Kern County, CA Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential Truck Limit
- 1 truck up to 5 tons GVW (§ 19.08.252)
- Hard Cap on Street
- No commercial vehicle 10,000+ lbs GVWR on any public/private residential street
- Oversize Truck Allowance
- Director permit; 1/2 acre+ lot, all abutting neighbor consent, 3-yr max
- Trailer Lot Minimum
- 2 1/2 acres (or 1 acre with CUP)
- Civil Penalty
- $80 per violation, enforced under Cal. Veh. Code § 40200 et seq.
Summary
Kern County Title 19 limits truck parking at a residence to one truck under 5 tons used for employment or an approved home occupation, and bans any commercial vehicle of 10,000+ lbs GVWR from public or private streets within a residential district.
19.08.252 TRUCK PARKING AS A RESIDENTIAL ACCESSORY USE
Truck parking, when accessory and incidental to an established residential use, shall be permitted provided that there is no more than one (1) truck which does not exceed a gross weight of five (5) tons and which is driven to and from the resident's place of employment on a regular basis or which is utilized in conjunction with an approved home occupation pursuant to Chapter 19.94 of this title. No commercial vehicle having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of ten thousand (10,000) pounds or more shall be parked or stored on any public or private street within a residential district.
The parking of one (1) truck which exceeds a gross weight of five (5) tons may be authorized by the Director subject to the provisions contained in Sections 19.102.040 through 19.102.060 (Ministerial Permits), except as otherwise specified in this section. Such authorization shall be limited to legally created lots with net lot size of 1/2 acre or larger, developed with a single-family dwelling, and where the written consent of the property owner and each abutting property owner accompanies a written request for such authorization. Any such authorization shall be for a maximum period of three (3) years, limited to one vehicle and shall not include trailers; except that one (1) trailer may also be authorized on qualifying lots with a minimum gross lot size of 2 1/2 acres, if included as part of the original request. This 2 1/2 acre lot size requirement may be reduced to one (1) gross acre if a conditional use permit is obtained as specified below.
Violation of this section shall subject the responsible party to a civil penalty of eight dollars ($80) per violation. Violations shall be subject to, and processed and enforced in accordance with, Section 40200 et seq. of the California Vehicle Code.
Full Breakdown
94. The same section flatly prohibits parking or storage of any commercial vehicle of 10,000 lbs or more manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating on any public or private street within a residential district. One truck exceeding 5 tons may be authorized by the Planning Director on lots of one-half acre or larger developed with a single-family dwelling, with written consent from the property owner and all abutting owners, for a maximum of three years; trailers require a minimum 2 1/2 acre lot (reducible to 1 acre by conditional use permit). 28. 252 carry a civil penalty of $80 per violation, processed under California Vehicle Code § 40200 et seq.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park my work truck at home in unincorporated Kern County?
Can I park a semi-truck on the street in front of my house?
Can I keep a truck bigger than 5 tons on my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kern County
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