Kern County · Zoning · A
Kern County A zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Kern County's A zone, generally buildings can be up to 35 ft (3 stories) tall, the front setback is 55 ft and the minimum lot size is 20 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 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 (through lots: the rear yard follows the front-yard setback requirements)
- Minimum lot size: 20 acres
- Maximum density: 1 dwelling per legal lot (Principal single-family dwelling)
A (Exclusive Agriculture) 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
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 § 19.12.080 · 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 § 19.12.080 · code textResidential buildings shall not exceed three (3) stories or thirty-five (35) feet in height. |
| Minimum front setback | 55 ft Applies: From the legal centerline of any existing or proposed public or private local street or access easements § 19.12.070 · 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 § 19.12.070 · code textThere shall be a side yard on each side of a 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 Applies: through lots: the rear yard follows the front-yard setback requirements § 19.12.070 · 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 | 20 acres § 19.12.050 · code textNo lot created within the A district shall contain less than twenty (20) 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 dwelling per legal lot Applies: Principal single-family dwelling § 19.12.060 · code textThere shall be no more than one (1) principal single-family dwelling per legal lot in the A district, except pursuant to Section 19.12.020 of this chapter. |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in A:
- Maximum building height: 150 ft — Radio, television, communication, and microwave towers § 19.12.080
- Minimum front setback: 70 ft — From the legal centerline of any existing or proposed secondary highway § 19.12.070
- Minimum front setback: 80 ft — From the legal centerline of any existing or proposed major highway § 19.12.070
- 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 § 19.12.070
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft — Street side of corner lots § 19.12.070
- Minimum lot size: 80 acres — Lot is under Williamson Act contract and designated 8.2, 8.3 or 8.5 by the county general plan or equivalent designation of another adopted general or specific plan § 19.12.050
- Minimum lot size: No minimum — Agricultural industry uses approved in conjunction with a conditional use permit or land division actions where the proposed lot size is considered as part of the discretionary approval § 19.12.050
Not on this page
We did not find a general lot coverage, FAR limit for A 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 zone?
35 ft (residential buildings) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.12.080.
What is the maximum number of stories in Kern County's A zone?
3 stories (residential buildings) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.12.080.
What is the minimum front setback in Kern County's A zone?
55 ft (from the legal centerline of any existing or proposed public or private local street or access easements) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.12.070.
What is the minimum side setback in Kern County's A zone?
5 ft (corner lot street side: 10 ft from the right-of-way) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.12.070.
What is the minimum rear setback in Kern County's A zone?
5 ft (through lots: the rear yard follows the front-yard setback requirements) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.12.070.
General information, not legal advice.
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