Kern County · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Kern County

Kern County's code applies only in unincorporated areas of the county. It limits fences by yard, sets accessory building height and size by parcel size, and requires a permit for home businesses.

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Key points

Fence height: County code limits fences in E and R-1 to R-3 districts to 4 feet in front yards, 6 feet in rear or side yards.
Accessory buildings: On residential parcels under 1/4 acre, county code limits detached accessory buildings to the dwelling's height and 600 square feet.
Home businesses: County code requires a home occupation permit approved by the planning director before any home occupation starts.

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 What Kern County's code adds
Front yard height	No more than 4 feet high, unless a permit requires or the director approves higher. Applies: Required front yards in the E (¼), E (½), E (1), E (2½), R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts. § 19.08.210 · code text In the E (¼), E (½), E (1), E (2½), R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts, no fence, wall or hedge located in the required front yard shall exceed a height of four (4) feet, except when a higher fence, wall or hedge is required as a condition of approval of a discretionary permit or except when approved by the director in the manner contained in subsection G of this section.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet high, unless a permit requires or the director approves higher. Applies: Rear or side yards in the E (¼), E (½), E (1), E (2½), R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts. § 19.08.210 · code text In the E (¼), E (½), E (1), E (2½), R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts, no fence, wall or hedge located in the rear or side yards shall exceed a height of six (6) feet, except when a higher fence, wall or hedge is required as a condition of approval of a discretionary permit except when approved by the director in the manner contained in subsection G of this section. No more than 4 feet high, unless a permit requires or the director approves higher. Applies: The rear 25 feet of a through lot in the E (¼), E (½), E (1), E (2½), R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts. § 19.08.210 · code text In the E (¼), E (½), E (1), E (2½), R-1, R-2, and R-3 districts, no fence, wall, or hedge located in the rear twenty-five (25) feet of a through lot shall exceed four (4) feet in height, except when a higher fence, wall, or hedge is required as a condition of approval of a discretionary permit, or except when approved by the director following the procedure described in subsection (G) of this section. No more than 4 feet high, unless a permit requires or the director approves higher. Applies: Listed E, R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts: within 10 feet of a reversed corner lot rear line, between street and key lot setback line. § 19.08.210 · code text In the E (¼), E (½), E (1), E (2½), R-1, R-2, and R-3 districts, no fence, wall, or hedge located within ten (10) feet of the rear lot line of a reversed corner lot between the street and the established front-yard setback line on the key lot to the rear shall exceed a height of four (4) feet, except when a higher fence, wall, or hedge is required as a condition of an approval of a discretionary permit, or except when approval by the planning director following the procedure described in subsection (G) of this section.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Kern County code What Kern County's code adds
Maximum height	No higher than the main home. Applies: Detached accessory buildings on residential parcels under ¼ acre in the R-1, R-2, R-3 and E districts. § 19.08.180 · code text The accessory buildings shall not exceed the height of the principal dwelling. No higher than the main home. Applies: Detached accessory buildings on residential parcels between ¼ and ½ acre in the R-1, R-2, R-3 and E districts. § 19.08.180 · code text and shall not exceed the height of the principal dwelling. No more than 20 feet or the main home's height, whichever is greater. Applies: Detached accessory buildings on residential parcels over ½ acre and under 3 acres, R-1, R-2, R-3 and E districts, Metropolitan Bakersfield plan area. § 19.08.180 · code text and shall not exceed a height of twenty (20) feet or the height of the principal dwelling, whichever is greater. No more than the maximum building height of the zoning district. Applies: Detached accessory buildings on residential parcels of 3 acres or more, R-1, R-2, R-3 and E districts, Metropolitan Bakersfield plan area. § 19.08.180 · code text and shall not exceed the maximum building height permitted in the applicable zoning district. No more than 35 feet high. Applies: Listed E and R districts: one detached garage in an interior lot required front yard, front half sloping over 1 foot in 4 feet. § 19.08.180 · code text and further provided that no such building shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 600 square feet combined. Applies: Detached accessory buildings on residential parcels under ¼ acre in the R-1, R-2, R-3 and E districts. § 19.08.180 · code text detached accessory buildings shall not exceed a combined total of six hundred (600) square feet. No more than 1,000 square feet combined, or the main home's square footage, whichever is greater. Applies: Detached accessory buildings on residential parcels between ¼ and ½ acre in the R-1, R-2, R-3 and E districts. § 19.08.180 · code text detached accessory buildings shall not exceed a combined total of one thousand (1,000) square feet, or the square footage equivalent of the principal dwelling, whichever is greater No more than 3,600 square feet combined, or twice the main home's square footage, whichever is greater. Applies: Detached accessory buildings on residential parcels over ½ acre and under 3 acres, R-1, R-2, R-3 and E districts, Metropolitan Bakersfield plan area. § 19.08.180 · code text detached accessory buildings shall not exceed a combined total of three thousand six hundred (3,600) square feet or twice the square footage equivalent of the principal dwelling, whichever is greater No more than 5,000 square feet combined, or 3 times the main home's square footage, whichever is greater. Applies: Detached accessory buildings on residential parcels of 3 acres or more, R-1, R-2, R-3 and E districts, Metropolitan Bakersfield plan area. § 19.08.180 · code text detached accessory buildings shall not exceed a combined total of five thousand (5,000) square feet or three (3) times the equivalent square footage of the principal dwelling, whichever is greater
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from the side or front property line. Applies: Listed E and R districts: one detached garage in an interior lot required front yard, front half sloping over 1 foot in 4 feet. § 19.08.180 · code text provided, however, that no portion of any such building shall be less than five (5) feet from the side or front property line of the lot

Running a business from home

Kern County code What Kern County's code adds
Permit	A home occupation permit approved by the planning director is required. Applies: Before any home business starts. § 19.94.050 · code text No home occupation shall be established until an application for a home occupation permit has been submitted to and approved by the planning director as consistent with the requirements of this chapter in accordance with the procedures set out in Sections 19.102.040 through 19.102.060 of this title.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Kern County code What Kern County's code adds
EV charger permit	Approved, with all needed permits issued, when the application meets the county checklist and health and safety standards. Applies: Applies to EV charging stations. § 17.58.040 · code text A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the county's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed. Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: Applies to permit applications under the expedited permitting chapter. § 17.58.040 · code text the building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations.
Solar permit process	Administrative approval and all required permits once the complete application meets the checklist. Applies: Applies to small residential rooftop solar systems. § 17.57.040 · code text Upon confirmation by the building official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.
Review time	Plan review and permits within 1 business day, when reasonable. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems; walk-in applications. § 17.57.040 · code text For walk-in applications the building official shall perform a plan review and issue all required permits within one (1) business day when reasonable to do so. Plan review and permits within 1 to 3 business days, when reasonable. Applies: Small residential rooftop solar systems; electronic submittals. § 17.57.040 · code text For electronic submittals, the building official shall perform a plan review and issue all required permits within one (1) to three (3) business days when reasonable to do so.

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.

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

How tall can a fence be in Kern County?

County code limits fences in E and R-1 to R-3 districts to 4 feet in front yards, 6 feet in rear or side yards.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Kern County?

On residential parcels under 1/4 acre, county code limits detached accessory buildings to the dwelling's height and 600 square feet.

Can I run a business from my home in Kern County?

County code requires a home occupation permit approved by the planning director before any home occupation starts.

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Kern County?

Kern County's code: Approved, with all needed permits issued, when the application meets the county checklist and health and safety standards. (Applies to EV charging stations.) (§ 17.58.040); Electronic submittal and electronic signatures are accepted. (Applies to permit applications under the expedited permitting chapter.) (§ 17.58.040).

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

Kern County's code: Pygmy goats under 24 inches tall count as household pets and are allowed with a home. (Applies to residential use of property.) (§ 19.08.375); No more than 2 adult pygmy goats. (Per legal lot; adult means over 4 months old; unless otherwise permitted.) (§ 19.08.375).

General information, not legal advice.

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Kern County Municipal Code — full text

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Buying & selling in Kern County

Kern County overview