Kern County Oil and Gas Permitting
The Kern County Zoning Ordinance contains provisions for local permitting of oil and gas production. Specifically, Chapter 19.98 (Oil and Gas Production) provides development standards for all future oil and gas exploration, extraction, operations, and production activities in the unincorporated Kern County. The Amendment to the Kern County Zoning Ordinance related to Chapter 19.98 and other oil and gas provisions in the Zoning Ordinance was approved on March 8, 2021, and became effective on April 7, 2021.
For Oil and Gas Permitting Questions, Please Email: oilandgasplanning@kerncounty.com
The following resources are available to facilitate the permitting process:
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Comprehensive EIR Information Homepage Documents related to the environmental review process of the Zoning Ordinance Revisions. |
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Annual Progress Report 2024 Kern County Oil and Gas Permitting Program Annual Progress Report (347 KB) |
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Informational Guides CalGEM NOI Approval Form (185 KB)
CalGEM NOI Submission Form (182 KB)
The Oil and Gas Permitting Handbook is a quick reference for project proponents as well as an education tool for individuals to navigate the County's oil and gas land use regulations, including Oil and Gas Conformity Review (OCGR) or Minor Activity Review (MAR). This document outlines the level of review required for different environmental situations. It is intended to serve only as a guide, the specific required regulations are contained within the Kern County Zoning Ordinance.
New Well Air Quality Mitigation Fees - Updated fees for 2025 (233 KB) |
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Applications Oil and Gas Online Application Submittal Applications for Oil and Gas Conformity Reviews or Minor Activity Reviews may be submitted in person at the Planning and Natural Resources Department, located at 2700 "M" Street, Suite 100, Bakersfield, CA 93301.
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The complete, revised Zoning Ordinance.
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Oil and Gas Zoning Ordinance Amendments The final amendments to the Zoning Ordinance affecting Oil and Gas Permitting.
2021 Oil and Gas Zoning Ordinance Amendments (430 KB PDF) 2015 Oil and Gas Zoning Ordinance Amendments (323 KB PDF) |
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Kern County Online GIS Mapping This tool can identify the Tier, Zone District, Map Code Designation, and other information about a parcel in Kern County. |
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Data Basin - Kern County Gateway The Data Basin website is available to display biological resource information along with other special data. The Data Basin website is a science-based mapping and analysis platform that supports learning, research, and sustainable environmental stewardship. |