Community Development

Lorelei H. Oviatt AICP, Director
Phone: (661) 862-5050
FAX: (661) 862-5052
TTY Relay 1-800-735-2929
email: kerncd@kerncounty.com

Public Services Building
2700 “M” Street., Suite 250
Bakersfield, CA 93301-2370
Monday – Friday 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M

Our Mission

The Planning and Natural Resources Department provides consolidated land use planning and community development programs for the County’s residents. We are proud to fulfill a mission that fosters economic vitality, supports resource conservation, and serves the diverse needs of Kern County residents, including those with lower incomes, by improving their economic, environmental, and social quality of life. We achieve this through projects and programs that revitalize neighborhoods by providing safer living environments, decent and affordable housing, public facilities and improvements, and expanded employment opportunities.

In 2010, Community Development was made a Division of the Planning Department, which was then renamed the Planning and Community Development Department (PCDD), then again to the Planning and Natural Resources Department (PLNR). The Community Development Division (CD) consists of three components: Planning, Fiscal/Agreements & Compliance, and Housing. CD administers the federal HUD grants for the County, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnership (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Neighborhood Stabilization Programs (NSP) Funds.

For Economic Development Programs See: Kern County Economic Development and Kern Economic Development Corporation

New Items/Public Notice/Applications