Kern County · Zoning · NR
Kern County NR zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Kern County's NR zone, generally the front setback is 55 ft and the minimum lot size is 5 gross acres, with the conditions listed below (Kern County code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Minimum front setback: 55 ft (From the legal centerline of any existing or proposed public or private local street or access easements)
- Minimum side setback: 5 ft (corner lot street side: 10 ft from the right-of-way)
- Minimum rear setback: 5 ft
- Minimum lot size: 5 gross acres (or as otherwise specified by the Lot Size combining district)
- Maximum density: 1 dwelling per legal lot (Single-family dwelling; except for employee housing and dwellings accessory or incidental to a permitted use on the property)
NR (Natural Resource) 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 NR
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.
| Minimum front setback | 55 ft Applies: From the legal centerline of any existing or proposed public or private local street or access easements § 19.46.070 · 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 § 19.46.070 · 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 have a side yard of not less than 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 § 19.46.070 · 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 | 5 gross acres Applies: or as otherwise specified by the Lot Size combining district § 19.46.050 · code textNo portion of any lot within the NR district shall contain less than five (5) gross acres or as otherwise specified by the Lot Size combining district, 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 dwelling per legal lot Applies: Single-family dwelling; except for employee housing and dwellings accessory or incidental to a permitted use on the property § 19.46.060 · code textExcept for employee housing and dwellings accessory or incidental to a permitted use on the property, there shall be no more than one (1) single-family dwelling per legal lot in the NR district. |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in NR:
- Maximum building height: 75 ft — Any building or permanent structure; a conditionally permitted use may be approved with a different height § 19.46.080
- Maximum number of stories: 6 stories — Any building or permanent structure; a conditionally permitted use may be approved with a different height § 19.46.080
- Minimum front setback: 70 ft — From the legal centerline of any existing or proposed secondary highway § 19.46.070
- Minimum front setback: 80 ft — From the legal centerline of any existing or proposed major highway § 19.46.070
- Minimum front setback: 25 ft — In all cases, from the right-of-way established by any official or specific plan line, street or access easement § 19.46.070
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft — Street side of corner lots, 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 § 19.46.070
- Minimum rear setback: 55 ft from legal centerline (same as front setback) — Through lots: rear yard follows the front-yard setback, which is larger on secondary (70 ft) and major (80 ft) highways § 19.46.070
Not on this page
We did not find a general height, stories, lot coverage, FAR limit for NR 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 minimum front setback in Kern County's NR zone?
55 ft (from the legal centerline of any existing or proposed public or private local street or access easements) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.46.070.
What is the minimum side setback in Kern County's NR zone?
5 ft (corner lot street side: 10 ft from the right-of-way) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.46.070.
What is the minimum rear setback in Kern County's NR zone?
5 ft — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.46.070.
What is the minimum lot size in Kern County's NR zone?
5 gross acres (or as otherwise specified by the Lot Size combining district) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.46.050.
What is the maximum density in Kern County's NR zone?
1 dwelling per legal lot (single-family dwelling; except for employee housing and dwellings accessory or incidental to a permitted use on the property) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.46.060.
General information, not legal advice.
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