Kern County, CA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential driveway minimum width
- 14 feet, including tapers
- Commercial/industrial driveway width
- 18 feet, including tapers
- Vertical clearance
- 15 feet unobstructed
- Paving exemption
- Single-family driveways over 100 feet
- Front-yard setback parking
- Prohibited, with limited exceptions
Summary
In unincorporated Kern County, off-street parking areas and driveways must be surfaced with approved materials, residential driveways must be at least 14 feet wide with 15 feet of vertical clearance, and parking is generally barred from required front-yard setbacks abutting a street.
Off-street parking areas required to be provided by this chapter shall be designed and developed in accordance with the following standards: A. All off-street parking areas and ingress and egress to parking areas shall be surfaced with the following materials: ... 2. Except as specified by Chapter 19.80 of this title, for all uses in any other area, the required parking areas shall be surfaced with one of the following materials: a. Three (3) inches of bituminous road mix; b. Two (2) inches of asphaltic concrete; c. Three and one-half (3 1/2) inches of Portland Cement concrete; d. Three (3) inches of decomposed granite; e. Three (3) inches of compacted rock dust; f. Three (3) inches of gravel. ... 4. Driveways serving single-family residential dwellings are exempt from the paving requirements specified in Subsections 1 and 2 of this section if greater than one hundred (100) feet in length. The required parking area is still subject to the aforementioned paving provisions. ... E. Driveways for residential developments shall be a minimum of fourteen (14) feet (includes three- (3-) foot taper on each side) in width with fifteen (15) feet of unobstructed vertical clearance. Driveways for commercial and industrial developments shall be a minimum of eighteen (18) feet (includes three- (3-) foot taper on each side) in width with fifteen (15) feet of unobstructed vertical clearance. These requirements may be reduced by the Planning Director upon recommendation of the Kern County Fire Chief. F. Parking spaces requiring backing into a street or road right-of-way are prohibited, except in the case of driveways for lots containing, two (2) or fewer dwelling units. For lots containing a third dwelling unit for which access is taken from other than an arterial or collector road, direct backing into a street or road right-of-way may be authorized by the Roads Department. G. In no case shall any parking be located within an existing right-of-way, proposed secondary or major highway, or within an adopted Official or Specific Plan Line and, except in the case of lots containing only one (1) single-family dwelling or mobilehome and lots zoned for commercial and industrial purposes, off-street parking may not be located in a required front-yard or required side-yard setback abutting a street.
Full Breakdown
Kern County Zoning Ordinance Section 19.82.090 sets design standards for parking areas and driveways in the unincorporated county. In Type A Improvement Areas, parking must be paved with 2 inches of asphaltic concrete or 3.5 inches of Portland cement concrete; elsewhere, options include bituminous road mix, decomposed granite, compacted rock dust, or gravel. Single-family driveways longer than 100 feet are exempt from paving, though the required parking area itself must still be surfaced. Residential driveways require a 14-foot minimum width (18 feet for commercial and industrial) with 15 feet of unobstructed vertical clearance. Backing into a road right-of-way is prohibited except for lots with two or fewer dwelling units, and parking may not occupy required front- or side-yard setbacks abutting a street except on single-family, mobilehome, commercial, and industrial lots.
Violations & Fines
Zoning violations are a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or six months in county jail, with each day a separate offense; administrative penalties under Chapter 8.54 may also apply (Kern County Zoning Ordinance Sections 19.114.060 and 19.114.070).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my driveway in unincorporated Kern County have to be paved?
How wide does a residential driveway need to be in Kern County?
Can I park in my front-yard setback in unincorporated Kern County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kern County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kern County to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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