Kern County · Zoning · A-1
Kern County A-1 zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Kern County's A-1 zone, generally buildings can be up to 35 ft (3 stories) tall, the front setback is 55 ft from legal centerline and the minimum lot size is 2½ gross acres, with the conditions listed below (Kern County code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 35 ft (Residential buildings)
- Maximum number of stories: 3 stories (Residential buildings)
- Minimum front setback: 55 ft from legal centerline (Any existing or proposed public or private local street or access easement)
- Minimum side setback: 5 ft (corner lot street side: 10 ft from the right-of-way)
- Minimum rear setback: 5 ft
- Minimum lot size: 2½ gross acres
- Maximum density: 1 principal single-family dwelling per legal lot
A-1 (Limited Agriculture (A-1) District) is a zoning district in Kern County. Every value below was read from the Kern County Municipal Code and links to its section (read October 2026). State laws such as the ADU and SB 9 rules can allow more on a residential lot. General information, not legal advice — read the code text and check with the city before you build.
Development standards in A-1
The general rule for a typical lot in this zone. Zoning tables often attach notes, such as rules for corner lots, lots next to a residential zone, or new subdivisions only. Open “code text” under a value to see the table cell or sentence it was read from.
| Maximum building height | 35 ft Applies: Residential buildings § 19.14.080 · code textResidential buildings shall not exceed three (3) stories or thirty-five (35) feet in height. |
|---|---|
| Maximum number of stories | 3 stories Applies: Residential buildings § 19.14.080 · code textResidential buildings shall not exceed three (3) stories or thirty-five (35) feet in height. |
| Minimum front setback | 55 ft from legal centerline Applies: Any existing or proposed public or private local street or access easement § 19.14.070 · code textFifty-five (55) feet from the legal centerline of any existing or proposed public or private local street or access easements; |
| Minimum side setback | 5 ft Applies: corner lot street side: 10 ft from the right-of-way § 19.14.070 · code textThere shall be a side yard on each side of any building of not less than five (5) feet, except that on the street side of corner lots, buildings shall be set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from the right-of-way of any local street, existing or proposed secondary or major highway, or the right-of-way established by any official or specific plan line. |
| Minimum rear setback | 5 ft § 19.14.070 · code textThere shall be a rear yard of not less than five (5) feet, except that in the case of through lots, the designated rear yard shall be in accordance with the front-yard setback requirements. |
| Minimum lot size | 2½ gross acres § 19.14.050 · code textNo lot created within the A-1 district shall contain less than two and one-half (2½) gross acres, excepting in the case of the conveyance to or from a governmental agency, public entity, public utility, community water company or mutual water company for public purposes, public utility purposes, or for rights-of-way or well sites. |
| Maximum density | 1 principal single-family dwelling per legal lot § 19.14.060 · code textExcept as specified in Section 19.14.030, there shall be no more than one (1) principal single-family dwelling per legal lot in the A-1 district. |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in A-1:
- Maximum building height: 80 ft — Radio and television antennas, communication towers, chimneys, and other similar structures § 19.14.080
- Minimum front setback: 70 ft from legal centerline — Any existing or proposed secondary highway § 19.14.070
- Minimum front setback: 80 ft from legal centerline — Any existing or proposed major highway § 19.14.070
- Minimum front setback: 25 ft from right-of-way — In no case; measured from the right-of-way established by any official or specific plan line, street or access easement § 19.14.070
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft — Street side of corner lots; from the applicable right-of-way § 19.14.070
- Minimum side setback: 25 ft — Within the rear 25 feet on all reverse corner lots; from the applicable right-of-way § 19.14.070
Not on this page
We did not find a general lot coverage, FAR limit for A-1 in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Kern County Municipal Code.
Other Kern County zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Kern County's A-1 zone?
35 ft (residential buildings) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.14.080.
What is the maximum number of stories in Kern County's A-1 zone?
3 stories (residential buildings) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.14.080.
What is the minimum front setback in Kern County's A-1 zone?
55 ft from legal centerline (any existing or proposed public or private local street or access easement) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.14.070.
What is the minimum side setback in Kern County's A-1 zone?
5 ft (corner lot street side: 10 ft from the right-of-way) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.14.070.
What is the minimum rear setback in Kern County's A-1 zone?
5 ft — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.14.070.
General information, not legal advice.
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