The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is the five-member elected body that governs San Bernardino County, the largest county by land area in the contiguous United States. The board writes local law, adopts the county budget, and oversees county departments and services. For residents of unincorporated areas, it functions as the primary local government. Regular meetings are held Tuesdays at the Covington Chambers in downtown San Bernardino, and any member of the public can attend, speak, or submit written comments.
The Five Districts and Current Supervisors
Each supervisor represents one geographic district. Boundaries were last redrawn in December 2021 after the decennial census to keep district populations roughly equal.1San Bernardino County. Redistricting
- District 1 — Paul Cook: the High Desert, including Adelanto, Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Victorville.
- District 2 — Jesse Armendarez: Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, and northern Upland.
- District 3 — Dawn Rowe: the largest district by area, covering Barstow, Grand Terrace, Highland, Loma Linda, Needles, Redlands, Yucaipa, the Morongo Basin, and mountain communities from Crestline through Big Bear.
- District 4 — Curt Hagman: Chino, Chino Hills, Montclair, Ontario, and southern Upland.
- District 5 — Joe Baca Jr.: Rialto and portions of Colton and San Bernardino.
If you’re not sure which district you live in, the county Registrar of Voters can confirm it.2San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters. County of San Bernardino Elected Officials
What the Board Decides
Unlike the federal government, a California county board is not split into separate branches. The board acts as legislature, executive, and in some matters adjudicator, all at once. The California Constitution establishes counties as legal subdivisions of the state, and the board is the mechanism through which county government operates.3Justia. California Constitution Article XI Section 1 – Local Government
The board passes local ordinances that make up the San Bernardino County Code, covering land use, business licensing, building standards, public health, and traffic rules in unincorporated areas. Cities inside the county handle their own local matters through their city councils, but county ordinances still apply to services the county administers directly.
The board also adopts the annual budget. For fiscal year 2025–26, that budget totaled approximately $10.56 billion.4San Bernardino County. San Bernardino County 2025-2026 Adopted Budget Budget decisions fund public safety, health and human services, infrastructure, and community development, and they’re where most consequential policy choices actually get made. The board sets local tax rates, allocates state and federal grants, and approves county contracts.
Oversight is a third function. Under California Government Code Section 25303, the board supervises the conduct of county officers and officers of special districts within the county, ensures public funds are properly handled, and can require officials to produce their books for inspection.5California Legislative Information. California Code, Government Code – GOV 25303 The board appoints the County Chief Executive Officer, who runs daily operations across departments like Public Health, the Sheriff’s Department, and Human Services. The supervisors also sit as the governing board for certain special districts, including the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.6San Bernardino County. San Bernardino County Fire Protection District – 2025 Grand Jury Final Report – Proposed Response
When and Where the Board Meets
Regular meetings are held on Tuesdays at the Covington Chambers, 385 N. Arrowhead Ave., First Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415.7San Bernardino County. County Government Center – Covington Chambers Closed sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. and public sessions at 10:00 a.m. Not every Tuesday is a meeting day, so check the annual meeting calendar the board publishes each year.8San Bernardino County. Board of Supervisors 2026 Annual Meeting Calendar
If you can’t make it in person, meetings stream live on the SB County Broadcast Network, and archived videos of past meetings are available on the same platform. No registration or login is needed to watch.
Before attending, look at the official meeting agenda on the county website. Agenda items fall into two groups. The Consent Calendar bundles routine matters for a single up-or-down vote. Discussion Items get individual presentations and board debate. Knowing which category your item falls under tells you roughly when it will come up and how much back-and-forth to expect.
How to Speak or Submit Public Comment
Anyone can address the board during public comment. Before the meeting starts, fill out a Request to Speak card and hand it to the Clerk of the Board before your agenda item is called. The card asks for the agenda item number, your name, and any organizational affiliation.
When your item comes up, walk to the podium. A traffic light system manages the three-minute limit: green means go, yellow warns that about a minute remains, red means finish. Three minutes is enough if you lead with what you want the board to do, then explain why. Everything said at the podium becomes part of the official record kept by the Clerk of the Board, along with votes on every question.9Justia. California Government Code Article 6 – Clerk of the Board
Written Comments
You don’t have to appear in person. The county accepts written comments through three channels:10San Bernardino County. How to Participate in Board of Supervisors Meetings
- Email: BoardMeetingComments@cob.sbcounty.gov
- Online portal: publiccomments.cob.sbcounty.gov
- U.S. mail: Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 385 N. Arrowhead Ave., 2nd Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415
Timing matters. Comments received after the agenda posts but before the meeting starts are forwarded to the board for review. Comments received during the meeting go to the board after adjournment. Comments received outside those windows are not forwarded. All written comments related to board meetings are posted on the county’s Brown Act writings page.
Accessibility
The county must give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which can include sign language interpreters or other auxiliary aids depending on the situation. Service animals are permitted in the Covington Chambers regardless of any general no-pets policy. If you need an accommodation, contact the Clerk of the Board in advance.11ADA.gov. State and Local Governments
Terms, Term Limits, and Ethics Rules
Supervisors serve four-year terms on a staggered schedule, so voters never replace the whole board at once. California Government Code Section 25000 caps each general election at no more than three supervisorial seats, preserving continuity from one cycle to the next.12California Legislative Information. California Code, Government Code – GOV 25000 San Bernardino County limits any person to three terms as supervisor, regardless of district.13American Legal Publishing. San Bernardino County Code of Ordinances – Section 204 Term Limits
To run, a candidate must be a U.S. citizen, be registered to vote in the district when nomination papers are issued, and live in the district throughout the term. Anyone convicted of a felony involving bribery, embezzlement of public money, or perjury is permanently disqualified. At the first meeting of each calendar year, the board picks a Chairperson to preside and a Vice Chairperson to fill in as needed. These are internal roles that rotate among the members.
Every supervisor must file a Statement of Economic Interests, known as Form 700, with the California Fair Political Practices Commission, disclosing income sources, investments, and real property that could conflict with public duties. Missing the filing deadline can trigger referral to the FPPC Enforcement Division and penalties of up to $5,000.14California Fair Political Practices Commission. Statements of Economic Interests – Form 700 California law also requires supervisors to publicly identify any financial conflict and recuse themselves from the vote and deliberation. Form 700 filings are public records, so anyone can review what a supervisor has reported.