Bakersfield, CA Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Livestock density cap
- 4 adult animals per acre
- Hog limit
- 5 hogs max per premises
- Livestock setback
- 100 ft from front lot line
- Commercial poultry/rabbitry
- 1-acre minimum site
- A-20A combining zone
- 20-acre minimum lot size
Summary
Bakersfield's A agriculture zone lets landowners keep livestock, poultry and crops as a matter of right, but § 17.32.020 fences the use in with real setbacks and density caps: livestock buildings must sit at least 100 feet from the front lot line, and no more than four adult animals per acre.
C. Accessory agricultural buildings and uses, including farm buildings, housing for agricultural workers, garages and implement shelters, provided no livestock or any building or enclosure used in connection with livestock shall be located nearer than one hundred feet to the front lot line, nor nearer than fifty feet to any existing dwelling on any contiguous property, nor nearer than one hundred feet to any public park, school, hospital or similar institution; D. Hatching, raising and fattening of chickens, turkeys, or other fowl, or poultry or rabbits, fish or frogs for domestic or commercial use; provided, that no commercial poultry pen or coop or commercial rabbitry shall be maintained on a building site containing an area of less than one acre;... F. The keeping of bovine animals, horses, mules, sheep, goats and hogs (none garbage fed); provided, that the number thereof shall not exceed a number per acre equal to four adult animals in any combination of the foregoing animals and their immature offspring; and provided, that in no event shall there be more than five hogs kept on any premises.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 5221, passed July 15, 2026).
Full Breakdown
020 permits farming uses by right rather than through a conditional use permit, but with numeric limits built directly into the ordinance. " Bovine animals, horses, mules, sheep, goats and hogs are capped at four adult animals per acre in any combination, and "in no event shall there be more than five hogs kept on any premises," with hogs required to be non-garbage-fed. The zone also permits nurseries, greenhouses, orchards, beekeeping and commercial field-crop, berry and flower operations without a numeric cap. 060 adds surface water-spreading grounds as a permitted use on top of the standard A-zone list.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the four-animal-per-acre livestock ratio, keeping more than five hogs, or siting a livestock enclosure inside the required 50-to-100-foot setbacks is a zoning violation enforced under the citywide penalty schedule in §§ 1.40.010 and 1.40.030: an infraction fine of $50 to $250 for repeat violations within a year, or an administrative citation of $100 to $1,000, with each day of the violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many animals can I keep per acre on agricultural-zoned land in Bakersfield?
How far from my property line does a Bakersfield livestock enclosure have to be?
Can I raise chickens commercially on any size lot in the Bakersfield A zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bakersfield
California rules heatmap·Compare Bakersfield to another location·View the California right to farm overview
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Agricultural Zoning Protection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kern County handle agricultural zoning protection.