Land for Sale in Kern County, CA
Kern County spans the southern end of the Central Valley, the Tehachapi Mountains and the western Mojave Desert, with 909,235 residents (2020 census) and a land market that runs from Bakersfield orchards to desert lots in California City and Mojave. This guide covers the main areas, what drives them and what to check before you buy.
Kern County at a glance
- County seat: Bakersfield (403,455 residents in 2020).
- 2020 population 909,235; about 8,163 square miles, the third-largest county in California.
- Other places include Tehachapi (12,939), California City (14,973), Rosamond (20,961), Mojave (4,699) and Lake Isabella (3,573).
- Geography: San Joaquin Valley floor in the west, the Tehachapi Mountains in the south, Mojave Desert in the east.
- Oil and agriculture are major industries; the Kern River Oil Field was discovered in 1899.
The Kern County land market
Kern has four distinct land markets. Around Bakersfield and the valley floor, land is farm ground, orchard and development acreage. In the Tehachapi Mountains, buyers look for oak-and-pine rural parcels and view lots. In the high desert (Mojave, Rosamond, California City) there are many small and mid-size desert parcels that sell for far less per acre. Around Lake Isabella and the Kern River, cabin and recreation parcels are the main draw.
Oil, minerals and water
Oil and gas are part of Kern's history and current economy, so mineral rights may have been severed from the surface on a given parcel. Ask the title company what rights convey and whether any wells or leases affect the lot. Valley farmland depends on irrigation water, which is managed by local districts, so check how a parcel is served. Desert parcels usually rely on private wells or hauled water.
Zoning and approvals
In unincorporated Kern County, the county planning department sets zoning and building rules. Cities such as Bakersfield, Tehachapi and California City set their own for land inside their limits. Large desert parcels may also be subject to endangered species rules such as those protecting the desert tortoise, which can affect grading.
Before you buy land in Kern County
- Whether the parcel is in a city or the unincorporated county, and its zoning.
- Mineral rights: what conveys, and any existing oil and gas leases.
- Water: irrigation district service, or a well and its cost.
- Legal access and road maintenance, especially on desert parcels.
- Flood, wildfire and seismic exposure for the specific area.
Mineral rights vs. surface rightsLand due diligence checklist
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of land are for sale in Kern County?
Valley farm and development acreage near Bakersfield, mountain parcels around Tehachapi, desert lots in Mojave, Rosamond and California City, and recreation parcels near Lake Isabella.
Are mineral rights an issue in Kern County?
They can be. Oil and gas have long been a major industry, so rights may be held separately from the surface. Ask the title company what conveys.
How big is Kern County?
About 8,163 square miles, the third-largest county in California.