Bolthole Index

Kern County, California

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Taft, California

The City of Taft, California adopts its own zoning and runs its own Building Department for land inside city limits12. Kern County's zoning does not govern land inside the city1. Septic and well rules inside city limits are unconfirmed; ask Kern County Environmental Health3.

At a glance

Zoning
Taft adopts and administers its own zoning inside city limits1
Building permits
Issued by the City of Taft Building Department, not the county2
Residential districts
RS, R-1, R-2 and R-3, plus other districts4
Manufactured homes
Permitted in RS, R-1 and R-2; R-3 needs a conditional use permit5
Accessory dwellings
Allowed in RS, R-1, R-2 and R-36
Sewer
Connection permit and fee for lots not yet connected7
Septic
Unconfirmed inside city limits; Kern County Environmental Health for the county3

Who to call

Building permits

City of Taft Building Department

Building permit applications, plan submissions and inspection requests inside Taft city limits

(661) 763-1222

209 E. Kern St, Taft, CA 93268

Septic permits

Kern County Public Health Services Department, Environmental Health Division

Septic (onsite wastewater) permits for Kern County

(661) 321-3000

1800 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Bakersfield, CA

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Taft means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Taft, California have zoning, and what does it mean for homes and lot sizes?

Yes. The City of Taft adopts and administers its own zoning in Title VI of the city code, and the county zoning does not govern land inside the city1. The residential districts are RS, R-1, R-2 and R-3, alongside commercial, industrial, agricultural, natural resources and overlay chapters4.

The RS (residential suburban, rural atmosphere) district is the closest thing to acreage in town. Its large-lot option requires 40,000 square feet per lot, about one acre on average, and its small-lot option requires 20,000 square feet8. RS large lots need a 40-foot front setback to the dwelling, a 20-foot interior side yard and a 15-foot rear yard, with 25% maximum lot coverage910. Buildings top out at 35 feet11.

In R-1, the front setback to the dwelling is 15 feet and side and rear yards are 5 feet12. R-1 allows 40% lot coverage and 35-foot buildings1314.

Can you place a manufactured home or accessory dwelling in Taft?

Manufactured homes used as single-family dwellings are permitted in the RS, R-1 and R-2 districts inside Taft; in R-3 they need a conditional use permit5. Placement standards in section 6-11-16 also apply5.

Accessory dwelling units are permitted in RS, R-1, R-2 and R-3, subject to section 6-12-23 of the Taft code6.

We could not confirm Taft's rules on living in an RV, camping on a lot or tiny homes. Ask the Building Department before parking anything you plan to sleep in2.

Do you need a building permit in Taft, and who issues it?

The City of Taft Building Department handles building permits inside city limits. The city's own page says all permitting activities must be initiated at the city public counter, and that plans, building permit applications and inspection requests start at the Taft Building Department2. Building permits are not issued by Kern County for land inside Taft.

Taft adopts the 2025 California Administrative Code by reference, and its code lists chapters for building, residential, plumbing and electrical codes; we could not confirm any local amendments15. California's 2025 Building Standards Code applies to permit applications filed on or after January 1, 202616.

We could not confirm Taft's building permit fee schedule, inspection steps or owner-builder rules; ask the Building Department2. California's owner-builder exemption concerns contractor licensing and does not waive permits or inspections17.

How do sewer and septic work inside Taft?

Property inside Taft that has never been connected to the city sewer needs a sewer connection permit and pays a connection fee, which must be paid before a building permit is issued7. New construction needing a new sewer connection also pays a sewer capacity fee of $2.85 per gallon per day, or an equivalent single-family dwelling unit charge, collected with the building permit fee; the code text dates from 1996, so confirm the current amount18.

We could not confirm whether septic systems are allowed on parcels inside city limits. Kern County Environmental Health permits septic systems in unincorporated Kern County, and only where no sanitary sewer is available within 200 feet of the structure19. It also administers septic rules in some cities, depending on each city's designation20. Call Environmental Health before buying a lot you hope to put on septic3.

Building a home in Taft: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zone district and the setbacks, lot size and coverage for that district with the city4.
  2. Ask whether the lot is already on the city sewer; if not, plan for a sewer connection permit and fee7.
  3. Start at the public counter of the City of Taft Building Department with plans and a building permit application2.
  4. Pay the sewer connection fee before the building permit is issued21.
  5. Request inspections through the Building Department2.

What stays with Kern County, and what to check before you buy near Taft

Land outside Taft city limits is unincorporated Kern County, where the county's own zoning, Building Inspection Division and Environmental Health apply instead; see the Kern County page. Kern County zoning excludes incorporated cities22.

Septic permits and any well questions outside the city run through the county. Kern County's floodplain development permit applies only in unincorporated areas23; we could not confirm Taft's floodplain rules.

At the county level, farmland averages $10,539 per acre24, the effective property tax rate is 0.9%25, and annual precipitation is 8.9 inches26. Only 19.3% of county soils rate as not limited for a conventional septic field, so expect a site evaluation on unsewered land27.

Watch-outs

  • Taft's general building permit fee schedule, inspection process and owner-builder rules were not confirmed; call the City of Taft Building Department before budgeting2.
  • Kern County's rules for RVs, manufactured homes and septic systems apply to unincorporated land, not inside Taft28.
  • The sewer capacity fee text dates from 1996 and may have been amended18.

Sources

  1. Taft City Code 6-4-2 Residential Development Zone Districts, with 6-4-3 use and site development tables (Chapter 4) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Taft Building Department (cityoftaft.org)
  3. Kern County Public Health Services Department, Environmental Health Division (kernpublichealth.com)
  4. Taft City Code 6-4-2 Residential Development Zone Districts, with 6-4-3 use and site development tables (Chapter 4) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  5. Taft City Code 6-4-2 Residential Development Zone Districts, with 6-4-3 use and site development tables (Chapter 4) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  6. Taft City Code 6-4-2 Residential Development Zone Districts, with 6-4-3 use and site development tables (Chapter 4) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  7. Taft City Code 3-3-5 Sewer Connection and Use Fees (Title III Chapter 3) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  8. Taft City Code 6-4-2 Residential Development Zone Districts, with 6-4-3 use and site development tables (Chapter 4) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  9. Taft City Code 6-4-2 Residential Development Zone Districts, with 6-4-3 use and site development tables (Chapter 4) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  10. Taft City Code 6-4-2 Residential Development Zone Districts, with 6-4-3 use and site development tables (Chapter 4) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  11. Taft City Code 6-4-2 Residential Development Zone Districts, with 6-4-3 use and site development tables (Chapter 4) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  12. Taft City Code 6-4-2 Residential Development Zone Districts, with 6-4-3 use and site development tables (Chapter 4) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  13. Taft City Code 6-4-2 Residential Development Zone Districts, with 6-4-3 use and site development tables (Chapter 4) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  14. Taft City Code 6-4-2 Residential Development Zone Districts, with 6-4-3 use and site development tables (Chapter 4) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  15. Taft City Code Title V Chapter 19 Administrative Code (5-19-3 adoption of code) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  16. Approved Building Standards (California statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. California Business and Professions Code section 7044, quoted and re-checked
  18. Taft City Code 3-3-5 Sewer Connection and Use Fees (Title III Chapter 3) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  19. Kern County Onsite Systems Manual, quoted and re-checked
  20. Local Agency Management Program for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, Kern County, California, quoted and re-checked
  21. Taft City Code 3-3-5 Sewer Connection and Use Fees (Title III Chapter 3) (Taft), quoted and re-checked
  22. Planning Documents - Kern County Planning & Natural Resources Dept., quoted and re-checked
  23. Kern County Code of Building Regulations, Chapter 17.48 Floodplain Management, quoted and re-checked
  24. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Kern County Code of Building Regulations, quoted and re-checked

Written October 23, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Taft

Taft’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Building construction inside Taft city limits: the city adopts the 2025 California Administrative Code by reference in Title V; the Title V chapters for the building, residential, plumbing, electrical and other codes are listed in the code.

    • Only the administrative code adoption section (5-19-3) was opened. The adoption text of the building, residential, plumbing and electrical code chapters (Title V chapters 1-18) was not opened, and any local amendments there are unverified.
    • Adoption ordinances on the section show amendments ord. 834-20, 851-23 and 855-25 (12-16-2025).
    “that code known as the 2025 california administrative code of the california code of regulations, part 1, as published by the international code council, is hereby adopted and made part of this chapter by reference”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Taft city limits: Taft city adopts and administers its own zoning in Title VI, Planning and Zoning (Chapter 4 residential zone districts and city zoning map).

    • Zoning applies inside city limits only; the county zoning does not govern land inside the city.
    “this chapter further establishes minimum development standards, as depicted in section 6-4-3, table 4.b of this chapter for the r-1 zone district depicted on the city zoning map.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    City zoning districts and zoning map inside Taft city limits

    • Districts are the residential RS, R-1, R-2 and R-3 (Chapter 4), plus commercial, industrial, agricultural, natural resources and overlay chapters listed in the Taft code table of contents, which were not opened.
    “this chapter further establishes minimum development standards, as depicted in section 6-4-3, table 4.b of this chapter for the r-1 zone district depicted on the city zoning map.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    RS residential suburban (rural atmosphere) zone district inside Taft city limits, shown as the large-lot and small-lot columns of Table 4.b

    • Large-lot option (1 acre average) minimum lot area 40,000 sq ft, with minimum lot width 135 feet (150 feet average).
    • Small-lot option (maximum 2.5 dwelling units per acre) minimum lot area 20,000 sq ft, with minimum lot width 80 feet.

    minimum lot area, large-lot option: 40000 square feet (1 acre average) · minimum lot area, small-lot option: 20000 square feet (small lot subdivision)

    “minimum lot area (net area in square feet): 40,000 (1 acre average) 20,000 6,000 5,000 3,000”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 single-family residential zone district inside Taft city limits (column R-1 of Table 4.b)

    • Front setback to garage, carport or accessory structure is 20 feet.
    • Architectural projections may extend into the front setback up to 20 percent of it; projections along side and rear yards must stay at least 30 inches from the property line.
    • Greater setbacks may be required by the planning commission or city council as part of a precise plan of design.
    • Infill on substandard lots less than 50 feet wide may use zero lot line development.

    minimum front yard setback to dwelling unit: 15 feet · minimum interior side yard setback: 5 feet · minimum rear yard setback: 5 feet

    “minimum front yard setback 1: to dwelling unit 40' 20' 15' 15' 10' to garage/carport/accessory structures 40' 20' 20' 20' 20' minimum interior side yard setback 1: all residential structures 20' 10' 5' 5' 5' minimum rear yard setback 1 15' 10' 5' 5' 10'”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    RS residential suburban zone district inside Taft city limits (large-lot and small-lot columns of Table 4.b)

    • Large-lot option maximum lot coverage 25 percent; small-lot option 30 percent.

    maximum lot coverage, large-lot option: <= 25 percent (1 acre average lots) · maximum lot coverage, small-lot option: <= 30 percent (small lot subdivision)

    “maximum lot coverage 25% 30% 40% 50% 60% maximum height for buildings and structures 35' 35' 35' 35' 45'”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 single-family residential zone district inside Taft city limits (column R-1 of Table 4.b)

    maximum height for buildings and structures: <= 35 feet

    “maximum lot coverage 25% 30% 40% 50% 60% maximum height for buildings and structures 35' 35' 35' 35' 45'”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured homes used as single-family dwellings in the RS, R-1 and R-2 zone districts inside Taft city limits; in the R-3 district a single-family dwelling including manufactured homes requires a conditional use permit.

    • Table 4.a legend: p = permitted subject to consistency assessment; c = permitted subject to approval of a conditional use permit application.
    • Manufactured home placement standards in section 6-11-16 apply and were not opened within budget.
    “single-family dwelling (including manufactured homes per section 6-11-16 of this title) p p p c”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units in the RS, R-1, R-2 and R-3 zone districts inside Taft city limits

    • Permitted subject to section 6-12-23 of the Taft code.
    • An ADU may require a separate utility connection, but is not a new residential use for connection fees or capacity charges unless built with a new single-family home.
    “accessory dwelling unit, subject to the provisions of section 6-12-23 of this title p p p p”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Property inside Taft city limits that has not previously been connected to the city sewer system

    • A sewer connection permit and connection fee are required for property inside city limits not previously connected, in addition to other fees.
    • The connection fee must be paid before a building permit is issued; payment for lots in subdivisions may be made at final map filing.
    • The city sewer capacity fee is charged as part of the building permit fee (see permit_fees claim).
    • No mandatory-connection distance or availability rule was found in the sections opened; the water connection requirement was not found.
    “payment of the above sewer connection fee for all lots within subdivisions may be made at time of filing of a final subdivision map”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Multi-family development in residential zone districts inside Taft city limits (6-4-3(c)), where vehicular access to parking must use a driveway

    • Front and side street setback areas may not be used for parking.
    • Driveway as defined in section 6-14-6, not opened.
    “vehicular access to designated parking areas for the property shall be limited to driveways, as defined in section 6-14-6 of this title.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Sewer capacity fee for new construction requiring a new sewer connection inside Taft city limits; not a general building-permit fee schedule

    • The capacity fee is collected as part of the building permit fee.
    • Fee text cites ord. 641-96, adopted 6-18-1996, effective 7-1-1996; a later fee amendment, if any, was not located and must be checked.
    • General building, plan-check and inspection fees were not located.

    sewer capacity fee: 2.85 USD per gallon per day (or an equivalent single-family dwelling unit charge)

    “the sewer capacity fee for all new construction requiring new sewer connection shall be charged at the rate of two dollars eighty five cents ($2.85) per gallon per day or an equivalent single-family dwelling unit charge, and shall be collected as part of the building permit fee.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Sewer connection permit step inside Taft city limits, as part of the building permit process

    • Only the sewer connection step was confirmed; the general building permit application, plan review and inspection process was not located.
    • Connections outside city limits require a written application to the City Council with a sketch and connection fee.
    “but in no event shall payment be made later than, and payment shall be a precondition of, issuance of a building permit.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Taft or Kern County directly.

  • Building permit — New construction and alterations inside Taft city limits
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for work inside Taft city limits
  • Inspections — Inspections of construction inside Taft city limits
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates for buildings inside Taft city limits
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area of a dwelling inside Taft city limits
10 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Taft publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Kern County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Kern County: county rules, score and offices