel.

Central and Northern Mojave Desert19 local guides

Amboy Baker Barstow Barstow Heights Cadiz Daggett Fort Irwin Goffs Hinkley Hodge Kramer Junction Lenwood Ludlow Newberry Springs Red Mountain Searles Valley Siberia Trona Yermo

Lower Colorado River and Eastern Desert7 local guides

Big River Bluewater Needles Nipton Rice Vidal Vidal Junction

Morongo Basin and East Desert14 local guides

Flamingo Heights Gamma Gulch Homestead Valley Johnson Valley Joshua Tree Landers Morongo Valley Pioneertown Pipes Canyon Rimrock Twentynine Palms Wonder Valley Yucca Mesa Yucca Valley

San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains31 local guides

San Bernardino Valley and Foothills20 local guides

Bloomington Chino Chino Hills Colton Devore Fontana Grand Terrace Highland Loma Linda Mentone Montclair Muscoy Ontario Rancho Cucamonga Redlands Rialto San Antonio Heights San Bernardino Upland Yucaipa

Victor Valley and High Desert14 local guides

Adelanto Apple Valley El Mirage Helendale Hesperia Lucerne Valley Mountain View Acres Oak Hills Oro Grande Phelan Piñon Hills Silver Lakes Spring Valley Lake Victorville

Official permitting references

San Bernardino County septic requirements

Regulatory documents and review procedures can change. Confirm the applicable agency, current forms, parcel restrictions, and project requirements before work begins.

Environmental Health Services — Land Use and Wastewater County overview of OWTS, LAMP, percolation reports, and wastewater services.
San Bernardino County Local Agency Management Program County OWTS siting, design, operation, and management framework.
Percolation Testing and Reporting Standards Current field and reporting standards linked by County Environmental Health Services.

Related local guidance

Explore the other steps in the septic process.

Septic soil testing directory San Bernardino County percolation testing Calicore septic and OWTS design overview