Kern County · Zoning · PL
Kern County PL zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Kern County's PL zone, generally buildings can be up to 35 ft (3 stories) tall, the front setback is 55 ft and the minimum lot size is area existing within the lot on April 15, 1982, 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
- Minimum lot size: area existing within the lot on April 15, 1982 (Except for conveyances to or from specified governmental, public, utility, or water entities for specified public purposes, rights-of-way, or well sites.)
- Maximum density: 1 unit per legal lot
PL (Platted Lands) 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 PL
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. § 19.53.080 · code textResidential buildings shall not exceed three (3) stories or thirty-five (35) feet. |
|---|---|
| Maximum number of stories | 3 stories Applies: Residential buildings. § 19.53.080 · code textResidential buildings shall not exceed three (3) stories or thirty-five (35) feet. |
| Minimum front setback | 55 ft Applies: From the legal centerline of any existing or proposed public or private local street or access easements. § 19.53.070 · 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 § 19.53.070 · 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 § 19.53.070 · 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 | area existing within the lot on April 15, 1982 Applies: Except for conveyances to or from specified governmental, public, utility, or water entities for specified public purposes, rights-of-way, or well sites. § 19.53.050 · code textNo lot within the PL district shall contain less than the area existing within the lot on April 15, 1982, 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 unit per legal lot § 19.53.060 · code textExcept as otherwise provided in Section 19.53.030 of this chapter, there shall be no more than one (1) dwelling unit per legal lot in the PL district. |
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in PL:
- Minimum front setback: 70 ft — From the legal centerline of any existing or proposed secondary highway. § 19.53.070
- Minimum front setback: 80 ft — From the legal centerline of any existing or proposed major highway. § 19.53.070
- Minimum front setback: 25 ft — In no case, from the right-of-way established by any official or specific plan line, street, or access easement. § 19.53.070
- Minimum side setback: 10 ft — Street side of corner lots, from the specified right-of-way. § 19.53.070
- Minimum side setback: 25 ft — Within the rear twenty-five feet of reverse corner lots, from the specified right-of-way. § 19.53.070
Not on this page
We did not find a general lot coverage, FAR limit for PL 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 PL zone?
35 ft (residential buildings) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.53.080.
What is the maximum number of stories in Kern County's PL zone?
3 stories (residential buildings) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.53.080.
What is the minimum front setback in Kern County's PL zone?
55 ft (from the legal centerline of any existing or proposed public or private local street or access easements) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.53.070.
What is the minimum side setback in Kern County's PL zone?
5 ft (corner lot street side: 10 ft from the right-of-way) — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.53.070.
What is the minimum rear setback in Kern County's PL zone?
5 ft — Kern County Municipal Code § 19.53.070.
General information, not legal advice.
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