Kern County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Kern County

In unincorporated Kern County, fence and accessory-building limits for the E, R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts depend on the yard and the parcel size. The county code does not apply inside cities.

Ask about building on your lot in Kern County See coverage

Key points

Fences: Fences: at most 4 ft in required front yards, 6 ft in rear or side yards, unless a permit or the director allows higher.
Accessory buildings: Residential parcels under ¼ acre: detached accessory buildings are limited to 600 sq ft combined and the main home's height.
Garage sales: Garage and yard sales are limited to 3 days and 2 sales a year, with no special permit if the sale meets the standards.
Construction hours: Construction noise heard 150 feet away within 1,000 feet of a home: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends.
Pygmy goats: Pygmy goats under 24 inches tall are household pets; no more than 2 adult pygmy goats (over 4 months old) per legal lot.
Hillside grading: Under the hillside grading standards, cuts are limited to 16 feet high and cut slopes to no steeper than 2:1.

Each rule below is marked Kern County code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Kern County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Kern County have their own codes and their own pages.

Fences and walls

Kern County code Fences: at most 4 ft in required front yards, 6 ft in rear or side yards, unless a permit or the director allows higher.

All 4 Kern County rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Kern County code Residential parcels under ¼ acre: detached accessory buildings are limited to 600 sq ft combined and the main home's height.

All 10 Kern County rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Kern County code A home occupation permit approved by the planning director is required. antique shop

All 16 Kern County rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Kern County code Approved, with all needed permits issued, when the application meets the county checklist and health and safety standards. Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted.

All 5 Kern County rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Kern County code What Kern County's code adds
Large animals	Pygmy goats under 24 inches tall count as household pets and are allowed with a home. Applies: Applies to residential use of property. § 19.08.375 · code text Pygmy goats, with a height of less than twenty-four (24) inches, shall be considered to be a household domestic pet and are permitted in conjunction with the residential use of property.
Pet limit	No more than 2 adult pygmy goats. Applies: Per legal lot; adult means over 4 months old; unless otherwise permitted. § 19.08.375 · code text Except where otherwise permitted, there shall be no more than two (2) adult (over the age of four (4) months) pygmy goats kept on any legal lot.

Building in a flood zone

Kern County code What Kern County's code adds
Floodplain permit	A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in special flood hazard, flood-related erosion or mudslide areas. § 17.48.140 · code text A development permit shall be obtained before any construction or other development begins within any area of special flood hazards, areas of flood-related erosion hazards, or areas of mudslide (i.e., mudflow) established in Section 17.48.080.
Building in a floodway	A single-family or manufactured home needs a conditional use permit and must not block the channel's natural flow. Applies: FPP district; must cause no public or private health or safety hazard, as the Floodplain Administrator decides. § 19.50.030 · code text Single-family dwelling or manufactured home where the development would not encroach into the channel in such a manner so as to obstruct the natural flow of waters and which will not result in any public or private health or safety hazard, as determined by the Floodplain Administrator and the director of the Kern County environmental health services department;
Height of the lowest floor	Lowest floor, including the basement, 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in special flood hazard areas, except areas of shallow flooding. § 17.48.270 · code text Except for areas of shallow flooding, new construction, substantial improvement and other proposed new development of any structure in a special flood hazard area shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated one foot above the base flood elevation. Lowest floor at least 1 foot above the shallow flooding depth or the FIRM depth number. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in shallow flooding areas with a FIRM depth number; measured from the highest adjacent grade upstream. § 17.48.270 · code text For areas of shallow flooding, new construction, substantial improvement and other proposed new development of any structure in a special flood hazard area shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated at least one (1) foot above the shallow flooding depth or depth number specified in feet on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), or at least two (2) feet if no depth number is specified. Lowest floor at least 2 feet above the highest adjacent grade upstream of the structure. Applies: New or substantially improved homes in shallow flooding areas with no depth number given. § 17.48.270 · code text For areas of shallow flooding, new construction, substantial improvement and other proposed new development of any structure in a special flood hazard area shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated at least one (1) foot above the shallow flooding depth or depth number specified in feet on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), or at least two (2) feet if no depth number is specified.

Grading and erosion control

Kern County code Site digs under 2 feet deep, or no cut slope over 5 feet and steeper than 1 1/2 to 1. Fill up to 50 cubic yards, under 1 foot on ground flatter than 5:1, or under 3 feet without structures.

All 3 Kern County rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Building on a hillside

Kern County code Under the hillside grading standards, cuts are limited to 16 feet high and cut slopes to no steeper than 2:1.

All 3 Kern County rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →

Park and impact fees for new homes

Kern County code What Kern County's code adds
How the park fee is set	Average people per home times number of homes times .0025 times fair market value per buildable acre. Applies: Residential subdivisions paying instead of giving park land; value from comparable sales in the area. § 18.104.050 · code text Average persons per dwelling unit* \| X \| Number of dwelling units \| X \| .0025 \| X \| Fair market value per buildable acre \| = \| Fee
When the fee applies	Subdivisions of 50 parcels or less, or condo projects of 50 or fewer units: only fees may be required. Applies: Condo projects include stock cooperatives and community apartments; the subdivider may still offer land voluntarily. § 18.104.050 · code text Only the payment of fees may be required in subdivisions containing fifty (50) parcels or less or for a condominium project, stock cooperative or community apartment project containing fifty (50) or fewer dwelling units.

Noise and construction hours

Kern County code What Kern County's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays	6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Applies: Weekdays; construction noise heard 150 feet away within 1,000 feet of an occupied home; emergencies exempt; the director may grant limited exemptions. § 8.36.020 · code text Create noise from construction, between the hours of nine (9:00) p.m. and six (6:00) a.m. on weekdays
Construction hours on weekends and holidays	8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Applies: Weekends; construction noise heard 150 feet away within 1,000 feet of an occupied home; emergencies exempt; the director may grant limited exemptions. § 8.36.020 · code text and nine (9:00) p.m. and eight (8:00) a.m. on weekends

Outdoor lighting

Kern County code At most 60 watts or 750 lumens per fixture, whichever is less. Under 100 watts and under 1,600 lumens per fixture.

All 8 Kern County rules on outdoor lighting, with the code text →

Garage and yard sales

Kern County code What Kern County's code adds
How long a sale may last	No more than 3 days. § 19.26.180 · code text Sales last no longer than three (3) days;
Permit	No special permit is needed. Applies: If the sale meets the standards. § 19.26.180 · code text Garage or yard sales are permitted without special permit provided they meet the following standards:
Sales per year	No more than 2 sales a year. § 19.26.180 · code text Sales are held no more than twice yearly;
Signs	Freestanding signs at most 2 by 3 feet, removed after sale, with owner permission; directional signs may use street right-of-way. § 19.26.180 · code text No directional or advertising signs may be larger than two (2) feet by three (3) feet.

Family child care homes

CA state law California law
Zoning	A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)
Business license or fee	A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)
Local rules	Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)
Small home	Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)
Large home	7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)

Parking spaces required for homes

Kern County code What Kern County's code adds
Spaces per apartment or condo	1 space per unit. Complexes of 5 or more units add 1 guest space for every 5 such units. Applies: Duplex, triplex, quadruplex, multifamily dwelling or condominium; efficiency, studio or one-bedroom units. § 19.82.020 · code text One (1) per efficiency unit, studio, or one-bedroom unit 2 per unit; for complexes of 5 or more units, an additional space for every 10 such units for guests Applies: Duplex, triplex, quadruplex, multifamily dwelling or condominium; units with two or more bedrooms § 19.82.020 · code text two (2) per unit for each unit containing two (2) or more bedrooms
Spaces for a single-family home	2 per dwelling unit. Applies: Single-family dwelling or mobilehome. § 19.82.020 · code text Single-family dwelling or mobilehome: Two (2) per dwelling unit.

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Kern County code What Kern County's code adds
False alarm fees	A service fee set by separate ordinance applies. It is delinquent if unpaid 30 days after notice. Applies: The fifth and each later false alarm within any 12-month period. § 8.20.030 · code text Upon an alarm user's fifth (5th) false alarm and upon each subsequent false alarm within any twelve (12) month period, the user shall be assessed a service fee set by separate ordinance.
False alarms before a fee	The first 4 false alarms in any 12-month period carry no service fee. § 8.20.030 · code text Upon an alarm user's fifth (5th) false alarm and upon each subsequent false alarm within any twelve (12) month period, the user shall be assessed a service fee set by separate ordinance.

Signs on homes

Kern County code May be up for no more than 90 days. Remove within 15 days after the campaign ends.

All 13 Kern County rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Kern County code After the hauler collects, remove containers from the public right-of-way and return them to a storage location on the premises. Place containers at the curb, alley or other approved location at the time the franchise hauler designates.

All 3 Kern County rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Other Kern County rules on this

Kern County's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Fences and gates around pools (Ch. 13.12)
Draining a pool or spa (§ 14.26.260)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Kern County?

Pygmy goats under 24 inches tall are household pets; no more than 2 adult pygmy goats (over 4 months old) per legal lot.

What are the rules for building in a Kern County flood zone?

Kern County's code: A development permit is needed before construction or development begins in special flood hazard, flood-related erosion or mudslide areas. (§ 17.48.140); Lowest floor, including the basement, 1 foot above the base flood elevation. (New or substantially improved homes in special flood hazard areas, except areas of shallow flooding.) (§ 17.48.270).

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Kern County?

Kern County's code: Average people per home times number of homes times .0025 times fair market value per buildable acre. (Residential subdivisions paying instead of giving park land; value from comparable sales in the area.) (§ 18.104.050); Subdivisions of 50 parcels or less, or condo projects of 50 or fewer units: only fees may be required. (Condo projects include stock cooperatives and community apartments; the subdivider may still offer land voluntarily.) (§ 18.104.050).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Kern County?

Construction noise heard 150 feet away within 1,000 feet of a home: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends.

What are the garage sale rules in Kern County?

Garage and yard sales are limited to 3 days and 2 sales a year, with no special permit if the sale meets the standards.

Can I run a family child care home in Kern County?

California law sets this for every city, including Kern County: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).

How many parking spaces does a home need in Kern County?

Kern County's code: 1 space per unit. Complexes of 5 or more units add 1 guest space for every 5 such units. (Duplex, triplex, quadruplex, multifamily dwelling or condominium; efficiency, studio or one-bedroom units.) (§ 19.82.020); 2 per unit; for complexes of 5 or more units, an additional space for every 10 such units for guests (Duplex, triplex, quadruplex, multifamily dwelling or condominium; units with two or more bedrooms) (§ 19.82.020).

Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Kern County?

Kern County's code: A service fee set by separate ordinance applies. It is delinquent if unpaid 30 days after notice. (The fifth and each later false alarm within any 12-month period.) (§ 8.20.030); The first 4 false alarms in any 12-month period carry no service fee. (§ 8.20.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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