Kern County Municipal Code Ch. 17.44 Mobile Homes and Accessory Structures

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. G-9359, § 16, adopted Nov. 4, 2025, repealed the former Ch. 17.44, §§ 17.44.010—17.44.100, and enacted a new Ch. 17.44 as set out herein. The former Ch. 17.44 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. G-8866, § 16, adopted Nov. 5, 2019; and Ord. No. G-9179, § 16, adopted Nov. 8, 2022.

This chapter regulates mobile home use and occupancy and the construction of mobile home accessory structures in the unincorporated territory of the county of Kern except in mobile home parks, travel-trailer parks, recreational trailer parks, temporary trailer parks, incidental camping areas and tent camps. To the extent Division 13, Part 2.1 of the State Health and Safety Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder do not provide a standard of construction for mobile home accessory structures, the requirements of this title apply.

(Ord. No. G-9359, § 16, 11-4-25)

The building inspection division shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter, as well as the regulations contained in Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations, relating to mobile homes located outside a mobile home park, travel-trailer park, recreational trailer park or temporary trailer park, as now in effect or as amended from time to time.

(Ord. No. G-9359, § 16, 11-4-25)

The Kern County Code of Building Regulations governs the installation of all facilities and equipment used to supply mobile homes and their accessory structures with gas, water or electricity thereto, except facilities owned, operated and maintained by a public utility, and including the disposal of sewage or other waste therefrom except in mobile home parks, travel-trailer parks, temporary trailer parks, recreational trailer parks, incidental camping areas and tent camps.

(Ord. No. G-9359, § 16, 11-4-25)

Terms and definitions as used in this chapter shall be as set forth in Chapter 1 of Part 2.1 of Division 13, commencing with Section 18200, of the California Health and Safety Code, and as further set forth in this title.

(Ord. No. G-9359, § 16, 11-4-25)

It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, owner of the land, or possessor to place or allow to be placed or to occupy a mobile home or to knowingly permit a mobile home to be occupied on land in his possession unless said mobile home and all accessory structures, electrical services and installations, fuel gas systems, sewage disposal systems, and water piping thereto comply with all of the provisions of this chapter in addition to the land use zoning ordinances of the County (Title 19 of this Code).

(Ord. No. G-9359, § 16, 11-4-25)

Outside a mobile home park, travel-trailer park, temporary trailer park, recreational trailer park, incidental camping area or tent camp on land in his possession within the unincorporated area of the county of Kern, it is unlawful for any person to place or allow to be placed, or use, occupy or knowingly permit to be used for occupancy:

A. Dependent mobile homes.

EXCEPTION: Dependent mobile homes may be placed in dead storage, where allowed under the Kern County Zoning Ordinance, when located on property on which there is an existing conforming use established per provisions of this chapter.

B. Recreational vehicles.

EXCEPTIONS:

(1) Recreational vehicles may be placed in dead storage, where allowed under the Kern County Zoning Ordinance, when located on private property on which there is an existing conforming use established.

(2) Recreational vehicles may be allowed for private recreational use when approved by the planning commission or the Board of Supervisors.

C. A mobile home or recreational vehicle used for industrial, professional or commercial purposes or occupancy.

EXCEPTION: Mobile homes or recreational vehicles may be granted temporary approval by the building official for construction purposes when located on construction sites on which permits to construct have been issued. Such approval shall be terminated upon completion of construction and the vehicles removed.

D. More than one (1) mobile home on a single parcel of land.

EXCEPTION: More than one (1) mobile home may be permitted where allowed under the Kern County Zoning Ordinance and where the owner of the property furnishes written evidence that the occupant of a second (2nd) mobile home is a member of his immediate family and that no rent of any kind is offered or accepted.

E. Any mobile home, recreational vehicle, or commercial coach unless said vehicle complies with the Land Use Zoning Ordinance of the county of Kern, and all accessory structures, electrical services and installations, fuel gas systems, sewage disposal systems, and water piping thereto comply with provisions of this chapter.

F. A mobile home which has been reinstalled upon the same site upon which a mobile home had been situated at any time in the past with the intention of reconnecting to existing utilities, without first applying for and receiving a permit to reinstall a mobile home on such existing site.

G. Mobile home accessory structures no longer used to serve a mobile home, where the mobile home has been removed from the premises, such structures shall be demolished or removed.

EXCEPTION: If a mobile home accessory structure is made to classify under an appropriate occupancy classification designated by the building official and approved for this use under the Zoning Ordinance, it may remain.

H. Any mobile home or commercial coach without a valid California State vehicle license.

EXCEPTION: A grace period of thirty (30) days will be allowed in which time a license must be procured or the mobile home shall be on a permitted permanent foundation system and on the county's tax rolls.

I. Any mobile home or commercial coach without an insignia of approval issued by the Department of Housing and Community Development.

J. Any mobile home, recreational vehicle or commercial coach supplied with liquefied petroleum gas for heating or cooking, unless a minimum height of eighteen (18) inches can be maintained above the surrounding finish grade to the underside of the floor joists, and a minimum height of twelve (12) inches maintained beneath the supporting members of the frame.

EXCEPTION: A mobile home manufactured after January 1, 1990, with no combustion air and/or other openings from the mobile home to the underfloor or underside of the mobile home floor joists and/or floor system is not required to meet the minimum height requirements of eighteen (18) inches above the surrounding finish grade and may be recessed.

(Ord. No. G-9359, § 16, 11-4-25)

A. Electrical Service. Electrical service for a mobile home and accessory structures shall be calculated on the basis of one hundred percent (100%) demand factor. If the demand is below one hundred (100) amperes, then the minimum service shall be rated at one hundred (100) amperes, three (3) wire 120/240 volts, and shall be provided with proper protective devices as required by the load.

B. Storage of Unoccupied Mobile homes. The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to prohibit the storage of any unoccupied mobile home upon land with the consent of the owner of such land; provided, however, that such mobile home may not be connected to any electrical, fuel gas, water or sewage disposal system, and shall not be used for storage; and further provided that the floor area of the mobile home included with the area of all existing buildings and structures on the parcel of land does not exceed the maximum percentage of lot coverage permitted in the zoning regulations for that particular parcel of land or is not in conflict with the land use zoning regulations.

C. Location. No mobile home, travel-trailer or mobile home accessory structure being used for habitation shall be located closer than five (5) feet from a property line.

D. Access. Each mobile home site shall have an access road, clear and unobstructed, of not less than fifteen (15) feet in width to a public street.

(Ord. No. G-9359, § 16, 11-4-25)

A. Construction Standards. A commercial coach used for human occupancy shall comply with the requirements for construction, fire safety, exits, light, ventilation, sanitary facilities, location, use and occupancy as required by Title 25 and the Kern County Code of Building Regulations. Commercial coaches shall be approved by the Director of the Planning and Natural Resources Department for compliance with the Kern County Zoning Ordinance.

B. Floor Space. Floor space of commercial coach units connected in multiples shall not exceed the basic floor space permitted for the occupancy, in accordance with the allowable floor space for Type V-B Construction, Table 503 of the California Building Code as adopted into the Kern County Code of Building Regulations.

C. Location. Commercial coaches shall be located in accordance with the requirements of the California Building Code, as adopted into the Kern County Code of Building Regulations or provisions in the Kern County Zoning Ordinance, if they are more stringent.

D. Temporary Sanitary Facilities. Temporary sanitary facilities shall be permitted only with the approval of the county health officer.

E. Grounding. All exposed metal parts of the commercial coach shall be effectively grounded.

F. Insignia. The commercial coach shall bear an insignia of approval issued by the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the coach shall not be altered in any way that would void such insignia.

(Ord. No. G-9359, § 16, 11-4-25)

A mobile home owner shall not suffer nor allow his mobile home to attain a state of disrepair or to constitute a hazardous condition. If a hazardous condition or state of disrepair of a mobile home occurs pertaining to a structural, plumbing, mechanical or electrical installation which is not corrected immediately upon demand of the building official, the installation or its utilities and power sources may be ordered to be disconnected by the building official.

(Ord. No. G-9359, § 16, 11-4-25)

The penalties for violation of any provision of this chapter shall be as established under the Kern County Code of Building Regulations. In addition, the public officials may take enforcement actions for violations of this title by imposing administrative penalties or abating a public nuisance as provided for in Title 8 of the Ordinance Code.

(Ord. No. G-9359, § 16, 11-4-25)