ADU Rules in Kern County, California

We track 1 city in Kern County. Each city writes its own ADU ordinance on top of California law, so size limits, fees, and design rules differ from one city to the next.

Cities

Max Detached Size

1,200 sq ft

Build Costs From

$85,000

Pre-approved Plans

0 of 1 cities

Kern County Cities Compared

City	Max detached	Height	Permit fees	Build cost
Bakersfield	1,200 sq ft	16 ft	$3,500 – $9,000	$85,000 – $190,000

Bakersfield ADU rules

Bakersfield has some of the lowest ADU permit fees of any large California city, and typical lots are big enough for a full detached unit. The rules largely track state law: 16 ft for detached units, 4 ft side and rear setbacks. Summer heat makes insulation and HVAC sizing a bigger cost item than on the coast.

Rules that apply in every California city are summarized in our California ADU law guide. See all California cities or compare every city side by side.