Inland Empire Work-Zone Compliance (Riverside & San Bernardino Counties)

In the Inland Empire, work in county-maintained roads is permitted by the county road agency — the Riverside County Transportation Department or San Bernardino County Public Works — while incorporated cities issue their own permits.

Last reviewed: June 24, 2026

Level: Regional · Applies to: county-maintained roads in Riverside and San Bernardino counties (Caltrans District 8); cities within them issue their own permits.

What This Agency Governs

Work in Riverside County road right-of-way, authorized through the Riverside County Transportation Department's encroachment permit.
Work in San Bernardino County road right-of-way, authorized through San Bernardino County Public Works (Permits Operations Support Division), via EZ Online Permitting.
County standard plans and permit conditions on top of statewide standards.

Standards That Apply

The California MUTCD governs traffic control devices and temporary traffic control.
Riverside County and San Bernardino County standard plans and permit conditions add local requirements.
Cal/OSHA and ADA requirements also apply.

Permits & Authorization

County encroachment permit (Riverside or San Bernardino)

Work in a county-maintained road requires an encroachment permit from the relevant county — the Riverside County Transportation Department or San Bernardino County Public Works. The application steps, fees, hours, and conditions are set by each county and must be confirmed on the official pages below. Work within an incorporated city follows that city's permit process instead.

How to Verify Requirements

Confirm whether the road is county-maintained (unincorporated) or within an incorporated city.
Confirm current encroachment permit requirements with the Riverside County Transportation Department or San Bernardino County Public Works.
Confirm device and setup standards against the current California MUTCD.