Bakersfield City Council
September 24, 2025

9100 Ming Avenue, Suite 202 | Bakersfield, CA 93311 | 661.748.3893| www.ardurra.com The permitting deliverables include testing protocol, draft and final report, meeting minutes, operation plan for permit amendment.

PROJECT FEE
$284,895 Original Contract (approved April 23, 2025)
$42,305 Amendment No. 1 (approved July 23, 2025)
$27,470 Amendment No. 2 (this amendment)
$354,670 New Contract Amount

PROJECT SCHEDULE
We understand the City wants the well up and running by next summer 2026. The attached schedule shows the well back in service and permitted by May 2026.

We appreciate the opportunity to provide our proposed scope and fee to the City for this work and would be happy to discuss it further with the City. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 661.748.3893 or [email protected].

Sincerely,
Dolores Salgado, PE
Client Service Manager
Enclosures: Fee Proposal and Project Schedule
City of Bakersfield
L-208 Well Treatment
Amendment 2 Fee Schedule
Project
Director
Project
Manager
Process
Engineer
Project
Engineer I Labor Hrs Labor Costs EPS(1) (RSSCT)
2022 Rate Schedule $ 305 $ 270 $ 230 $ 160
Task 1 Additional Design Services 2 16 34 92 138 $ 27,470 $ 2,700 $ 27,470 Coordination of RSSCT 8 16 24 4,400$ 2,700$ 4,400$ Evaluate the Use of Filters 2 4 1,100$ 1,100$ DDW Permitting Support Coordination with DDW/City/Calwater 1 4 6 24 35 6,605$ 6,605$ Prepare Protocol for RSSCT 4 6 24 34 6,300$ 6,300$ Prepare Final Report 4 6 12 22 4,380$ 4,380$ Prepare new treatment Operations Plan 1 4 6 12 23 4,685$ 4,685$ 2 16 34 92 24
610$ 4,320$ 7,820$ 14,720$ 27,470$ 2,700$ 27,470$
(1) Includes only the difference in cost between initial quote and revised quote Total Hours:

Amendment No. 2
City Of Bakersfield TOTAL
Labor Hours/Cost Subconsultants
ID Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
0 L-208 Well Treatment Project 272 days Wed 4/9/25 Wed 5/13/26 1 Site Visit No. 1 1 day Wed 4/9/25 Wed 4/9/252 Kickoff Meeting 1 day Wed 4/9/25 Wed 4/9/253 Data Collection & Review 8 days Thu 4/10/25 Mon 4/21/25 14 Prepare Draft PDR w/30% Plans 46 days Tue 4/22/25 Wed 6/25/25 39 Submit Draft PDR 1 day Thu 6/26/25 Thu 6/26/25 8 10 City Review Period 10 days Fri 6/27/25 Fri 7/11/25 911 Prepare Final PDR 18 days Mon 1/5/26 Thu 1/29/26 3416 Submit Final PDR 1 day Fri 1/30/26 Fri 1/30/26 1517 DDW Permit Amendment - Pilot Testing 135 days Tue 7/29/25 Wed 2/18/2618 Coordination Meeting with DDW 0 days Tue 7/29/25 Tue 7/29/2519 Calwater Provide Current Water Quality 15 days Tue 7/29/25 Mon 8/18/25 1820 Prepare RSSCT Protocol 14 days Tue 7/29/25 Fri 8/15/25 1825 Submit RSSCT Protocol 1 day Tue 8/19/25 Tue 8/19/25 19,2426 DDW/City/Calwater Review Period 10 days Wed 8/20/25 Wed 9/3/25 2527 Finalize RSSCT Protocol 14 days Thu 9/4/25 Tue 9/23/25 2632 RSSCT Protocol Approved 1 day Wed 9/24/25 Wed 9/24/25 3133 Collect Water Sample 3 days Thu 9/25/25 Mon 9/29/25 3234 Lab Perform RSSCT 12 wks Tue 9/30/25 Fri 1/2/26 3335 Prepare Final Report 14 days Mon 1/5/26 Fri 1/23/26 3440 Submit Final Report for New Treatment 1 day Mon 1/26/26 Mon 1/26/26 3941 DDW/City/Calwater Review Period 10 days Tue 1/27/26 Mon 2/9/26 4042 Finalize New Treatment Report 5 days Tue 2/10/26 Tue 2/17/26 4143 Treatment Media Approved 1 day Wed 2/18/26 Wed 2/18/26 4244 Final Design (PS&E) 89 days Thu 9/25/25 Tue 2/10/2645 Prepare 90% PS&E 36 days Thu 9/25/25 Fri 11/14/25 3250 Submit 90% PS&E 1 day Mon 11/17/25 Mon 11/17/25 4951 DDW/City/Calwater Review Period 10 days Tue 11/18/25 Thu 12/4/25 5052 Prepare 100% PS&E 35 days Fri 12/5/25 Fri 1/30/26 5157 Submit 100% PS&E 1 day Mon 2/2/26 Mon 2/2/26 5658 DDW/City/Calwater Review Period 5 days Tue 2/3/26 Mon 2/9/26 5759 Prepare Final Bid Package 1 day Tue 2/10/26 Tue 2/10/26 5860 Bid Phase (35 days) 5 wks Wed 2/11/26 Wed 3/18/26 5961 City Council Award 0 days Wed 3/18/26 Wed 3/18/26 6062 Construction Phase (60 calendar days) 8 wks Thu 3/19/26 Wed 5/13/26 6163 DDW Permit Amendment 60 days Thu 2/19/26 Wed 5/13/26 4364 Submit Final Operations Plan 5 days Thu 2/19/26 Wed 2/25/26 4365 City Prepare Permit Amendment 5 days Thu 2/26/26 Wed 3/4/26 6466 DDW Review Period 10 days Thu 3/5/26 Wed 3/18/26 6567 DDW Site Inspection 5 days Thu 4/23/26 Wed 4/29/26 62FS-15 days68 DDW Permit Approval 10 days Thu 4/30/26 Wed 5/13/26 67 Site Visit No. 1 4/9
Kickoff Meeting 4/9
Data Collection & Review 4/21
Submit Draft PDR 6/26
City Review Period 7/11
Submit Final PDR 1/30
Coordination Meeting with DDW 7/29
Calwater Provide Current Water Quality 8/18
Submit RSSCT Protocol 8/19
DDW/City/Calwater Review Period 9/3
RSSCT Protocol Approved 9/24
Collect Water Sample 9/29
Lab Perform RSSCT 1/2
Submit Final Report for New Treatment 1/26
DDW/City/Calwater Review Period 2/9
Finalize New Treatment Report 2/17
Treatment Media Approved 2/18
Submit 90% PS&E 11/17
DDW/City/Calwater Review Period 12/4
Submit 100% PS&E 2/2
DDW/City/Calwater Review Period 2/9
Prepare Final Bid Package 2/10
Bid Phase (35 days) 3/18
City Council Award 3/18
Construction Phase (60 calendar days) 5/13
Submit Final Operations Plan 2/25
City Prepare Permit Amendment 3/4
DDW Review Period 3/18
DDW Site Inspection 4/29
DDW Permit Approval 5/13
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Qtr 2, 2024 Qtr 3, 2024 Qtr 4, 2024 Qtr 1, 2025 Qtr 2, 2025 Qtr 3, 2025 Qtr 4, 2025 Qtr 1, 2026 Qtr 2, 2026 Qtr 3, 2026 City of Bakersfield
L-208 Well Treatment
Project Schedule

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 24, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreement TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Kristina Budak, Water Director
DATE: September 10, 2025
SUBJECT: Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 2024-188 with Crider Construction Inc. (to increase compensation by $200,000; revised not to exceed $500,000) to provide On Call Wastewater Maintenance Services for the Wastewater Division.

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommend approval of amendment.

BACKGROUND:

The Wastewater Division requires maintenance and repair services beyond the expertise of City Staff.

These services include, but are not limited to, the repair, replacement, and installation of pumps, pipelines, and equipment associated with critical systems such as the tertiary treatment system, ferric chloride system, and primary and secondary clarifiers, along with other essential plant infrastructure.

On June 26, 2024, City entered into Agreement 2024-188 with Crider Construction Inc. to provide On-Call Wastewater Maintenance Services for the Wastewater Division. Since the execution of the agreement, the Division has scheduled a range of maintenance and repair work, including repairs to the headworks conveyor system, replacement of flare insulation and burner tips, replacement of the primary clarifier skimmer arms, maintenance of the sodium hypochlorite tank, and numerous other repairs and improvements.

At this time, given the increased need for repair and maintenance services to support ongoing operations and ensure the reliability of critical wastewater infrastructure, staff recommend increasing compensation by $200,000, for a revised total not to exceed $500,000. This adjustment will allow the Division to continue addressing essential maintenance, emergency repairs, and other necessary system improvements without interruption to service.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Sufficient funds are budgeted in the Sewer Enterprise Fund for this amendment, therefore, there is no impact to the City General Fund associated with this amendment.

COUNCIL GOAL:

Reliable Infrastructure
ATTACHMENTS:

1. Amendment No. 1

2. Exhibit B

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 24, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreement TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Kristina Budak, Water Director
DATE: September 10, 2025
SUBJECT: Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 2024-189 with GSE Construction Company, Inc. (to increase compensation by $500,000; revised not to exceed $800,000) to provide On Call Wastewater Maintenance for the Wastewater Division.

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommend approval of amendment.

BACKGROUND:

The Wastewater Division requires maintenance and repair services beyond the expertise of City Staff.

These services include, but are not limited to, the repair, replacement, and installation of pumps, pipelines, and equipment associated with critical systems such as the tertiary treatment system, ferric chloride system, and primary and secondary clarifiers, along with other essential plant infrastructure.

On June 26, 2024, City entered into Agreement 2024-189 with GSE Construction Company, Inc. to provide On-Call Wastewater Maintenance for the Wastewater Division. Since the execution of the agreement, the Division has scheduled a range of maintenance and repair work, including repairs on the grit classifiers, dewatering sludge conveyor repair and removal, replacement of the headworks flow meter, pipe repairs from the trickling filters to the secondaries, along with numerous other repairs and improvements.

At this time, given the increased need for repair and maintenance services to support ongoing operations and ensure the reliability of critical wastewater infrastructure, staff recommend increasing compensation by $500,000, for a revised total not to exceed $800,000. This adjustment will allow the Division to continue addressing essential maintenance, emergency repairs, and other necessary system improvements without interruption to service.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Sufficient funds are budgeted in the Sewer Enterprise Fund for this amendment, therefore, there is no impact to the City General Fund associated with this amendment.

COUNCIL GOAL:

Reliable Infrastructure
ATTACHMENTS:

1. Amendment No. 1

2. Exhibit B

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 24, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Zachary Meyer, Public Works Director
DATE: September 5, 2025
SUBJECT: Contract Change order No. 2 to Agreement No. 24-090 with High-Light Electric Inc. (additional compensation of $22,542.85; revised not-to-exceed $690,397.08) for the Adaptive Signal Coordination Mt Vernon Avenue between Bernard Street and Panorama Drive. (Ward 3)
RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends approval of the change order.

BACKGROUND:

The work to be performed for this project consists of installation of conduit, fiberoptic cable, modems, networking equipment, monitoring cameras, other fiber optic equipment, and surge suppression equipment along Mt. Vernon Avenue between Bernard Street and Panorama Drive.

Change Order No. 2 provides for repairs to existing conduits that were determined to be unusable. To prevent further delays to the project the Project Engineer elected to install wireless communication units instead ofsubmitting an Encroachment Permit application to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and then excavating to make the necessary repairs to the conduits. The contractor agrees to furnish and install two wireless devices and make necessary connections for a lump sum price of $6,295.36.

This Change Order also provides for additional fiber splicing required to allow the adaptive interconnect system to communicate with the Traffic Control Center. The contractor agrees to do the above-mentioned work for a lump sum price of $648.09.

Additionally, in order to construct the project per the plans and specifications, there were several contract item quantities that had to be either increased or decreased. These item adjustments will result in a net increase of $15,599.40.

FISCAL IMPACT:

State and Federal Road Funds remain available in the budget to cover this change order; therefore, there is no impact to the City’s General Fund
The Total construction cost increase for Contract Change Order No.2 is $22,542.85. This is the final change order for this project, and the project has been completed. This final change order reflects a total project cost increase of 26,620.08 (4.0% increase to the original contract amount) as illustrated below:

Original Contract Amount = $ 663,777.00
Total of Previous Change order approved by council
contingency
=
$ 4,077.23
Current Contract change order = $ 22,542.85
Amended Contract Amount after Change order = $ 690,397.08 Net Increase to Date = $ 26,620.08
COUNCIL GOAL:

Reliable Infrastructure
ATTACHMENTS:

1. Contract Change Order No. 2

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 24, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Zachary Meyer, Public Works Director
DATE: September 5, 2025
SUBJECT: Contract Change Order No. 2 to Agreement No. 2024-298 with Cen-Cal Construction ($35,900.40 revised not to exceed $744,745.61) for the pedestrian safety improvements of Old Farm Road and Morning Drive (Wards 3 & 4).

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends approval of the change order.

BACKGROUND:

The work to be performed consists, in general, of installing in-pavement Flashing System near Norris Elementary School and Stiern Middle school. The Project also consists of pedestrian crossing markings modifications, and construction of pedestrian access ramps.

Change Order No. 2 provides for the installation of six (6) additional access tiles in the Type A pedestrian passageway at Old Farm Rd. These additional tiles are required in order to comply with Caltrans Standard A88A. The contractor agrees to provide the additional ADA truncated domes for the lump sum price of $1,924.61.

Following the redesign of the southeast corner of Morning Drive and College Avenue, the City inspector determined that the new location of the combined flashing pedestrian push button pole was not easily accessible to pedestrians. To ensure accessibility, an additional pedestrian push button pole must be installed. The contractor agrees to do the above-mentioned work for the lump sum price of $988.02.

Additionally, in order to construct the project per the plans and specifications, there were several contract quantities that had to be either increased or decreased. These item adjustments will result in a net increase of $32,987.77.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This project is funded by the Highway Safety Improvements Program (HSIP), Gas Tax, and Public Safety & Vital Services Measure (PSVS). Sufficient funds are budgeted to cover the cost of this change order. Thus no impact to the City’s General Funds.

The total construction cost increase for Contract Change Order No. 2 is $35,900.40. This is the final change order for this project, and the project has been completed. This final change order reflects a total project cost increase of $65,420.61 (9.6% increase to the original contract amount) as illustrated below:

Original Contract Amount = $ 679,325.00
Total of Previous Change order approved by council
contingency
= $ 29,520.21
Current Contract change order = $ 35,900.40
Amended Contract Amount after Change order = $ 744,745.61 Net Increase to Date = $ 65,420.61
COUNCIL GOAL:

Reliable Infrastructure
Safety and Resilience
ATTACHMENTS:

Contract Change Order No. 2

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 24, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent-Bids TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Zachary Meyer, Public Works Director
DATE: September 5, 2025
SUBJECT: Sewer Lift Station Rehabilitation at Fairfax Road and Paladino Drive.

1. Accept bid and approve contract with GSE Construction Company ($2,265,800.00) for said project.

2. Authorize staff to approve, as necessary, up to $150,000.00 in City-controlled contingency for unforeseen conditions encountered during construction of the project. (Ward 3)
RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends acceptance of the bid, approval of contract, and approval of City-controlled contingency.

BACKGROUND:

The work to be performed consists, in general, of the rehabilitation of an existing lift station, referred to herein as the Fairfax/Paladino Lift Station. The Fairfax/Paladino Lift Station is located 300 feet north of the intersection of Fairfax Road and Paladino Drive. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to: the installation and maintaining of temporary bypass pumping; construction of short lengths of new sewer lines and force main; demolition of and reconstruction of the Fairfax/Paladino Lift Station complete with all appurtenances; construction of lift station site improvements such as grading, aggregate base surfacing and paving; masonry walls and retaining walls; chain link fencing; furnishing and installing all electrical and electrical standby system items and coordination with the applicable utility companies; testing and adjusting of equipment, and all other items necessary to complete the project as specified.

Item No. 1. This project is funded through Sewer Enterprise Funds (SEF). The Engineer’s Estimate for this project was $2,192,000.00.

On August 28, 2025, the City received four (4) bids for this project. Two (2) of the four (4) bids were deemed non-responsive. Two of the four bids were deemed acceptable. The acceptable bids are as follows:

GSE Construction Company
7633 Southfront Rd., Ste 160
Livermore, CA 94551
in the amount of $2,265,800.00
HPS Mechanical, Inc.
3100 E Belle Terrace
Bakersfield, CA 93307
in the amount of $2,493,659.88
Staff recommends acceptance of the bids and approval of the construction contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, GSE Construction Company.

Item No. 2. Bakersfield Municipal Code section 3.20.105(E) authorizes Public Works Contract Amendments to be executed via Change Order, provided that Change Orders which exceed $10,000 must be approved by the City Council. Staff is requesting pre-approval of up to $150,000 for City-controlled contingency for unforeseen conditions encountered during construction of this project, to be executed via authorized Change Order(s). Any costs which exceed the City Council approved contingency, cumulative or otherwise, would require action and approval from the City Council. This City-controlled contingency will save staff time by not having to prepare multiple Council reports for individual routine change orders throughout the project, should they arise. All remaining contingency funds not used will be returned to the fund balance at the end of the project.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This project is funded with Sewer Enterprise Funds; therefore, there is no impact to the City General Fund.

There are sufficient funds in this project (25PWDE07) to award the contract, pay for construction engineering, and City controlled contingency.

COUNCIL GOAL:

Reliable Infrastructure
ATTACHMENTS:

Signed Construction Project Agreement.

Dennis Gutierrez
President

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 24, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Miscellaneous TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney
DATE: September 12, 2025
SUBJECT: Acknowledgment of budgetary exception to enterprise fund. [Document Description]
RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends Council acknowledge/approve budgetary exception to enterprise fund.

BACKGROUND:

The City Attorney desires to flex one of its attorneys from a Deputy City Attorney I to a Deputy City Attorney II. The individual has demonstrated exceptional performance over the last evaluation period (September 2024-2025) which includes legal work that has resulted in over $235,000 savings to the City.

This type of “flex” promotion does not typically go to City Council; rather, it is normally recommended and approved by the relevant department head with input from human resources. However, during the most recent City budget cycle, the City Manager announced a hiring freeze of certain positions. This generally includes flexed positions; therefore, the City Attorney and Water Resources Director felt it appropriate to get Council consent for the budget exception. In this case, the particular attorney counts as a position on the City Attorney’s compliment, yet is assigned to the Water Department and thus, has a salary budgeted under the Water department enterprise fund. Accordingly, awarding a flex in this instance will not impact the General Fund and will continue to be allocated to the enterprise fund which has future water rates to cover the increase in annual salary of $11,350.00 or approximately $2,800 through the end of this fiscal year.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Fiscal impact is noted above in the background.

COUNCIL GOAL:

Innovative and Efficient City Government
ATTACHMENTS:

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 24, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent Calendar Public Hearings TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jennifer M. Byers, Economic & Community Development Director DATE: September 19, 2025
SUBJECT: Public Hearing to consider Action Plan Amendment to HUD Action Plan Fiscal Year 2025- 26 Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Amendment No.1: Transfer funds from New Construction Assistance ($1,205,825.33 HOME), FY24-25 CHDO Set Aside ($214,187 HOME), FY 25-26 CHDO Set Aside ($223,873 HOME), and FY 25-26 Additional Program Income ($956,114.67) for a total allocation of $2,600,000 for the Eye Street Project (Ward 2)
RECOMMENDATION:

City staff recommends the approval of the Action Plan Amendment.

BACKGROUND:

City receives annual entitlement funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annually through the submission of an Action Plan, which describes all HUD-funded projects and activities to be undertaken with HUD funds and how they meet community housing, homelessness, and community and economic development needs. Each Action Plan is tied to the funding of the Fiscal Year (FY) in which the grant funds were received by the City of Bakersfield. The addition of a new project to an Action Plan requires staff to process a Substantial Amendment including a 30-day public notice period.

Staff is proposing a Substantial Amendment for the HOME Improvement Partnership Program (HOME) grant, which is part of the City’s annual HUD Action Plan process.

Additionally, the City of Bakersfield receives an annual entitlement of HOME funds to invest in quality affordable housing for low-income residents.

On April 18, 2025, the City distributed a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the development of affordable housing through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF), which included HOME funds as a funding source. The requested amendment will add the following project submitted by the Housing Authority of the County of Kern:
- 1302 Eye Street Apartments: HOME funds would be used to develop a 16-unit affordable housing complex located at 1302 Eye Street (APN No. 006-412-05). The Proposed amendment would commit $2,600,000 in HOME funding from the FY 25-26 Action Plan.

Public Notice:

A public notice for this Action Plan Amendment was published in English in the Bakersfield Californian, and in Spanish in El Popular on August 22, 2025, initiating a 30-day public comment period and providing a 30-day notice of the public hearing. As of the date of this report, no comments have been received. Staff concludes the proposed Action Plan Amendment meets all regulatory and public noticing requirements and recommends Council approve the Amendment. If approved, staff will amend the Action Plan to incorporate the 1302 Eye Street Affordable Housing Project.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The total City contribution is from HOME Funds in $2,600,000 to the 1302 Eye Street affordable housing project has already been allocated toward the development of new affordable housing and is an approved HUD activity in the FY 2025-26 HUD Action Plan. Therefore, there will be no fiscal impact to the City General Fund because these are all Federal Entitlement funds as a result of this Amendment.

COUNCIL GOAL:

Safety and Resilience
WARD: 2
ATTACHMENT:

Summary of Action Plan Amendment
Summary of Action Plan Amendments
AMENDMENT NO. 1 FY 25/26 ACTION PLAN – M-25-MC-06-0503
Project Title & Description
Project ID
Activity Code/
Citations/Nat./Obj.

Budgeted
Amount of
Funds
Budget
Changes
Revised Total
Funding

ADD/INCREASE
1301 Eye Street Affordable Housing
Golden Empire Affordable Housing, Inc.
(GEAHI) to develop sixteen (16) units of
affordable housing for extremely lowincome households 30-50%AMI. 11 Construction of
Housing

92.205(a)(1)
$0 +$2,600,000.00 $2,600,000.00
REDUCE
New Construction Assistance FY 25-26
Provide funding for housing development
costs associated with the acquisition
and/or construction of affordable housing.
11 Construction of
Housing

92.205(a)(1)
$1,205,825.33 -$1,205,825.33 $0
CHDO FY 24-25 Set Aside
Loans and/or grants to develop, acquire,
rehabilitate, and/or construct affordable
single or multi-family housing. Project to
be implemented by a qualified Community
Housing Development Organization
(CHDO).
14 Construction of
Housing

92.205(a)(1)
$214,187.00 -$214,187.00 $0
CHDO FY 25-26 Set Aside
Loans and/or grants to develop, acquire,
rehabilitate, and/or construct affordable
single or multi-family housing. Project to
be implemented by a qualified Community
Housing Development Organization
(CHDO).
12 Construction of
Housing

92.205(a)(1)
$223,873.00 -$223,873.00 $0
Additional Program Income FY 25-26
Provide funding for costs associated with
the acquisition and/or development of
affordable housing.

AP-15 Expected
Resources

91.220(c) (1, 2)
$1,459,603.97 -$956,114.67 $503,489.30

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 24, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent Public Hearing TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Kristina Budak
DATE: September 11, 2025
SUBJECT: Public hearing to consider resolution adopting sewer connection fees for Fiscal Year 2025-26. [Document Description]
RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends adoption of the resolution.

BACKGROUND:

Per the Bakersfield Municipal Code Section 14.12.380, the City Council shall annually establish, by resolution, fees sufficient to recover the City’s reasonable costs of providing sewer connection services, which include the costs associated with and necessitated by the upgrading and expansion of sewer facilities.

Connection fees are a one-time fee assessed by City and paid at the time a building permit fee is paid.

Connection fees were thoroughly evaluated as part of the Sewer Rates & Connection Fees Study which was completed in March 2022. In line with the study recommendations and the construction cost index as of July 2025, staff is recommending a 4.33% increase for connection fees for Fiscal Year 2025-26.

The recommended 4.33% increase will have a net effect of increasing the connection fee for a singlefamily residence from $6,947 to $7,248 and increasing the commercial connection fee from $278 to $329.50 per fixture unit. Significant industrial users, as defined by the Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 § 403.3, will be charged the per unit costs based on their specific flow, biochemical oxygen demand, and total suspended solids.

City staff met with stakeholders to discuss the sewer connection fees for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and received positive feedback in regard to the proposed increase, which upon Council approval will take effect October 1, 2025.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The fees collected will be allocated to the Sewer Enterprise Fund, therefore there is no impact to the General Fund associated with this resolution.

COUNCIL GOAL:

Reliable Infrastructure
ATTACHMENTS:

1. Resolution

2. Exhibit A
- Page 1 of 2 Pages -
RESOLUTION NO. _________
WHEREAS, Chapter 14.12.380 of the Bakersfield Municipal Code (BMC) authorizes the establishment each fiscal year of sewer connection fees sufficient for the City to recover reasonable costs of providing sewer connection services, which include the costs associated with and necessitated by the upgrading and expansion of sewer facilities; and
WHEREAS, a Sewer Rates & Connection Fees Study was completed in March 2022 in which the reasonable costs of providing sewer service were evaluated; and
WHEREAS, in line with recommendations of the study and in consideration of the construction cost index increases as of July 2025, City staff is proposing increases to the existing sewer connection fees; and
WHEREAS, the sewer connection fees set forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein, do not exceed the reasonable estimated costs of providing the services for which the fees are charged; and WHEREAS, the fees shall be due and payable upon application for a building permit or permit to connect an existing building to the City sewer system; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 66016, the City noticed a hearing for September 24, 2025, regarding the setting of the new connection fees.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Bakersfield as follows:

1. The above recitals and findings are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference.

2. The Sewer Connection Fees under Section 14.12.380 of the Bakersfield Municipal Code are hereby adopted and shall become effective on the dates and in the amounts set forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto.
----------o0o----------

A RESOLUTION ADOPTING SEWER CONNECTION FEES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 14.12.380 OF THE

BAKERSFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE
- Page 2 of 2 Pages -
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on ________, by the following vote:

AYES: COUNCILMEMBER: ARIAS, GONZALES, WEIR, SMITH, KOMAN, BASHIRTASH, KAUR NOES: COUNCIL MEMBER ______________________________________________________________ ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBER ______________________________________________________________ ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER_______________________________________________________________

____________________________________

JULIE DRIMAKIS, MMC
CITY CLERK and Ex Officio Clerk
of the Council of the City of Bakersfield

APPROVED
_________________________

KAREN GOH
Mayor of the City of Bakersfield
APPROVED as to form:

VIRGINIA GENNARO
City Attorney
By: _________________________

MATTHEW COLLOM
Deputy City Attorney I
EXHIBITS: A – Sewer Connections Fees

SEWER CONNECTION FEES
s:\a-rev\resolutions\2025-2026\sewer connection fees\exhibit a - fy 25.26 sewer connection fees_draft.docx EXHIBIT A - page 1 of 2

1. CONNECTION CHARGES
All new connections or new fixture units connected to the City sewer system will require payment of a sewer connection charge. Any individual, firm, company or corporation making such connection shall pay the charge at the time the building permit is issued in accordance with the following:

Effective Date
Single Family
Dwelling
Multiple Family
Dwellings/ADUs
Dwellings with
14 or less
Fixture Units (A)
Per Fixture Unit
for Commercial
(B)
Current $6,947 $5,002 $4,420 $278
10/01/2025 $7,248 $5,218 $4,613 $329.50
(A) Single-family dwellings, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or units in multiple family dwellings with 14 or less fixture units (including shared fixtures in multiple until complexes) as per California Building Code.
(B) Equivalency factor shall be 1.0 for all uses excepting markets, mortuaries, restaurants/ coffee shops, food service shops and bakeries, which uses shall have an equivalency factor of 2.0.

To determine the total connection charge, multiply the number of fixture units (as per California Plumbing Code) by the per fixture charge and that answer by the equivalency multiplier.

The equivalency multiplier adjusts for loadings greater or less than the residential loadings.
(C) The connection fee for a car wash business is calculated by multiplying the connection fee for a single-family dwelling by two (2) for each car wash bay.

SEWER CONNECTION FEES
s:\a-rev\resolutions\2025-2026\sewer connection fees\exhibit a - fy 25.26 sewer connection fees_draft.docx EXHIBIT A - p. 2 of 2
(D) Significant Industrial Dischargers use the following measurement to calculate connection charges:

Flow $28/gallons per day
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) $1,500/ pounds per day
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) $769/ pounds per day

2. TIMING AND BASIS
The sewer connection charge is to be paid prior to issuance of a building permit, and will be based on the current adopted charges at the time of issuance of the permit.

Fixture Units shall be as defined in the California Plumbing Code.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 24, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Hearings TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Phillip Burns, Development Services Director
DATE: September 19, 2025
SUBJECT: Public hearing to consider Planning Commission’s approval of General Plan Amendment to update the 6th Cycle Housing Element and its proposed Notice of Exemption.

The City of Bakersfield is proposing a General Plan Amendment to update the Housing Element. This Request includes:

1. Resolution adopting a General Plan Amendment to update the 6th cycle Housing Element 2023-2031 for the City of Bakersfield and its Notice of Exemption.

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends adoption of the resolution.

BACKGROUND:

The project is a request by the City of Bakersfield, proposing a General Plan Amendment to update the Housing Element. Specifically, Staff requests:

1. Resolution adopting a General Plan Amendment to update the 6th cycle Housing Element 2023-2031 for the City of Bakersfield and its Notice of Exemption The Housing Element identifies existing and projected housing needs within the community and establishes policies, programs, and actions to accommodate the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). Certification of the Housing Element by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is required to ensure the City remains in compliance with State housing law and retains access to important funding opportunities.

The City submitted its initial draft Housing Element to HCD on June 22, 2023, and has since worked through multiple rounds of review and revisions in response to HCD comments. Subsequent drafts were submitted on May 20, 2024, October 24, 2024, and most recently on July 10, 2025. The current draft reflects extensive revisions to address HCD’s feedback. HCD has provided a letter dated August 8, 2025, stating the revised draft meets the statutory requirements as described in their most recent review dated December 23, 2024. However, the Housing Element will not be considered in substantial compliance with State law until the City Council formally adopts the most recent draft and it is certified by HCD. Upon certification, the 6th cycle Housing Element will provide a comprehensive policy framework to guide housing production, preservation, and affordability throughout the 2023–2031 planning period.

Project Summary:

Housing Element Law. Since 1969, California has required that all local governments (cities and counties) adequately plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in the community. Cities and Counties meet this requirement by adopting Housing Elements as part of their “General Plan”, also required by the state.

California’s Housing Element Law acknowledges that, in order for the private market to adequately address the housing needs and demand of Californians, Cities and Counties must adopt plans and regulatory systems that provide opportunities for, and do not unduly constrain, housing development. As a result, housing policy in California rests largely on the effective implementation of local General Plans and, in particular, local Housing Elements.

General Plan Housing Element. Updating the Housing Element is one of the most critical responsibilities of local governments in California, as it ensures that jurisdictions plan for the housing needs of individuals and families who live, work, and play in their communities. At the same time, the process can be complex and resource-intensive. Compliance with Housing Element law is also tied to eligibility for numerous State and federal funding programs related to housing, transportation, and infrastructure. In some cases, jurisdictions must have a certified Housing Element to access funds. In others, while certification is not a strict requirement, jurisdictions with a compliant Housing Element receive additional points in the competitive scoring process, significantly improving their chances of securing funding.

Bakersfield’s 5th Cycle Housing Element. Housing cycles operate within eight-year intervals. Bakersfield's Housing Element for the period spanning 2015 to 2023 was formulated in strict accordance with the provisions outlined in the State's General Plan law pertaining to Housing Elements. This comprehensive document underwent a thorough review process and was officially adopted by the City Council on January 20, 2016. Subsequently, it received formal certification from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on February 16, 2016.

Bakersfield’s 6th Cycle Housing Element. The City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element, covering the 2023–2031 planning period, was due to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on December 31, 2023. The first draft was submitted on June 22, 2023, which initiated HCD’s 90-day review period. The HCD review process is comprehensive, and City staff, in coordination with the City’s consultant Rincon Consultants, have worked diligently to address comments and prepare revisions. Since the initial submittal, the City has provided additional drafts on May 20, 2024; October 24, 2024; and most recently on July 10, 2025, each reflecting updates made in response to HCD’s feedback.

Since the Housing Element was not certified by the statutory deadline of December 31, 2023, the City has remained out of compliance with State housing law. Until certification is secured, Bakersfield is subject to State enforcement measures and may face reduced eligibility for certain housing and infrastructure funding programs. Staff continues to work closely with HCD and has provided the requested resolutions for the rezones and is waiting for a response from HCD which will resolve the outstanding issues with the goal of achieving certification and restoring compliance.

Regional Housing Needs Allocation. State law requires that every Housing Element include an inventory of land suitable and available for residential development, based on land use designations, zoning, and other factors. This inventory of land must meet the jurisdiction’s share of the regional housing mandate called the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). The RHNA is based on population projections, income distribution, and access to jobs, developed through a methodology by KernCOG. For the 6th Cycle Housing Element (2023-2031), the City of Bakersfield is tasked with creating a land inventory that can accommodate 37,461 housing units in the next eight years. Table 1 compares the 5th Cycle and 6th Cycle RHNA allocations for each jurisdiction in the region.

Table 1 – KernCOG RHNA Allocations
Jurisdiction
5 th Cycle
Allocation
(2015-2023)
6 th Cycle
Allocation
(2023-2031)
# Increase
# Decrease
% Increase
% Decrease
Overall % of 6th
Cycle Allocation
Unincorporated
County Areas
21,583 9,243 -12,340 -57.2% 16.0%
Arvin 1,168 1,174 6 0.5% 2.0%
Bakersfield 36,290 37,461 1,171 3.2% 65.0%
California City 1,268 427 -841 -66.3% 0.7%
Delano 1,462 1,866 404 27.6% 3.2%
Maricopa 35 13 -22 -62.9% 0.0%
McFarland 311 244 -67 -21.5% 0.4%
Ridgecrest 1,346 1,436 90 6.7% 2.5%
Shafter 2,036 3,294 1,258 61.8% 5.7%
Taft 254 504 250 98.4% 0.9%
Tehachapi 496 902 406 81.9% 1.6%
Wasco 1,426 1,086 -340 -23.8% 1.9%
Total Kern County 67,675 57,650 -10,025 -14.8%
Source: KernCOG 5th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation Plan June 2015-December 2023 KernCOG 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation Plan June 2023-December 2031 PROJECT ANALYSIS:

The City of Bakersfield is required to plan for 37,461 new housing units during the 6th Cycle Housing Element (2023–2031), as allocated by the Kern Council of Governments through the RHNA. To meet this obligation, the Housing Element identifies a “Sites Inventory” comprised of vacant and underutilized parcels that can reasonably accommodate residential development during the planning period. The inventory prioritizes infill development, corridor revitalization, and sites located near transit, schools, employment centers, and other community resources.

Housing Element Update Components.

The proposed 2023-2031 Housing Element Update includes the following components, as required by State law:
 Review of the previous Housing Element: This section reviews the results of the goals, policies, and programs adopted in the previous Housing Element and compares projected outcomes with actual achieved results.
 Housing Needs Assessment: This section reviews the existing and projected housing needs of the community. It provides a profile of socio-demographic information, such as population characteristics, household information, housing stock, tenure, and housing affordability. The assessment also considers local special housing needs, such as seniors, farmworkers, homeless, large households, and female-headed households.
 Resources and Inventory of Adequate Sites. This section provides resources and an inventory of adequate sites that are suitably zoned, or appropriate for rezoning or annexation, and available within the planning period to meet the jurisdiction’s fair share of regional housing needs across all income levels.
 Governmental and Nongovernmental Constraints. This section identifies and analyzes impediments to housing production across all income levels.  Fair Housing Assessment. This section provides a summary of contributing factors that serve as barriers to fair housing choice and access to opportunities in Bakersfield.  Housing Plan. This section provides a statement of the community’s goals, quantified objectives, and policies to maintain, preserve, improve, and develop housing. It also provides a schedule of meaningful actions to be taken during the planning period to achieve the goals, objectives, and policies. It includes quantified objectives for new construction, rehabilitation, and conserved units by income category (i.e., very low, low-moderate, and above-moderate) to make sure that both the existing and the projected housing needs are met, consistent with the City’s share of the RHNA.

REZONING:

To ensure sufficient capacity for housing development across all income levels, the City’s strategy includes rezoning 333 sites to increase allowable residential densities to also allow higher density housing where appropriate. Rezoning efforts are focused on areas with existing or planned infrastructure and community services, including the Downtown Bakersfield High-Speed Rail Station Area, Old Town Kern, Chester Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and other major corridors. This approach promotes infill development, reduces urban sprawl, and increases opportunities for mixed-income and transit-oriented housing throughout the city.

HCD’s August 8, 2025, letter requested documentation of the City’s recent rezones. In response, staff provided the approved ordinances of the two rezoning actions by the City Council on April 24, 2024, and July 24, 2024.

PUBLIC OUTREACH:

Public engagement has been central to the Housing Element update process. The City conducted an extensive outreach effort that included a project-specific website (Bakersfield2045.com), a housing needs survey, housing sites survey, community workshops, stakeholder interviews, and public meetings. In total the City hosted 64 outreach events and surveyed 4,500+ residents to gather community input.

To reach the largest and broadest spectrum of community members and stakeholders, Bakersfield utilized the following notification methods throughout the Housing Element update process:
 The project was covered in the Kern County Farm Bureau E-Newsletter and in various local media outlets including KGET-17, 23ABC, Bakersfield.com, and KERO 23 ABC News.  Regular posts to the City’s social media accounts, including Facebook and Instagram, announcing project website launch, survey, and a housing sites survey tool, public meetings, and release of the Draft Housing Element for public review.
 Broadcasts on the local public access television station.  Email lists of community and advocacy groups, non-profits, faith-based organizations, schoolbased organizations, mobile home park associations, homeowners associations, disability advocates and neighborhood groups to provide outreach and regular updates on the project. In addition, the City is maintaining an “interested parties” list for those who have requested regular updates about the General Plan update.
 The City developed flyers in English and Spanish advertising the project. Specifically, the City developed and circulated a bilingual, introductory flyer informing residents about the Housing Element, the need for adequate housing in Bakersfield, how to plan for new housing, types of housing, a project schedule, and contact information. More than 1,300 flyers were distributed to government facilities and pop-up events.

Key themes raised by the community included the need for more affordable housing, a greater variety of housing types, expanded education on tenant rights and resources, and equitable distribution of housing opportunities across all neighborhoods. Community members also emphasized the importance of limiting sprawl, focusing on infill, and locating housing near transit and services. This feedback directly shaped the Sites Inventory, rezoning priorities, and the policy framework included in the Housing Element.

The Housing Element was revised per HCD and public comment and released for public review for seven days from June 6 to June 13, 2025. The City posted the revised Housing Element on the project website and emailed the list of interested parties. Two comment letters were received during public comment period, one letter in support by the Builders Association and the other letter was from the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability (LCJA), requesting additional changes to programs. The City revised Action 4.1 and 2.4 according to revisions suggested by LCJA.

The formulation of the 2023-2031 Housing Element continues to be a process characterized by robust public engagement. This approach ensures that the document accurately reflects the insights and perspectives of the community.

Environmental Review and Determination:

CEQA. Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), also known as the “general rule” or “common sense” exemption, CEQA exempts activities that can be seen with certainty to have no possibility for causing a significant effect on the environment. The CEQA Guidelines state in that section that “A project is exempt from CEQA if… [T]he activity is covered by common sense that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.”
The proposed project involves adoption of a policy document and does not in and of itself include any proposed development. The proposed project does not propose or approve any physical development.

The proposed project will not result in changes to the physical environment, nor will it result in potential environmental impacts. To ensure adequate factual support for the common sense exemption, an Initial Study (included in the attachments) was completed analyzing each area of potential impact. The Initial Study determined no environmental impacts would result from approval of the proposed project.

Therefore, the proposed project meets the criteria for the common sense exemption.

Public Notification:

Public notice for the proposed project and environmental determination was advertised in The Bakersfield Californian. All property owners within a 300-foot radius of the project site typically receive mailing notices of the public hearing. However, if the number of owners exceeds one thousand, as is the case with this proposal, in lieu of mailed notice, notice may be provided by placing a display advertisement of at least one-eighth page in the newspaper ten days prior to the hearing. This notification process adheres to both city ordinance and state law. Additionally, on September 19, 2025, hearing notices were direct emailed to community organizations that represent various housing interests and economic segments of the community. As of this writing, no written comments have been received.

In adherence to the provisions outlined in Senate Bill 18 (SB 18), formal correspondence was mailed on June 22, 2023 notifying the American Indian Tribes of the details pertaining to the Housing Element Update project. The issuance of this notice signifies the initiation of the 90-day consultation period mandated by SB 18. As of this writing, no formal request for tribal consultation has been received.

Planning Commission Action:

This project was considered by the Planning Commission on September 4, 2025. Following staff’s presentation, three individuals spoke in opposition to the project. Emma De La Rosa stated that the document is vaguely written and relies too much on political motivation to accomplish goals and policies.

Wendel Wesley Jr. said there is not enough affordable housing and the City’s infrastructure needs improvement. Emprezz Nontzikelelo raised concern about high density in high crime areas will create more crime. Following deliberations, the Planning Commission voted in favor of the project and recommended approval to the City Council. The Planning Commission’s findings are contained in Resolution No. 45-25.

Subsequent to the Planning Commission’s decision, staff met with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) regarding steps to achieve substantial compliance with the Housing Element. HCD has requested that the City adopt an ordinance providing for by-right approval of rezoned sites when a minimum of 20 percent of the units are reserved for lower-income households, provided the development meets a minimum density of 20 units per acre and complies with all applicable standards pursuant to Government Code section 65583.2, subdivisions (h) and (i), as required in the Housing Element. In response, staff has incorporated language in the attached resolution for the Council’s consideration that it will follow up with the ordinance at a later time.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No fiscal impact to the City General Fund with the proposed Housing Element update. Any future development as a result will be subject to the appropriate application processing fees that have been determined to be sufficient to cover all operational expenses related to processing projects.

COUNCIL GOAL:

Community Character & Quality of Life
Economic Opportunity for All
Reliable Infrastructure
ATTACHMENTS:

1. CC Ordinance

2. Bakersfield Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element 2023-2031

3. CEQA Memo

4. HCD Letter, dated August 8, 2025

5. PC Staff Report

6. PC Memo

7. PC Resolution

RESOLUTION NO. _____________

RESOLUTION OF THE BAKERSFIELD CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING
AMENDMENT TO THE 6th CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT 2023-2031 OF THE

METROPOLITAN BAKERSFIELD GENERAL PLAN AND DIRECTING THE

PLANNING DIRECTOR TO TRANSMIT THE ADOPTED HOUSING ELEMENT

TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT.

WHEREAS, State Housing Element Law (Government Code Sections 65580 et seq.) requires that the City of Bakersfield City Council adopt an amendment to the Housing Element of the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan for the updated 6th Cycle 2023-2031 planning period (the “Project”); and
WHEREAS, the City has prepared the Project and has identified sites that can accommodate housing units meeting the City’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA); and
WHEREAS, in order to comply with the City’s housing share under RHNA and carry out the Project, City Council approved two ordinances (Ordinance No. 5176: April 24, 2024 and Ordinance No. 5178: July 24, 2024) to rezone approximately 1,211 acres of vacant property in order to allow possible future residential development, pursuant to Government Code Section 65583(c)(1)(A); and
WHEREAS, the Project includes Section 2.2, Program 7, which directs the City to amend its zoning code to allow by-right pursuant to Government Code Section 65583.2 (c) (h) and (i) when 20% or more of the residential units are affordable to low and very-low income households for sites identified on previous Housing Element sites inventories and sites identified to address a shortfall of capacity to accommodate the regional housing need, as identified in Attachment A of Appendix E to the Project. City will comply with said requirements, as of the date of adoption of this resolution and supplemented via subsequent written procedures and ordinances; and
WHEREAS, based on the foregoing, the City of Bakersfield Development Services Department, Planning Division is requesting an amendment to the Housing Element of the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan for the updated 6th Cycle 2023-2031 planning period (the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on September 4, 2025, and recommended approval of the Project, including its accompanying Notice of Exemption, via Resolution No. 45-25; and
WHEREAS, the Clerk of the City Council set Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 5:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, California, as the time and place for a public hearing before the City Council to consider the adoption of the amendment as required by Government Code Section 65355, and notice of the public hearing was given in the manner provided in Title 17 of the Bakersfield Municipal Code; and WHEREAS, during the hearing, the City Council considered all facts, testimony, and evidence concerning the staff report, and the Planning Commission’s deliberation, and action.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Bakersfield City Council as follows:

1. The above recitals, incorporated herein, are true and correct.

2. The Planning Commission's findings as contained in its Resolution No. 45-25 are hereby adopted.

3. The Notice of Exemption is approved.

4. Transmit the adopted 6th Cycle Housing Element 2023-2031 to the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

5. Prepare and distribute to stakeholders, developers and other interested parties a notification of resolution, written procedures and subsequent ordinances to comply, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, with statutory requirements pursuant to Government Code sections 65583, subdivisions (c)(1) and 65583.2, subdivisions (c), (h) and i).
---------o0o--------
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting held on the 24th day of September 2025, by the following vote:

AYES: COUNCILMEMBER: ARIAS, GONZALES, WEIR, SMITH, KOMAN, BASHIRTASH, KAUR NOES: COUNCILMEMBER: _______________________________________________________________ ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBER: ________________________________________________________________ ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER: ________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________

JULIE DRIMAKIS, MMC
CITY CLERK and Ex Officio Clerk of
the Council of the City of Bakersfield
APPROVED: _________________
By __________________________

KAREN GOH
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:

VIRGINIA GENNARO

CITY ATTORNEY
By: ____________________________

VIRIDIANA GALLARDO-KING
Deputy City Attorney II

BAKERSFIELD
DRAFT 2023-2031

HOUSING ELEMENT
August 2025
Table of Contents
Draft Housing Element i
Table of Contents
1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1-1

1.1 Housing Element Purpose and Content........................................................... 1-1

1.2 Relationship to Other General Plan Elements.................................................. 1-2

1.3 Organization of the Housing Element............................................................... 1-2

1.4 Data Sources and Methods ............................................................................. 1-3

1.5 Public Outreach and Participation.................................................................... 1-3 2 Housing Plan.............................................................................................................. 2-1

2.1 Goals and Policies........................................................................................... 2-1

2.2 Implementation Programs................................................................................ 2-6

2.3 Summary of Quantified Objectives................................................................. 2-43

2.4 Summary of AFFH Actions and Metrics ......................................................... 2-44 Tables
Table 1-1 Meetings and Community Events .................................................................... 1-4 Table 2-1 Quantified Housing Objectives (2023-2031)................................................... 2-44 Table 2-2 AFFH Program Summary .............................................................................. 2-45 Appendices
Appendix A Summary of Public Participation
Appendix B Housing Needs Assessment
Appendix C Housing Constraints
Appendix D Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Appendix E Housing Resources
Attachment A Sites Inventory
Appendix F Review of Past Accomplishments
City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
ii
This page left intentionally blank.

Introduction
Draft Housing Element 1-1
Introduction
This Housing Element is the City of Bakersfield’s eight-year blueprint (2023-2031) for meeting the housing needs of the community. The Housing Element provides a coordinated strategy for preserving the city’s existing housing stock and advancing opportunities for new housing in a way that enhances quality of life and equitable access to resources. It also serves as a strategy to address housing needs across the economic and social spectrum, reflecting the needs of a diverse community.

Meeting current and projected housing needs ensures Bakersfield can accommodate its share of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). The Housing Element identifies constraints to housing production as well as policies and actions to help overcome these constraints.

The Housing Element was prepared through a major community outreach effort across an economically and racially diverse spectrum of people who live and work in Bakersfield. The outreach effort included conversations with housing developers and affordable housing providers, and with people who represent special needs populations such as seniors, people with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness. Bakersfield solicited input from stakeholders and community members through interviews, surveys, a project-specific website, a housing sites survey tool, community events, and public meetings. To jumpstart the outreach process and to inform the community about the Housing Element Update, the City compiled and contacted more than 340 stakeholders. Complete details of public participation efforts are provided in Appendix A.

1.1 Housing Element Purpose and Content
The State of California has stated that the availability of decent and suitable housing for every California family is “a priority of the highest order.” This objective has become increasingly urgent in recent years as communities across the State struggle to meet the housing needs of all their residents. The Housing Element is the primary tool for cities and counties to create a road map to meet their housing goals. The Housing Element is a comprehensive strategy for encouraging development of safe, decent, and affordable housing for all residents and preventing housing loss. Government Code 65583 establishes requirements for the Housing Element, including:
 Identification and analysis of existing and projected housing needs, resources, and constraints
 A statement of goals, policies, quantified objectives, and scheduled programs for preservation, improvement, and development of housing
 Identification of adequate sites for housing
 Assessment of the City’s fair housing issues
 Adequate provision for existing and projected needs of all economic segments of the community
The Housing Element assists Bakersfield in determining how to address existing and future housing needs and plan for future growth. Housing policies and actions contained in the Housing Element do not commit the City to construct new housing units, but they do identify ways in which Bakersfield will encourage development of housing intended to meet the housing needs of current and future residents during the Housing Element update cycle.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
1-2
This Housing Element represents the City of Bakersfield’s 6th Housing Element cycle and will be in effect from 2023 through 2031.

1.2 Relationship to Other General Plan Elements
The City of Bakersfield’s Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan was adopted in December 2002 as a shared document with the County of Kern. It is comprised of State mandatory elements including: Land Use, Circulation, Conservation, Housing, Open Space, Noise, and Safety, . The General Plan also addresses several other optional elements including Public Facilities and Services, Parks and the Kern River.

Although the Housing Element is anticipated to be adopted in accordance with state legislation in 2024, the City is also engaged in the preparation of a comprehensive General Plan update that will be completed in its entirety in 2026. Community outreach, data analysis, and policy creation for the Housing Element Update were conducted in parallel with other elements of the General Plan.

All elements bear equal weight, and no element has legal precedence over another.

California Government Code Section 65583 (c) requires the Housing Element to maintain internal consistency with other General Plan Elements. For example, residential density limits established by the Land Use Element are reflected in the Housing Element and form the basis for analyzing residential capacities within the City. The City will ensure that internal consistency is maintained, through the comprehensive General Plan update or other means.

1.3 Organization of the Housing Element
Per California Government Code Sections 65580-65589, a housing element must consist of the following components:
 Review of the previous Housing Element: This section reviews the results of the goals, policies, and programs adopted in the previous Housing Element and compares projected outcomes with actual achieved results.
 Housing Needs Assessment: This section reviews the existing and projected housing needs of the community. It provides a profile of socio-demographic information, such as population characteristics, household information, housing stock, tenure, and housing affordability. The assessment also considers local special housing needs, such as seniors, farmworkers, homeless, large households, and female-headed households.  Resources and Inventory of Adequate Sites. This section provides resources and an inventory of adequate sites that are suitably zoned and available within the planning period to meet the jurisdiction’s fair share of regional housing needs across all income levels.
 Governmental and Nongovernmental Constraints. This section identifies and analyzes impediments to housing production across all income levels.  Fair Housing Assessment. This section provides a summary of contributing factors that serve as barriers to fair housing choice and access to opportunities in Bakersfield.  Housing Plan. This section provides a statement of the community’s goals, quantified objectives, and policies to maintain, preserve, improve, and develop housing. It also provides a schedule of meaningful actions to be taken during the planning period to achieve the aforementioned goals, objectives, and policies. It includes quantified objectives for new construction, rehabilitation, and conserved units by income category Introduction
Draft Housing Element 1-3
(i.e., very low, low-moderate, and above-moderate) to make sure that both the existing and the projected housing needs are met, consistent with the City’s share of the RHNA.

This Housing Element contains two chapters. Chapter 1 (Introduction) details the public outreach methods and input for the Housing Element Update, and Chapter 2 (Housing Plan) provides the goals, policies, and programs that guide the City’s housing-related actions during the next eight years. The research and analysis that inform the update are compiled in appendices at the end of the document:
 Appendix A: Public Outreach
 Appendix B: Housing Needs Assessment
 Appendix C: Housing Constraints
 Appendix D: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
 Appendix E: Housing Resources
 Appendix F: Review of Past Accomplishments
 Appendix G: Affordable Housing Strategy

1.4 Data Sources and Methods
Data from a variety of sources is used to complete the Housing Element. The most cited source is the U.S. Census, which provides consistent demographic characteristics that are widely accepted. The American Community Survey is a feature offered by the U.S. Census and includes five-year estimates on population and demographic characteristics. Other data sources include the following:

Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG)
 California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)  California Housing Finance Agency
 California Tax Credit Allocation Committee
 Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS)
 California Department of Finance (DOF)
 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) lending data
 Regional Homeless Point-in-Time Count
 State Employment Development Department (EDD) data on wage and labor statistics  United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

1.5 Public Outreach and Participation
The 2023-2031 6th cycle Housing Element Update was informed through input from a variety of public outreach efforts. The City created a dedicated webpage for the Housing Element Update: https://bakersfield2045.com/housing-element/. In a diligent effort to include all segments of the Bakersfield community, Bakersfield solicited input from stakeholders and community members through interviews, surveys, a housing sites survey tool, community events, and public meetings.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
1-4
Public Input and the Housing Element Update
Input from the City’s outreach events and meetings helped define the Housing Element Update priorities and goals, and provide direction on the sites inventory, housing policies and programs, and zoning efforts. The overarching themes discussed during community outreach include:
 Need more affordable housing for both renters and buyers.  Need to increase the variety of available rental and for-sale housing types, including apartments and townhomes, and more options for studio, one, and two-bedroom units.  Need increased resources and housing options for people experiencing homelessness.  Need increased access and services for education on housing rights and resources for tenants and landlords.
 Support for building housing throughout all neighborhoods in Bakersfield.  Support for transit-oriented development and increasing density in areas with existing services.
 A discussion of how each theme is addressed is included in Appendix A, Public Participation. All public comments provided to the City during the public comment period were reviewed by the City and taken into consideration.

Summary of City Meetings and Community Engagement Events The following is a summary of workshops, meetings, surveys, and other outreach methods used during the update process. Copies of materials and detailed input from the public outreach conducted for the Housing Element Update are included in Appendix A, Public Outreach.

Table 1-1 Meetings and Community Events
Meeting Dates Description
Affordable Housing
Strategy Public Outreach
2021-2022 Partner focus groups, a planning commission presentation, a City Council presentation, a community survey and a community workshop, and a project website to inform the Affordable Housing Strategy, a guiding document for the Housing Element Update.

An online “self-paced workshop” about housing issues and opportunities in Bakersfield. Participants viewed three short videos and answered a series of 15 questions. The self-paced workshop had 182 participants.

Community Workshops 4/27/22
5/24/22
6/7/22
6/22/22
7/12/22
10/11/22
10/18/22
Presentations and public input on housing opportunity sites and housing policies and programs.

City Council Informational
Update
4/6/22 Presentation of an introduction to the housing element, the regional housing needs allocation (RHNA), state legislation, and the project timeline.

Introduction
Draft Housing Element 1-5
Meeting Dates Description
General Plan Workshop
Series
3/22/22
3/23/22
4/14/22
Workshops to introduce new General Plan goals and
requirements to the community, educate the community on housing element requirements, and increase public
understanding of the decision-making process.

Focus group interviews 10/11-10/13/22
10/17/22
A series of virtual stakeholder interviews with market rate and affordable housing developers to identify key issues to housing development.

Equity Task Force
Meetings
2/22/23
3/17/23
Discussion to inform the development of equitable and
meaningful General Plan policies and approaches, including those included in the Housing Element Update.

Public Comment Survey
on Housing Opportunity
Sites
10/11/22 –
11/15/22
Online survey seeking input from the public and
recommendations relating to housing opportunity sites. There were 11 comments received.

Housing Needs and
Opportunities Survey
5/16/22 –
7/7/22
Online survey inquiring about housing, access to resources, and experiences with discrimination to all individuals in the City of Bakersfield. There were 268 survey participants.

Zoning Amendment
Outreach
4/17/23
1/18/24
1/26/24
2/1/24
2/29/24
3/13/24
Three stakeholder meetings, property owner engagement, and a public workshop, were conducted to gather input on the proposed changes to zone classifications. Public hearings were conducted in February and March 2024.

Timeline of the Draft Housing Element Update
The City provided the draft Housing Element for public review pursuant to AB 215 prior to submittal to HCD. The following list is a timeline of the Housing Element public review and HCD submittals.
 A public review draft of the Housing Element was published and made available for comment on the City’s website from April 17 to May 17, 2023 (30 days). Over the course of the public review period, 30 separate comment letters and statements were received via email and the project website.
 The City submitted its Initial Draft Housing Element to HCD for 90-day review on June 22, 2023.
 HCD provided the City with preliminary comments and allowed the City to submit a revised draft prior to receiving the official comment letter. The City posted a revised draft for public review from September 5 to September 12, 2023 (seven days). The City received two comment letters via email. HCD provided its comment letter on September 20, 2023.
 The City addressed HCD’s comments and incorporated revisions based on public comment. The City also conducted outreach for zoning code updates. The City published a revised draft Housing Element for public comment on April 22, 2024 through April 29, 2024.
 The City submitted its Second Draft Housing Element to HCD for 60-day review on May 20, 2024.
 The City addressed HCD’s comments and incorporated revisions based on public comment. The City published a revised draft Housing Element for public comment on October 11, 2024 through October 18, 2024.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
1-6
 HCD provided a formal comment letter on December 23, 2024. The City addressed HCD’s comments and incorporated revisions based on public comment. The City also conducted outreach for zoning code updates. The City published a revised draft Housing Element for public comment on June 6th through June 13th, 2025.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-1
Housing Plan
The Housing Plan identifies the City of Bakersfield’s housing goals, policies, and programs.

The overall strategy is to present a balanced and diverse array of programs which address the main issue areas of construction, preservation of affordable housing, conservation of naturally occurring affordable housing, rehabilitation, and administration. Bakersfield’s Housing Plan includes the six following themes:

1. Preserving, Conserving, and Improving Existing Housing

2. Assisting in the Development of Affordable Housing

3. Providing Adequate Housing Sites

4. Removing Constraints on Housing Development

5. Housing for Persons with Special Needs

6. Equal Housing Opportunities for All Persons
The Housing Plan seeks to address community needs as identified in Appendix B, Housing Needs Assessment, governmental constraints as identified in Appendix C, Housing Constraints, and patterns of segregation and barriers that restrict access to opportunity for protected classes as identified in Appendix D, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.

Programs from the previous Housing Element have been carried forward where applicable, as identified in Appendix F, Review of Past Accomplishments. The Housing Plan aligns with the work that the City has either completed or is planning, as provided in the City’s Affordable Housing Strategy and other related plans.

The goals and policies contained here address the identified housing needs in Bakersfield and are implemented through a series of housing programs. Each program includes a set of specific actions that the City will take during the 2023-2031 planning period to achieve objectives. The City will conduct a mid-cycle review of housing programs by January 2027 to determine if the City is on track to meeting its goals, policies, and objectives, and will revise programs as necessary.

2.1 Goals and Policies
Goal H-1: Conserve and Preserve the Existing Housing Opportunities, Viable Housing Stock, and Neighborhoods in Bakersfield.

Preserving, conserving, and improving the housing stock helps maintain investment in the community and promotes affordable housing. Typically, housing over 30 years old is more likely to have rehabilitation needs that may include new plumbing, roof repairs, foundation work, and other repairs. Some older housing units may have health risks such as lead based paint and asbestos.

Approximately half of the city’s current housing stock is greater than 30 years old. While the age of housing, by itself, does not necessarily equate with poor housing conditions, there is greater potential for housing problems in older structures. Preventing problems from occurring and addressing them when they do occur protects the safety and welfare of residents and assists in meeting housing needs throughout Bakersfield, particularly for the most vulnerable residents. An estimated 3,129 housing units in Bakersfield require rehabilitation.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-2
The City will focus its efforts on rehabilitation, code enforcement, rental housing inspection, preserving existing affordable units, and implementing anti-displacement policies and programs to take a proactive approach to preserving, conserving, and improving the current housing stock. Supporting the maintenance and preservation of the existing housing stock, including mobile home parks, stabilizes neighborhoods and protects against displacement, particularly for low-income residents.

Policies
H-1.1: Support Safe and Livable Housing: The City shall enforce adopted code requirements that set forth acceptable health and safety standards for the occupancy of housing units.

H-1.2: Preserve Existing Single-Family Housing: The City shall preserve the existing single-family housing stock occupied by lower-income households by providing financial assistance, as available, to rehabilitate owner-occupied residences, and mobile homes.

H-1.3: Residential Rehabilitation: The City shall administer residential rehabilitation programs that assist lower-income households to ensure the safety and habitability of housing units and the quality of residential neighborhoods.

H-1.4: Preserve At-Risk Units and Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing: The City shall avoid the loss of publicly assisted and unassisted (“naturally occurring”) affordable housing units and the resulting displacement of low-income residents by providing funds, as available, to nonprofit developers to be used for the acquisition of subsidized housing developments at risk of converting to market rate units.

Goal H-2: Assist the Development of Housing Affordable to Extremely Low-, Very Low-, Low-, and Moderate-Income Levels and populations with Special Needs Almost half of all residents who rent in the city are housing cost burdened, including nearly 63 percent of extremely low-income households. Single-family housing has dominated new housing construction, contributing to a need for multifamily housing and more affordable housing types, particularly for moderate and low-income households. Although there are significant factors outside of the City’s control that affect the housing market and cost of construction, the City will support the development of different types of housing to be built at a variety of affordability levels to serve the needs of current and future residents.

Certain residents may have more difficulty in finding suitable, affordable housing due to special needs and circumstances related to employment and income, disability, or family/household characteristics. Persons with disabilities comprise 10.6 percent of Bakersfield’s population over the age of five. Many persons with disabilities, including developmental disabilities, can live and work independently in a conventional housing environment. Special needs populations also include female-headed single-parent households, and seniors. Nearly one-third of all senior households and one-third of femaleheaded single-parent households with children earn an income at poverty level. Additionally, thousands of farmworkers reside in Bakersfield at least part-time, and they and their families often have special housing needs. The City supports the development of housing for special needs residents.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-3
Policies
H-2.1 Promote Housing Development Affordable to Residents at All Economic Levels. The City shall support the production of rental and for-sale housing for people of all income levels.

H-2.2 Support and Increase Funding for Deed-Restricted Affordable Housing. The City shall promote affordable housing development through financial and strategic support, including administrative and technical assistance to affordable housing developers.

H-2.3 Create Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. The City shall conduct an economic feasibility study to guide the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.

H-2.4 Promote A Variety of Housing Types. The City shall review and update its zoning standards to encourage the development of higher density housing types affordable to low- and moderate-income residents.

H-2.5 Support Housing Production for All Needs. The City shall encourage the production of housing that is physically and financially suitable for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, residents with special needs, including but not limited to large households, seniors, extremely low-income residents, and persons with physical and developmental disabilities.

H-2.6 Prioritize Affordable Housing Near Public Transit and Services. The City shall prioritize funding and processing of affordable housing development in locations near public transit and existing and planned community services.

Goal H-3: Increase Housing Production by Providing Adequate Sites for a Variety of Housing Types and Removing Constraints to Residential Development The City must provide sufficient capacity to accommodate its share of the regional housing need through its General Plan land use and zoning framework.

Strategic infill development of vacant or underutilized sites along strategic corridors focuses new construction within existing communities, which reduces dependency on automobile travel, and increases the number of residents near commercial businesses, jobs, and community services.

Constraints to providing adequate housing for all income levels are caused by many factors, including governmental controls. These constraints may increase the cost of housing or render residential construction physically or economically infeasible for developers and reduce opportunities for residents. The City will work to make it easier for different housing types to be developed, which supports housing for all residents with varying housing needs and desires. To provide adequate housing and maximize use of limited land resources, new development should be constructed at appropriate densities that maximize the intended use of the land.

Policies
H-3.1 Reduce Barriers to Housing Development. Facilitate innovative housing models and promote regulatory reforms that reduce the costs of housing production while also promoting broader citywide housing priorities.

H-3.2 Provide and Maintain Adequate Sites to Accommodate the RHNA. The City shall maintain appropriate land use designations and densities to accommodate an increased supply of housing units by type, cost, and size to meet its share of the regional housing need in alignment with citywide housing priorities.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-4
H-3.3 Streamline Housing Entitlement and Permitting Process. The City shall streamline the housing approval and permitting process, particularly for affordable housing, throughout City departments.

H-3.4 Facilitate Infill Development. The City shall utilize infill development strategies to support and connect existing neighborhoods.

H-3.5 Facilitate Strategic Development on Large Lots. The City shall support and facilitate strategic development on large lots to promote cohesive and connected development that provides housing for a variety of household incomes and types.

Goal H-4: Advance Fair Housing, Equity, and Inclusion
Long-standing historic discrimination, such as mortgage redlining practices and a predominance of single-family housing development and selective neighborhood investment, has resulted in disparities in housing resources among different neighborhoods and among different racial and ethnic groups. In a comparison of racial/ethnic groups, Hispanic/Latino and Black/African-American households had median household income levels below the city average. Central and Southeast Bakersfield have a disproportionately high concentration of non-white residents, low- and medium-income households, and persons living with a disability. Housing opportunities and housing mobility are often limited for low-income households, persons with disabilities, and other special needs groups. The City will prevent or counter geographic discrimination by implementing equitable investment in neighborhoods, infrastructure, and housing resources; promoting mixed-income neighborhoods; and by supporting housing education and opportunities for low-income, minority, and special needs residents.

Policies
H-4.1 Fair Housing Services and Education. The City shall support effective programs that work toward eliminating housing discrimination of protected classes under State and federal law.

H-4.2 Affirmatively Further Fair Housing. The City shall monitor and ensure compliance with the City’s obligation to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing.

H-4.3 Commit Resources to Ensure Equitable Neighborhoods. The City shall invest in historically underserved communities and racially/ethnically concentrated areas of poverty (R/ECAPs) while promoting housing stability and preservation for current residents, and address the needs of communities vulnerable to environmental health issues.

H-4.4 Promote Mixed-Income Neighborhoods. The City shall promote mixed-income neighborhoods with an equitable distribution of housing types and housing mobility opportunities for people of all incomes throughout the city.

H-4.5 Support Wealth-Building Activities for Low-Income Residents. The City shall support efforts to connect low-income residents with financial empowerment resources, homeownership programs, first-time homebuyer opportunities, small business assistance, and workforce training resources and services and ADU developments on their existing property to generate rental income opportunities and increase property values.

H-4.6 Leverage Resources for Housing Assistance and Education. The City shall pursue and administer, where feasible, all available federal, state, and local resources to provide financial assistance, housing rights and financial education, Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-5
and other services related to homeownership, housing stability, and housing mobility.

H-4.7 Focus Housing Opportunity Programs for Vulnerable and Underrepresented Residents. The City shall focus outreach for homeownership and affordable housing opportunity programs to residents in areas vulnerable to displacement and to populations that are underrepresented in the housing market.

H-4.8 Engage Underrepresented Residents. The City shall prioritize engagement of underrepresented residents and people of all racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds in City plans and programs to achieve equitable outcomes.

H-4.9 Reduce Barriers. Evaluate and reduce barriers to housing that disproportionately affect populations in protected classes, lower- income households, and special needs populations by rescinding or mitigating development standards that are exclusionary, discriminatory, or otherwise impede the development of housing that is affordable to lower income households, including prohibitions on multifamily housing, limitations on density, and other standards that increase the cost of constructing housing.

Goal H-5: Housing for Individuals and Families Experiencing Homelessness Bakersfield's 2023 point-in-time count showed 1,948 unsheltered residents experiencing homelessness in metropolitan Bakersfield, and a need for housing and social services to address the needs of homeless individuals. Factors contributing to the rise in homelessness include a lack of affordable housing available for low- and moderate-income households, increases in the number of persons whose incomes fall below the poverty level, and reductions in public subsidies.

Homelessness is often compounded by a lack of job training and supportive services to treat mental illness, substance abuse, or crime, including domestic violence.

Policies
H-5.1 Support Residents at Risk of Homelessness. The City shall utilize datasupported strategies to create impactful, long-term solutions to reduce the risk of homelessness for vulnerable households and individuals, with a focus on affordable housing production, financial and supportive services and resources, and workforce training.

H-5.2 Support Existing and New Transitional and Emergency Shelters. The City shall continue to prioritize the use of available funds to support emergency shelters and transitional and supportive housing programs for people experiencing homelessness and those who are at risk of becoming homeless.

H-5.3 Fund Construction of New Permanent Supportive Housing. The City shall facilitate and provide permanent supportive housing options that offer appropriate services for people experiencing chronic homelessness.

H-5.4 Actively Engage in the Regional Response to End Homelessness. The City shall participate with the County of Kern, the Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative, the Bakersfield/Kern County Continuum of Care, and partner agencies to develop and implement strategies that address homelessness through a shared vision, coordinated programs, and joint funding opportunities.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-6

2.2 Implementation Programs
The City is committed to implementing the programs outlined in this chapter over the eightyear planning period. These implementation programs were developed with extensive community input and prioritize equitable resource distribution to not only preserve and develop housing, but to improve the quality of life for all residents and strengthen the City’s neighborhoods. The implementation programs describe the overarching program description and goals, and then list the actions that the City will take to achieve specific objectives, and identify the responsible agency and funding sources. The icons next to the program correspond with the associated housing element goals.

The City will continually monitor progress and report on these programs annually to the City Council and to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).

Many programs incorporate fair housing strategies to actively counter disparities in housing affordability, resources, and accessibility among residents and neighborhoods based on such factors as income level, race and ethnicity, disability status, and other characteristics.

Program 1: Residential Rehabilitation and Repair Program The City provides HOME entitlement funds to eligible homeowners and residential property owners to rehabilitate existing dwelling units through grants or low interest loans. The City will continue to partner with community organizations and assist in single family rehabilitation in the City using federal and Redevelopment Successor Housing Agency funds for deferred or below market interest loans, down payment assistance or grants to rehabilitate single-family and eligible multifamily complex owners. Priority will be given to work that corrects health and safety issues, and to provide accessibility modifications for people who have disabilities. The City has provided over $150,000 annually to community organizations for housing acquisition and rehabilitation projects.

The City of Bakersfield’s Home Accessibility Grant Program provides grants for housing modifications designed to provide or improve access to disabled homeowners. Assistance is provided to residents with permanent physical challenges and mobility impaired. This program is intended to promote independence at no cost to HUD qualified applicants by modifying their homes.

Additionally, as described in Appendix B, Housing Needs Assessment, the City continuously partners with Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) to provide emergency and supportive services for residents. CAPK’s Home Repair and Weatherization Program serves approximately 150-200 in Bakersfield per year. The City will increase resident participation in programs designed to reduce household energy costs, particularly home weatherization programs.

Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 1.1: Provide housing rehabilitation assistance
through the Home Accessibility Grant Program for owneroccupied households, with a focus on vulnerable and lowincome households including seniors on a fixed income and persons with disabilities. The City will monitor substandard or deteriorating housing to identify priority repairs and rehabilitation.

Provide grants for home repairs of at least
fifteen owner-occupied housing units per year
for a total of 140 housing units during the 2023-
2031 planning period using CDBG funds.

Work with Medi-Cal recipients needing
accessibility improvements. Annually draft a
report to share the number of Medi-Cal and
Home Accessibility Grant Program recipients
assisted with rehabilitation assistance.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-7
Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 1.2: Reduce Lead Based Paint Hazards and
incorporate the appropriate actions (pursuant to the LeadBased Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992) into all housing programs under the jurisdiction of the City. Conduct
community-based outreach and, on a case-by-case basis,
provide funds for the testing and abatement of housing units for lead-based paint.

Conduct outreach and education on lead
hazards and lead-based paint abatements
strategies and resources, prioritizing Central
and Southeast Bakersfield where household
lead exposure rates are highest. Provide
informational flyers and resources at
community events and/or schools at least
once annually in Central and Southeast
Bakersfield beginning in 2025.

Pursue funding for lead-based paint
abatement and exposure reduction initiatives
from sources that include, but not limited to,
funds from the federal Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and US Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),
by January 2026.

Include policies committed to reducing
exposure to lead-based paint in the City’s
General Plan Update.

Update City website by the end of 2024.

Set aside HOME Access funds to abate Lead
Based Paint Hazards.

Assist in the reduction of lead-based paint
hazards in 30 units during the 2023-2031
planning period.

Action 1.3: Make funds available to community-based
organizations to acquire and rehabilitate units which may have been abandoned or otherwise lost from the City’s
housing stock and sell them to very low and low-income
first-time homebuyers. Continue to set aside 15 percent of HOME entitlements funds for Community Housing
Development Organization (CHDO) acquisition,
construction, and rehabilitation. Prioritize funding for buildings in Central and Southeast Bakersfield (Downtown, Old Town Kern, 34th Street corridor, and Martin Luther King Boulevard corridor), where housing stock is likely to be older and in need of rehabilitation, and higher rates of
overcrowding and overpaying for renting.

Provide rehabilitation funding to community
organizations every two years, for a total of
four grants during the 2023-2031 planning
period, prioritizing Central and Southeast
Bakersfield (Downtown, Old Town Kern, 34th
Street corridor, and Martin Luther King
Boulevard corridor). Through improving
habitability with this program, assist at least 10
very low- and low-income households secure
housing during the 2023-2031 planning period,
with at least 7 in Central and Southeast
Bakersfield.

Action 1.4: Seek funding to assist local property
owners/managers operating multifamily rental housing in need of rehabilitation. The goal of this action is to preserve “naturally occurring affordable housing.”
By December 2025, prepare needs analysis
with goals and expected outcomes for
program.

If a need is determined, seek public funding
(e.g., HUD, State HCD) or allocate existing
affordable housing funding (i.e., CDBG,
HOME) for loan or grant resources that support
this action biennially, beginning no later than
December 2027.

Beginning in December 2027, require landlords
who receive assistance to agree to not raise
the rent or conduct a no-cause eviction for two
years.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-8
Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 1.5: Increase resident participation in programs designed to reduce household energy costs, particularly home weatherization programs and utility tax exemptions or discounts geared toward lower-income households. Support GRID alternatives and energy service provider PG&E to
provide energy improvements for low-income housing units and the Golden State Finance Authority to provide financing for homeowners making energy efficiency improvements.

Hold at least eight outreach events during the
planning period, prioritizing events in
neighborhoods with low- and moderate-income
residents.

Action 1.6: Provide annual financial support for minor home repairs for owner-occupied mobile homes through the City’s CDGB funding for income-qualifying mobile home residents through HOME entitlement funds.

Provide financial support for minor home
repairs for at least two mobile homes annually,
with a goal of supporting at least 16 mobile
homeowners during the planning period.

Implements the Following Policies H-1.2, H-1.3, H-4.3
Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department and Development
Services
Funding Sources HA, HUD CDBG, HOME
Program 2: Safe and Sanitary Housing
The City’s Code Enforcement Division responds to property maintenance, housing, zoning, and junk and/or abandoned vehicle complaints about properties that are within the City on private property. The goal of the Code Enforcement Division is to work in partnership with residents to improve the quality of life and aesthetics in the community through education, cooperation, and responsive enforcement. The Code Enforcement Division and Building Division work together to promote safe and sanitary housing in the community.

Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 2.1: Provide annual cultural sensitivity trainings that will support safe and sanitary housing to improve capacity of building and code enforcement staff to work with diverse communities, in a culturally competent manner with a focus on problem solving and with connections to social and
economic support services.

Beginning in 2025, hold at least five cultural
sensitivity trainings for staff during the 2023-
2031 planning period.

Action 2.2: Amend the Bakersfield Municipal Code (BMC)
to comply with Section 17970.5 of the California Health and Safety Code requiring that upon a rental tenant complaint, the City will a) conduct a mandatory inspection and b)
specify specific actions that can be taken to mitigate any hazards present.

Amend the BMC by January 2025. The City
Code Enforcement Division will respond in
compliance with the BMC and Health and
Safety Code, with a goal to conduct inspect
and mitigate hazards to preserve at least 50
units during the planning period.

Action 2.3: Establish an Earthquake Home Strengthening
Program, including:
 Earthquake Home Strengthening Workshops
 Disseminating Earthquake Retrofit Handbook
 Offering a Prescribed Retrofit Standard and Plan Set
 Maintaining a Tool-Lending Library
Establish program by December 2025, and
then hold at least one workshop annually for a
total of six workshops during the planning
period. Workshops will be aimed at educating
residents on the availability and benefits of the
program.

Action 2.4: Establish a citywide Rental Registration
Program to accurately track rental property details and landlord contact information, and to ensure that housing is safe, habitable, and complies with applicable building codes.

The City will recommend to City Council the adoption of the following program components:
 Require the registration of all rental units (for properties Beginning in 2026, the City will hold at least
one City Council meeting and one community
workshop to identify the program requirements
and incorporate community feedback into
program development. By December 2027, the
City will establish an outreach campaign,
including creating a webpage and hosting
Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-9
Actions Objective and Timeframe
with two or more units), including subsidized units.
 Ensure inspection on a regular basis (e.g., every five years) to maintain safety and habitability.
 Develop a database on rental unit characteristics and conditions to inform policy decision makers
 Distribute multilingual educational materials to property owners, managers, and renters on fair housing resources and landlord responsibilities
 Track and report inspections, violations, and the
effectiveness of the program annually once established
 Work with residents, housing advocacy groups, and
community-based organizations to gather community
input to inform the development of the program.
educational seminars to inform the community
on the importance of the program and
registration deadlines. The City will continue to
conduct outreach through 2029 and will begin
enforcement of the Rental Registration
Program by January 2030.

Implements the Following Policies H-1.1, H-1.2, H-1.3
Responsible Agency Bakersfield Development Services, Economic and Community Development, City Managers
Office.

Funding Sources General Funds
Program 3: Preservation of At-Risk Affordable Housing
This program is intended to support the preservation or acquisition of restricted affordable units and unrestricted affordable units that could potentially convert to market-rate units during the planning period. The City will monitor all units and assist property owners in maintaining the affordability of these units and assist tenants if preservation is unsuccessful.

Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 3.1: Monitor the status of the 395 units at risk of conversion to market-rate units over the next 10 years
and seek to preserve these affordable units for extremely low-income households and very low-income households.

Continue regular contact with the California Housing
Partnership Corporation, the agency that monitors the atrisk units and owner notifications of intent to opt-out.

Continue to assist the housing nonprofit, Golden Empire Affordable Housing, Inc., in partnership with HA, in the purchase and rehabilitation of any at-risk units in the city.

Work with the owners of existing affordable housing with expiring affordability covenants that are scheduled for conversion to discuss the City’s desire to preserve
affordable housing. Inform property owners of their
obligation to comply with noticing requirements stipulated under state law to ensure that qualified non-profit entities from the State’s qualified entities list are informed of the opportunity to acquire the affordable property and that tenants are informed about their rights and potential
resources.

At least three years prior to expiration of the
regulatory agreement for at-risk units, meet with
existing owner of property to discuss required
actions under California law and seek solutions
that allow for the preservation of the 395 at-risk
regulated affordable housing units set to expire
by 2033. Provide follow-up with owners of
existing at-risk affordable housing one year and
six months prior to conversion if property owner
fails to respond.

Action 3.2: Proactively engage and provide technical
assistance to potential purchasers of at-risk units,
including nonprofits, developers, and tenants of potentially converting affordable properties. Assist with funding as feasible and/or support funding application for acquisition and/or rehabilitation of units.

Establish a list of established and potential
housing purchasers by December2024. Contact
potential purchasers of at-risk units to discuss
affordability preservation at least one year prior to
the expiration of at-risk units. Hold at least one
stakeholder forum with private and non-profit
housing developers to solicit input on available
units and funding opportunities by March 2025.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-10
Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 3.3: Work with owners of the 395 at-risk units to provide information to the tenants of these units regarding tenant’s rights and conversion procedures pursuant to
California AB 1521 (2017, Bloom) or other legal remedies.

Provide tenants with tenant relocation assistance, free legal assistance, and other applicable services.

At least 18 months prior to the expiration of the
regulatory agreement for at-risk units, ensure that
tenants understand their rights to remain in the
units and that they receive information and
referrals regarding the City’s Rapid Rehousing
and Tenant Based Rental Assistance programs.

Implements the Following Policies H-1.4, H-4.4, H-4.7, H-5.2 Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department
Funding Sources HUD HOME and CDBG, and other federal and state housing funds
Program 4: Support Production of Regulated Affordable Housing The City is committed to maintaining, developing, and monitoring affordable housing and will continue to prioritize housing for very low- and low-income households in the development of additional housing stock. The City will continue to support the development of housing appropriate for extremely low-income households and seek new funding opportunities and partnerships. High construction and land costs, NIMBYism, inadequacy of public affordable housing subsidies and burdensome regulations have created challenges to building new affordable housing. The City was able to support the development of several affordable housing projects in the previous housing cycle. The City will continue to work with developers to facilitate affordable housing development and seek to provide gap financing as a local match to State, federal, and other public funding sources. When possible, the City will utilize state, federal, and local funds to write down the cost of land for the development of affordable housing. The City will also provide greater streamlining and other possible measures to support affordable housing development.

Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 4.1: Acquire funds from the state and federal grant opportunities, including the HCD Infill Infrastructure Grant Program, to support the development of affordable housing, housing for special needs, and support service projects.

Leverage the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) to leverage public affordable housing funding (e.g., CA HCD Local Housing Trust Fund Program). When a critical mass of local, regional, state and/or federal funding is available, the City will issue a competitive Notice of Funding Availability with objective criteria to transparently identify the best non-profit affordable housing developer to partner with on new affordable housing developments in the city.

Prioritize financing subsidies for rental housing units affordable to extremely low-income households, senior households,
farmworkers, persons with disabilities, veterans, and other households with special needs.

Apply for state and federal funds by January
2025 and annually thereafter to facilitate the
development of affordable housing, including
housing for extremely low-income
households and those with special housing
needs. Partner with nonprofit housing
developers and support the entitlement of at
least 1,000 subsidized housing units
affordable to extremely low-, very low-, and
low-income households in the city during the
2023-2031 planning period with the goal of
achieving at least 30 percent in high
resource areas during the planning period.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-11
Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 4.2: Actively promote sites available for affordable housing development to potential developers, private and nonprofit organizations, and other interested persons and organizations through meetings with developers regarding development opportunities.

Provide education and technical assistance to developers, nonprofit organizations, or other qualified private sector interests in the application and development of projects for federal and state financing and by providing assistance with entitlements, site identification, fee reductions when
appropriate, and density bonuses. Connect affordable housing developers to Project-Based Section 8 vouchers when they are available to their developments in Bakersfield. Ensure a streamlined process for affordable housing development that provides a singular staff contact throughout the entirety of the development process to navigate all procedures.

Prioritize financing subsidies for rental housing units affordable to extremely low-income households, senior households,
farmworkers, persons with disabilities, veterans, and
households with special needs.

Facilitate the entitlement of at least 1,000
subsidized housing units affordable to
extremely low-, very low-, and low-income
households in the city during the 2023-2031
planning period. The City will maintain
information on opportunity sites on its
website on an ongoing basis and will
conduct meetings with interested developers
at least bi-annually.

Maintain current information on the
development process, deferred impact fees,
potential fee reductions, and density bonus
on the City’s website and publish
informational bulletin by December2024, and
communicate available incentives to
developers during development opportunity
meetings.

Action 4.3: In compliance with recent updates to the Surplus Land Act (AB1255, 2019-Rivas; AB 1486, 2019-Ting), identify City-owned land for the development of affordable housing. If surplus properties are identified, pursue development via a competitive Request for Proposals or other processes.

Report on identified surplus land in Housing
Element Annual Progress report due April 1,
2023.

Annually, assess the list of surplus sites and
solicit development via a competitive RFP
process or other forms of partnership such
as land lease agreements.

Action 4.4: Adopt written policies and procedures for the City of Bakersfield Public Works - Utilities Division (Water and Wastewater) that grants priority to proposed developments that include housing affordable to lower-income households pursuant to Government Code Section 65589.7.

The City will adopt written policies and
procedures for the Public Works - Utilities
Division pursuant to Government Code
Section 65589.7 by June 2024.

Action 4.5: Review current AHTF and underwriting standards for applications to support affordable rental housing for very low-, low-, and moderate-income households, including
transitional housing, mixed income developments, and mixeduse developments.

Complete study and create report by
December 2025 and implement
recommended changes by December 2026.

Action 4.6: Through the Affordable Housing Site Analysis, identify and prioritize affordable housing development and rehabilitation of existing housing for low-income households in locations near public transit, community services, and
employment.

Finalize the Affordable Housing Site Analysis
tool to create a Priority Affordable Housing
Sites List by January 2025 and actively
promote sites to developers. Prioritize
available funding to facilitate development at
these locations.

Action 4.7: Change procedure for the collection of
development impact fees for affordable housing projects to occur upon building occupation.

Implement change to defer development
impact fee collection beginning January
2025.

Implements the Following Policies H-1.4, H-2.1, H-2.2, H-2.5, H-3.1, H-3.3 Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department; Development
Services Department
Funding Sources Federal, State, Affordable Housing Trust Fund, General Fund
City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-12
Program 5: Housing for Special Needs Populations
Government Code Sections 65583 and 65583.2 require the housing element to provide for a variety of housing types including multifamily rental housing, factory-built housing, mobile homes, housing for agricultural employees, supportive housing, single-room occupancy units, emergency shelters, and transitional housing.

The City of Bakersfield is a diverse community with many residents who have special housing needs. State law requires the housing element to address the needs of specific groups with special housing needs, including extremely low-income residents, seniors, persons with disabilities, large families, female-headed households with children, and persons experiencing homelessness. The City will continue to monitor its policies, standards, and regulations to ensure that they comply with applicable laws pertaining to housing for special needs populations. As noted in Appendix B, Housing Needs Assessment, there are 4,239 extremely low-income households that rent housing and that experience a housing cost burden that remain in need of assistance (not served by affordable housing or housing voucher programs). It is likely that many of these households have special housing needs, including persons with disabilities, female-headed households, large families, and other characteristics.

For new construction or substantial rehabilitation of multifamily projects (five or more units), at least 5 percent of the total units of the housing development being assisted must be accessible to individuals with mobility impairments, and at least two percent of units accessible to individuals with sensory impairments1
. The City’s Home Access Program
provides grants for housing modifications designed to provide or improve access to disabled homeowners with grants of up to $5,000 each from CDBG funds to persons with disabilities and developmental disabilities. The City also works with experienced nonprofits developing affordable special needs housing through aid, incentives, or concessions such as direct financial assistance (when available), density increases, or other financial, land or regulatory assistance that would result in enhancing development feasibility.

Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 5.1: Facilitate the development of housing for
persons with disabilities (including developmental
disabilities) through prioritization of assistance for
affordable housing development with services, resources, and assistance.

Develop 25 housing units for households with
persons with disabilities during the planning
period by December 2031.

Action 5.2: Provide services and programs such as the
Home Access Grant Program to provide grants for
housing modifications for better accessibility.

Provide at least 100 households with Home
Access Grants during the planning period by
December 2031.

Action 5.3: Coordinate with the United Farm Worker
Union and various nonprofits, including the Kern County Housing Authority, Self-Help Enterprises, and the Delano Office California Rural Legal Assistance to determine the need for farmworker housing in the city and to develop
farmworker housing. Continue to assist builders and nonprofit organizations to pursue funding resources, density bonuses, infrastructure availability, and provide technical assistance and priority processing.

The City Council has established an Affordable Housing
Trust Fund that includes an annual Notice of Funding
By January 2026, hold meetings with at least
three nonprofits or agencies focused on
farmworker housing to identify housing needs,
opportunities for partnership, and technical
assistance the City could provide. Hold meetings
with nonprofits and agencies at least once
annually thereafter to identify opportunities for
development, improvement, and conservation of
farmworker housing.

By January 2026, provide incentives and other
strategies beyond state density bonus law to
1 City of Bakersfield. 2022. FUNDING HANDBOOK FOR NON-PROFITS, HOUSING DEVELOPERS, AND FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS - FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/fc729442-384b-4598-94ac-7595bc789d39?cache=1800 Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-13
Actions Objective and Timeframe
Availability. The City commits to prioritizing funds for units for farm laborers.

Target financial resources to rehabilitate and preserve housing for current or potential farmworker households
and coordinate with regional or other organizations to
improve living conditions for farmworkers.

Monitor the status of farmworker housing and evaluate
effectiveness of efforts annually as part of the annual report process.
encourage housing for farmworkers and prioritize
entitlements. If by January 2029 the City is not on
track to meet farmworker housing development
goals, revise incentives based on input from
developers.

Provide technical and/or financial assistance to
developers and/or organizations to facilitate the
development of at least 335 units of affordable
farmworker housing and rehabilitate at least 30
units of farmworker housing during the planning
period.

Action 5.4: Review the Reasonable Accommodations
Ordinance and revise findings to be based on objective
standards rather than impacts on surrounding uses and
provide a link to its Reasonable Accommodations policy
on the Housing page of the City website.

Amend the Reasonable Accommodations
Ordinance to require objective findings that
provide certainty in outcomes and provide link on
the Housing page of the City website by January
2025.

Action 5.5: Coordinate with Bakersfield College, CSU
Bakersfield, and other major educational institutions to identify on and off-campus student housing needs,
prioritizing students at risk of homelessness. When
possible, provide financial or technical support to assist with the development of housing that addresses student
needs.

By January 2026, partner with the educational
institutions to design and conduct a survey to
determine student housing needs. In partnership
with the educational institutions, identify existing
programs and resources that can be leveraged to
meet needs with the goal of creating 200 student
housing units within eight years.

Annually during the planning period, meet with
representatives of Bakersfield College, CSU
Bakersfield, and other major educational
institutions to discuss off-campus student housing
needs and priorities, especially for students at
risk of homelessness, and discuss possibilities for
financial or technical support where needed.

Action 5.6: Amend the Zoning Code with the following
changes:
 Allow transitional housing and supportive housing, byright in all zones that permit residential uses, approved with objectivity and certainty, and subject only to the requirements of residential uses of similar type and
form in accordance with Government Code Section
65651.
 AB 2162 (2018-Chiu), to ensure that supportive
housing with up to 50 units be a use by right in zones
allowing multifamily uses, including nonresidential
zones permitting multifamily uses, and ensure that
there are no minimum parking requirements for units
occupied by supportive housing residents if the
development is located within 0.5-mile of a public
transit stop.
 Update the definition of “family” to be inclusive.
 Permit emergency shelters by right in the C-C and C-2 zones.to meet the capacity requirements of AB 2339
Amend the Zoning Code to permit manufactured homes in
the same manner as conventional homes within the same
zone if installed on permanent foundations.
 AB 139 (2019-Quirk-Silva) to only subject emergency
shelters to those standards which apply to residential
and commercial development within the same zone,
except that a city can apply standards regulating the
number of beds, parking for staff provided that the
Amend the Zoning Code by December 2024 or
as specified in the action.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-14
Actions Objective and Timeframe
standards do not require more parking for emergency
shelters than other residential or commercial uses
within the same zone, length of stay, and other minor
standards.
 AB 2339 (2022-Bloom) to expand the definition of
emergency shelters to include other interim
interventions, including but not limited to, navigation centers, bridge housing, and respite or recuperative
care as well as ensuring emergency shelters are only
subject to objective development standards that apply
to residential to commercial development within the
same zone.
 Amend the Zoning Code to allow “low barrier
navigation centers” by-right in mixed-use zones and all nonresidential zones that allow multifamily housing.
(AB 101, 2019-Budget Committee).
 Amend the Zoning Code by December 2024 to revise
development standards to remove the conditional use
permit for large community care facilities to allow for group homes for seven or more persons in all zones
allowing residential uses similar to other residential
uses of the same type in the same zone.
 Upon HCD review of the April 24, 2024 ADU
ordinance, revise the zoning code within six months of
HCD review to address HCD suggestions for
compliance with state law and consistency with the 6th
Cycle Housing Element.

Action 5.7: Provide technical assistance and pursue
Project Homekey funding and other funding opportunities as available for alternative housing development for
affordable to extremely low-income residents (e.g.,
navigation center and transitional housing, permanent
supportive housing, SRO, dormitory-style housing,
community land trust, cooperative housing cooperative, or tiny homes). Additionally, include incentives to increase housing affordable to extremely low-income residents
through future affordable housing Notice of Funding
Availabilities (NOFAs).

By January 2026, submit applications for funding
for the development of at least two alternative
housing developments that would be affordable
to extremely low-income residents.

By January 2029, provide technical assistance
and/or incentives in future NOFAs for the
development of at least two alternative housing
projects that would serve a minimum of 50
extremely low-income residents.

Action 5.8: City will generate a report on potential funding sources that could be used to create rental assistance
programs such as rental assistance permanent fund,
increase home rehabilitation, increase farmworker units, and units for persons with disabilities.

Develop a list of potential funding sources and
leveraging opportunities by January 2025. If
applicable, submit applications for funds by the
next available funding opportunity.

Implements the Following Policies H-2.3, H-2.5, H-4.1, H-4.9 Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department; Development Services
Department
Funding Sources CDBG; HOME; Federal, State, Local funds Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-15
Program 6: Tenant and Owner Protections and Support
As the cost of housing increases, low-income renters and other vulnerable populations are disproportionately at risk of displacement. As discussed in Appendix D, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, displacement risk is highest in Central Bakersfield and parts of Southeast, Southwest, and Northeast Bakersfield. Areas vulnerable to displacement have higher rates of low- and moderate-income households and overcrowded households.

Displacement could result directly from development (and removal of lower cost housing) or indirectly from rising rents, evictions, Notices to Vacate, condominium conversions, and other activities which result in tenants losing their homes.

Development on nonvacant sites with existing residential units is subject to replacement requirement, pursuant to AB 1397. Specifically, AB 1397 requires the replacement of units affordable to the same or lower income level as a condition of any development on a nonvacant site consistent with those requirements set forth in State Density Bonus Law.

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program is the federal government's major program for assisting families with very low-income and people who are elderly and/or have disabilities to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. This program is administered by the Housing Authority of the County of Kern (the Housing Authority). Under this program, renters with very low income receive supplemental assistance for rent so they can afford standard housing without becoming rent burdened. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants can find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the Housing Authority on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the City, in partnership with the Housing Authority, enacted the Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance program through the CARES Act Emergency Rental Assistance, to provide relief funds to lower-income residents. The CARES Act funding was temporary, and the City is no longer able to continue the assistance program. The City recognizes that rental and utility assistance may still be needed to support lower-income residents and prevent homelessness. Therefore, the City will review potential funding sources for a long-term program to provide relief to tenants to avoid the displacement.

The City partners with the Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (GBLA) to provide tenant protection counseling and services such as the Landlord-Tenant Assistance Center, which provides a variety of services to help resolve landlord-tenant disputes. Additionally, the City’s Rapid Rehousing program provides assistance to households annually that have been displaced due to foreclosure or eviction and that are currently experiencing homelessness.

As part of the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget process, the City Council authorized $350,000 of Public Safety and Vital Services Measure N funds for the implementation of a pilot program known as the Eviction Protection Program. This pilot program will extend services related to the prevention of evictions for eligible households to include tenant-landlord mediation services, and legal aid for low-income tenants encountering housing issues. The program additionally includes community outreach and an education program.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-16
Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 6.1: Support the Housing Authority to provide housing assistance to extremely low, very low-, low-, and moderateincome households by assisting in outreach and education on available programs. Participate in the monthly meetings of the Homeless Collaborative composed of service providers, the County, mental health professionals, Continuum Care
advocates, and interested individuals. Develop alternative intergovernmental arrangements and program options to deal with area-wide housing issues and problems.

Promote the Section 8 voucher program to landlords and
residents with the goal of increasing the number of voucher used.

Assist at least 3,070 households per year
through Section 8 Vouchers.

Action 6.2: In collaboration with the Housing Authority, provide education to property owners and managers to expand awareness of the Housing Choice Voucher program to
increase acceptance of tenant-based Housing Choice
Vouchers and to facilitate mobility and provide choices for lower-income households throughout the city. Identify and address challenges that property owners/managers have with existing or prospective Housing Choice Voucher holders.

Annually conduct one workshop for tenants
and one workshop for landlords in multiple
languages, for a total of 16 workshops during
the planning period, to be held virtually
and/or in person. Target citywide property
owners to assist in the opportunity for
families to live near schools or near
employment opportunities, especially in high
resource areas. Conduct outreach to tenants
and landlords with the goal of increasing
HCV recipients in high resource areas by 10
percent during the planning period.

Beginning in 2027, provide one-on-one
mobility counseling services, including unit
search support and landlord outreach for at
least 5 low-income households annually
seeking to relocate to high-resource areas,
with a goal of assisting at least 25
households by the end of the planning
period.

Action 6.3: Connect affordable housing developers to ProjectBased Section 8 vouchers when they are available to their developments in Bakersfield.

Establish a list of housing developments
supportive of utilizing Section 8 vouchers by
November 2024 and update annually and
coordinate with the Housing Authority for
placement of tenants.

Action 6.4 Provide information about foreclosure prevention resources in the housing programs section of the City’s website, including information about the programs available for refinancing at-risk loans and contact information for legal services agencies and counseling organizations. Mail
foreclosure prevention materials to residents who receive notices of default and notices of trustee sale.

Refer homeowners in foreclosure to consumer credit
counselors and Self-Help Enterprises, which has a program that is assisting homeowners in foreclosure.

Provide information on foreclosure
assistance to homeowners through the City’s
website, handouts at Farmer’s Markets,
libraries, schools, social media, mailers, and
homeowners associations through a
campaign beginning no later than December
2024. Disseminate information to at least
250 residents per year.

Host at least 5 in-person, virtual, or hybrid
educational workshops during the planning
period in multiple languages on foreclosure
prevention with at least 85 attendees. Target
at least two workshops in areas with higher
risk of displacement, including parts of
Central and Southeast Bakersfield Provide
at least 20 households with foreclosure
prevention program referrals.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-17
Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 6.5: Work with GLBA to provide tenant services in conciliation and tenant/owner counseling and legal assistance.

Evaluate existing State and federal “just cause for eviction” (AB 1482; 2019-Chiu) and other similar legislation. Work alongside the community to identify gaps in state and federal laws and adopt protections through a local ordinance if warranted.

Collect reporting by GBLA quarterly and
review data. Recommend adoption of a local
tenant protection ordinance to City Council
by December 2026.

Action 6.6: Identify potential funding sources for a rental assistance program to fill any gaps between Housing Choice Voucher assistance and rent, or to aid those who may not qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher to provide relief to tenants to avoid the displacement in vulnerable communities.

Report will compare similar programs in other cities and feasibility of funding sources, including HOME and CDBG.

Prepare and present a report on
development of a rental assistance program
to the City Council by January 2026,
including recommendations for policy actions
that would provide relief to tenants and
landlords to avoid the displacement in
vulnerable communities. If a rental
assistance program is approved and
implemented as a result, the program will
assist at least 15 lower income renter
households annually after adoption.

Action 6.7: Update the City’s Zoning Code to address the replacement requirements set forth in AB 1397.

Use CDBG or HOME funds when necessary to mitigate the
unsettling impacts of temporary and permanent relocation during the construction or rehabilitation of publicly funded housing.

Update the Zoning Code by December 2024.

Action 6.8: Assess the impacts of short-term rentals (STRs) on the housing availability and affordability in the city, with a focus on Central Bakersfield. Compile example STR
Ordinances implemented in comparable cities. If warranted, adopt a Short-Term Rental (STR) Ordinance, including a
potential short-term rental fee that would apply to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Assess STR impacts by January 2025 and
present results to City Council by April 2025.

If an ordinance is warranted, adopt
ordinance by the end of 2025.

Action 6.9: Assess potential for a Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) or Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) Policy which would give tenants and/or qualified organizations advance notice that the landlord intends to sell the building, along with specified timelines to exercise the “right of first offer” and “right of first refusal.”
The report will identify Right of First Offer and Right of First Refusal components to ensure Tenants, Qualified Non- Profits and Qualified Organizations have first notice, identify strategies to ensure permanent affordability and community control, and identify robust financing opportunities for acquisition and rehabilitation.

Prepare and present a report on the
development of TOPA or COPA policy to the
City Council by January 2026. If a policy is
approved, develop the policy by May 2026.

Action 6.10: Establish a Tenant Housing Equity Committee to serve as an advisory body to City staff during policy and planning discussions, with a specific focus on identifying displacement risks, improving place-based housing mobility, and highlighting tenant interests and concerns.

Create Tenant Housing Equity Committee by
December 2028, prioritizing representation
from historically underrepresented
neighborhoods to advise City staff during the
land use and policy planning process.

Partner with local trusted messengers to
recruit and support committee members
through stipends, training, and
translation/inter
Action 6.11: Ensure that displaced tenants are offered first right to return and provided housing mobility support when they have been evicted due to rehabilitation, renovation, or redevelopment of the property, particularly in neighborhoods undergoing change or experiencing public investment
Amend the Home Accessibility Grant
Program and related housing assistance
policies to include a Right to Return
provision by December 2028. Coordinate
with local housing navigators and regional
City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-18
Actions Objective and Timeframe
fair housing partners to track outcomes and
support tenant transitions into high-resource
areas.

Implements the Following Policies H-1.2, H-4.5, H-4.6, H-4.7, H-4.8, H-5.1 Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department and Development
Services
Funding Sources HUD
Program 7: Maintain Adequate Sites to Accommodate Regional Fair Share of Housing Growth
An important component of meeting the housing needs of all segments of the community is promoting and supporting the development of adequate sites to facilitate the development of all types, sizes, and affordability of housing. The City is tasked with planning for its share of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) of 37,461 units for the 2023-2031 Housing Element planning period. With anticipated pipeline projects and projected ADUs, a total of 3,324 units can be credited toward the City’s RHNA. The remaining 34,137 units (11,003 units appropriate for very low-income households, 7,082 units appropriate for low-income households, 5,317 units appropriate for moderate-income households, and 10,735 units appropriate for above moderate-income households) must be accommodated through adequate sites planning on vacant and non-vacant sites. To do so, the City has amended the zoning ordinance to allow housing development at higher densities than currently allowed in advance of the statutory deadline of the Housing Element on December 31, 2023, and described in the actions below.

In 2017, Senate Bill 166 (SB 166; 2017, Skinner), otherwise known as “no net loss,” was passed to ensure that cities and counties “identify and make available” additional adequate sites if a housing project is approved at a lower density or with fewer units by income category than what is identified in the Housing Element. Consistent with SB 166, the City will monitor housing sites to ensure adequate sites to accommodate the remaining unmet RHNA by each income category are maintained at all times.

Pursuant to AB 1397 (Adequate Sites) passed in 2017, the City will amend the Zoning Code to require the replacement of existing residential units on nonvacant RHNA sites as a condition of project approval for development. Specifically, sites that currently have residential uses, or within the past five years have had residential uses that have been vacated or demolished, that are or were subject to a recorded covenant, ordinance, or law that restricts rents to levels affordable to persons and families of low or very low income, subject to any other form of rent or price control, or occupied by low- or very low-income households, shall replace those units affordable to the same or lower income level as a condition of any development on the site. Replacement requirements shall also be consistent with those set forth in the State Density Bonus Law.

To comply with Government Code Section 65583, the City will also amend the Zoning Code to allow by-right approval for housing developments that include at least 20 percent of units as affordable to lower-income households on non-vacant sites included in one previous housing element inventory and vacant sites included in two previous housing element inventories.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-19
Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 7.1: Maintain a Sites Inventory and make it
available to developers. Actively promote available
parcels appropriate for development that can
accommodate low-income and/or moderate-income
households to private or non-profit housing providers to support the production of at least 18,649 units available to lower-income households and 7,163 units available
to moderate-income households during the planning
period.

Monitor the extent of residential, commercial, and
industrial development on an annual basis. Sufficient
detail should be provided to monitor employment
growth and housing production. Include information
from the Bakersfield Board of Realtors, Multiple Listing Service, and the Home Builders Association to track
housing development, sales, and listing costs.

Ensure sufficient capacity for the development of
18,649 units to be made available to lower-income
households, 7,163 units available to moderateincome households, and 13,627 above moderateincome households during the planning period. By January 2027, the City will conduct a mid-cycle
review of recently adopted zoning and development
standards to determine the impact to housing
supply (number of units), cost, and the ability to
achieve maximum densities. The City will address
any identified constraints within one year of the
mid-cycle review. If not on track to meet RHNA
goals, the City will develop additional incentives
and strategies within six months to further facilitate
development.

Action 7.2: Utilizing GIS updates, monitor the amount
of land zoned for both single-family and multifamily
development. To ensure that the City monitors its
compliance with SB 166 (No Net Loss), the City will
develop a procedure to track:

Unit count and income/affordability assumed on parcels
included in the Sites Inventory.

Actual units constructed and income/affordability when
parcels are entitled and developed.

Net change in capacity and summary of remaining
capacity in meeting remaining Regional Housing Needs
Allocation (RHNA).

If Planned, Approved, and Pending projects are not
proceeding as anticipated, the City shall identify sites appropriate for development that can accommodate the
specified number of units appropriate for low-income,
moderate-income, or above-moderate income
households. Annually monitor the City’s remaining
housing capacity to ensure compliance with the City’s
obligation to affirmatively further fair housing.

Completion of No Net Loss procedures by
December 2024. Ongoing annual reporting via
annual progress report. Beginning in August 2024,
semi-annually review the list of Planned, Approved,
and Pending projects and, if projects are not
proceeding as anticipated (e.g., entitlements are set
to expire, permit applications are not submitted or
stall out, and/or construction is delayed such that
certificates of occupancies will not foreseeably be
granted by the end of the planning period), identify
sites appropriate for development that can
accommodate the specified number of units
appropriate for low-income, moderate-income, or
above-moderate income households. If a pipeline
project is not completed by July 2027, the City will
add an alternative site in the City’s Site Inventory.

Rezoning will occur by July 2028 if needed to
accommodate the specified number of units.

Annually report on progress of Planned, Approved,
and Pending projects and any substituted sites in
Annual Progress Report throughout the 2023-2031
planning period.

Action 7.3: Pursuant to AB 1397 (2017, Low), amend
the Zoning Code to require by-right approval for
housing developments that include at least 20 percent
of units as affordable to lower-income households on
non-vacant sites included in one previous housing
element inventory and vacant sites included in two
previous housing element inventories
Amend Zoning Code by December 2024.

Action 7.4: Maintain a list of publicly owned properties with potential for residential development. These
parcels are periodically assessed for their potential
redevelopment or development for residential use. Use
City-ownership as an incentive for affordable housing
development. To the extent feasible, the City will pursue projects that include housing for extremely low-income
households and those with special needs such as
seniors and persons with disabilities. The City will
coordinate with County staff to pursue necessary
actions to support and promote housing on Countyowned sites.

Publish list of publicly owned sites on the City’s
website by June 2025. Release Surplus Lands Actrelated documents for 25 City-owned parcels by January 2026.

The City will issue a request for proposal by
January 2026 on the 25 publicly owned parcels,
aligning with economic development goals and
prioritizing incentives for low-income households.

By January 2026, the City will develop incentives
for developers to develop housing for lower-income
and/or special needs populations, including but not
limited to, funding support, a 60-day approval
timeline, reduced or flexible development
City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-20
Actions Objective and Timeframe
standards, and an accelerated approval process.

The City will discuss opportunities for these parcels
with at least three potential developers by March
2026, with the goal to develop Exclusive
Negotiating Agreements by the end of 2026 and
target land use entitlements issuance by 2028 and
building permits in 2029.

By January 2027, the City will pursue funding
opportunities such as Permanent Local Housing
Allocation (PLHA), Multifamily Super NOFA, IIG
Small Jurisdictions, CDBG Funds, and HOME
Investment Partnerships to assist with entitlement
and building permit fees if there is potential for
development for housing for lower-income and/or
special needs populations.

Hold discussions with the County about Countyowned sites by July 2025. For County-owned parcels, obtain Requests for Proposals, Exclusive
Negotiating Agreement, and entitlements by
January 2027.

If residential development on publicly owned sites
does not appear feasible during the planning
period, the City will. identify potential alternative
sites. If necessary, potential sites will be identified by January 2027, and sites will be rezoned as
needed to appropriate allowable densities by June
2028 to accommodate the 762 moderate- and
lower-income units. If sites are not made available
by January 2027, identify alternative sites with
zoning of equivalent capacity and density by
January 2028.

Action 7.5: Complete General Plan by June 30, 2026
and zoning amendments by December 31, 2024 to
accommodate sufficient units to meet the City’s RHNA
obligation (rezone land suitable to facilitate the
development of at least 17,445 housing units affordable to lower-income households and 3,518 housing units
affordable to moderate-income households). Rezone
290 sites to allow higher residential densities, including 105 sites that currently allow commercial or industrial uses to be rezoned to allow multifamily housing.

The City will ensure that rezoned sites that are
designated for units suitable for lower-income
households will comply with the following allowances
and development standards:
 Have a minimum density of 30 units per acre
 Allow owner-occupied and rental multifamily
residential uses “by-right” (only subject to ministerial approval) in which 20 percent or more of the units
are affordable to lower income households
 Permit the development of at least 16 units per site
 Ensure at least 50 percent of the low- and very lowincome regional housing need can be accommodated on sites designated for exclusively
residential uses, at appropriate densities
The City will rezone 35 sites to allow developments byright pursuant to Government Code section 65583.2(i) Complete General Plan by June 30, 2026 and
zoning amendments by December 2024.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-21
Actions Objective and Timeframe
when 20 percent or more of the units are affordable to
lower-income households on sites identified in
Attachment A of Appendix E to accommodate the lower
income RHNA that were previously identified in the 4th
and 5th cycle housing elements.

Implements the Following Policies H-2.4, H-3.2,
Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department; Development Services
Department
Funding Sources General Fund
Program 8: Support the Development of a Variety of Housing Types Although the City does not build housing, the City can ensure that there is sufficient capacity for development through its zoning framework. Cities also do not control local market realities, but can provide greater access to information that developers need, remove barriers, and increase incentives for housing development. A larger variety of housing types was identified as a need in the city through public outreach conducted for the Housing Element Update.

The City will align housing development priorities with strategic planning and infill development. The City Council adopted the Making Downtown Bakersfield, the Downtown Bakersfield High-Speed Rail (HSR) Station Area Plan in May 2018 which included a focus on housing development in the City's urban core. Several commercial corridors have been identified for housing development as part of an overall community development plan to increase the jobs/housing balance, connectivity, and economic opportunities in the city’s diverse neighborhoods.

Providing development opportunities for a variety of housing types promotes diversity in housing price, style, and size, and contributes to neighborhood stability by offering more affordable and move-up homes and accommodating a diverse income mix. The City will also support housing for the “missing middle”—households that earn too much annual income to qualify for traditional affordable housing, but not enough to afford market-rate rents.

Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 8.1: Update City website to ensure compliance
with the new transparency requirements per Government
Code Section 65940.1(a)(1).

By January 2025, update City website for
compliance with transparency requirements.

Action 8.2: Create a page on the City’s website with an easily accessible, map-based inventory and dashboard
that identifies vacant and nonvacant housing development opportunity sites, including multifamily residential and mixed-use sites.

By January 2025, display housing site
information via digital map on the City’s website.

Action 8.3: Maintain a current inventory of major
residential housing developments on the City’s website
that have been submitted, approved, and denied. Promote new housing developments through City’s social media
platforms upon approval of planning entitlements.

Create and post inventory to City website by
January 2025. Update inventory annually.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-22
Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 8.4: Provide technical assistance to developers
receptive to lot consolidation to encourage housing
development, with priority for developments that support low- and moderate-income housing. The City will take the following actions to support lot consolidation:
 Make the list of potential sites for lot consolidation available to interested developers. The list will be
available online with information on parcel size,
zoning, and existing uses.
 Establish an outreach program to local real estate
brokers to promote opportunities and incentives for lot consolidation.
 Facilitate communications between property owners
and interested developers.
 Provide technical assistance to expedite the site
acquisition, plan review, and entitlement process.
 By the end of 2024, develop incentives to encourage
lot consolidation. Typical strategies include ministerial approval of lot line adjustments and flexible
development standards (such as reduced or
alternative parking arrangements) for large sites.

Offer interdepartmental pre-development
consultation for multifamily housing
developments with lot consolidation and annually
report on applications throughout the 2023-2031
planning period.

By the end of 2024, develop incentives to
encourage lot consolidation. Email list of potential
sites for consolidation and information on
technical assistance and incentives to list of
developers, real estate brokers by the end of
2024.

Conduct outreach to property owners of potential
sites for consolidation by the end of 2024 to
establish an interest list.

June 2025, meet with the Bakersfield Association
of Realtors to discuss potential sites and
incentives. Provide outreach to developers, real
estate brokers, and property owners at least once
every two years afterwards.

Action 8.5: Develop a web-based Housing Development
Toolkit that outlines a step-by-step process for residential development, including identifying steps in the entitlement and building permit process, detailed information on
development incentives, and funding programs and
resources for affordable housing development.

Develop and publish Housing Development
Toolkit on City’s website by January 2025
Action 8.6: Maximize the density potential of limited land resources by promoting residential densities for residential or mixed-use sites that achieve the highest allowable
density for specific properties, particularly within 0.25-mile of public transit stops and/or commercial and employment centers.

Annually review the City’s existing Zoning Code
to remove potential constraints to achieving
highest possible densities.

Action 8.7: Encourage the development of both smaller
rental and owner units (studio and one-bedroom) and
larger rental units (3 to 4- bedroom units) in residential and mixed-use development. In consultation with
developers, identify and provide incentives and reduction of constraints to encourage the construction of these
housing types and develop a work plan to implement any
proposed changes to development standards, City
programs, and so forth.

Develop incentives and mitigations to constraints
by the end of 2024.

Hold an annual workshop with developers and
provide education about technical assistance and
incentives for larger rental units, with a goal of
supporting the development of 10 large family
units and 25 small units by December 2031.

Action 8.8: Provide incentives and technical assistance to acquire and construct market-rate and affordable infill residential projects in Downtown Bakersfield and along
strategic corridors, including Chester Avenue, Martin
Luther King Boulevard, and Panama Lane. Monitor
incentives and the development potential achieved for
each project. Apply for Infill Infrastructure Grant funds where applicable. Monitor potential sites and promote
them to developers. Prioritize sites proximate to retail, services, and employment, and projects that provide
connections to those uses.

Hold a focus group session with developers at
least twice during the planning period, beginning
in 2024 and again by 2028, to identify existing
and potential incentives, sites, development
needs (e.g. infrastructure, funding) and
opportunities for infill development in Downtown
Bakersfield and along strategic corridors.

Implement changes to incentive programs within
one year of discussion. Apply for at least two
rounds of grant funding for infill development for
these areas during the planning period.

Create a criteria scoring program for priority
assistance based on proximity and connectivity to
retail, services, and employment by January
2025.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-23
Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 8.9: Coordinate with the High Speed Rail Authority and implement the HSR Station Area Plan. Evaluate the
impacts to existing housing and for the potential of future housing growth in Central Bakersfield. Market
development opportunities in this area, work with property owners to facilitate development, and improve the
pedestrian environment, streetscape, and circulation
system to attract investment. Provide incentives for the development of housing surrounding the HSR station
through modifications in development standards,
expedited review tax credits, infrastructure assistance, transit-oriented development incentives, and other
regulatory incentives or concessions. Coordinate housing development opportunities with economic development
and infrastructure plans for Central Bakersfield and
around the HSR Station Area.

Hold a meeting at least once per year with the
High Speed Rail Authority to align priorities on
housing growth locations.

Beginning July 2025, discuss opportunities with
developers at least once every six months to
promote the development of the 35 sites in the
vicinity of the future High Speed Rail Station
identified for housing opportunities, as well as
sites identified in Old Town Kern, Chester
Avenue Corridor, and Martin Luther King
Boulevard Corridor.

By December 2024, rezone sites and provide
incentives as needed to support the development
of 2,368 lower-income units, 1,287 moderateincome units, and 108 above-moderate income units.

By January 2026, develop an incentive plan for
development of the 35 sites, including, but not
limited to:
 Additional density bonus allowances
 Reduced or flexible development standards
 Expedited review
 Other incentives or benefits recommended by
developers
Pursue and leverage public and private sector
funding for implementing the Making Downtown
Bakersfield Vision Plan. By July 2025 or as
determined by the grant RFP, apply for funding
from the California Strategic Growth Council
(SGC) and other potential funding sources for
infrastructure improvements in the HSR Station
Area to leverage other programs such as
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG),
Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), and
Historic Tax Credits.

Update the City’s Land Use Element of the
General Plan by July 2026 to incorporate plans
for the HSR Station Area.

Action 8.10: Review the General Plan, applicable
Specific Plans, and Zoning Code and Zoning Map to
remove barriers to housing production, expand housing
capacity, and accommodate a greater mix of dwelling
types and sizes, especially in Higher and Moderate
Resource areas identified by the California Tax Credit
Allocation Committee (TCAC) and relatively higher
income areas. Recommend amendments, as necessary,
to accommodate added housing capacity in these areas.

Additionally, review the Zoning Code to encourage a
greater mix of dwelling types and sizes, specifically
housing types that may accommodate lower- and
moderate-income households (e.g., duplexes, triplexes,
fourplexes, townhouses, courtyard buildings), in lowerdensity residential areas citywide. Establish smaller unit typologies and amend the Zoning Code as needed.

Review the General Plan, applicable Specific
Plan, and Zoning Code and Zoning Map by June
2024 and implement any changes by January
2025. Cumulatively, these changes have added
capacity for approximately 5,327 units with a
greater mix of housing types in relatively higher
resource and income areas. Following adoption
of Zoning Code changes, monitor construction in
lower-density residential areas (e.g., R-1 and R-2
Zoning Districts) with the goal of achieving 30
moderate-income housing types (duplexes,
triplexes, townhomes) annually thereafter for a
total of 250 units during the planning period, with
100 units targeted in racially concentrated areas
of affluence such as Northwest and Southwest
Bakersfield.Upon approval of the first moderateincome housing development in an RCAA, the City will develop and distribute affirmative
marketing materials to promote access to these
City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-24
Actions Objective and Timeframe
units for households citywide. Materials will be
available in multiple languages and shared
through community-based organizations, housing
service providers, and City communication
channels. The City will support outreach for at
least 5 new developments in RCAAs by the end
of the planning period.

Action 8.11: Prepare a market feasibility report on
financing tools, such as Enhanced Infrastructure
Financing District, Housing Opportunity Zone, Housing
Sustainability District, Neighborhood Infill Finance, and/or Transit Improvement District, as allowed through
Government Code Sections 65620 – 65625 that
encourage the production of moderate-income housing
units.

Prepare report on feasibility of financing
mechanisms and potential for moderate-income
housing production and make recommendation to
City Council by January 2026. Complete
identified actions as recommended in the report
by December 2028.

Action 8.12: Coordinate with housing developers, large
employers, the Chamber of Commerce, and major
commercial and industrial developers to identify and
implement programs to provide housing that meets the
needs of the local workforce.

At least once during the planning period,
beginning no later than January 2026, meet with
housing developers, large employers, the
Chamber of Commerce, and major commercial
and industrial developers to discuss local
workforce housing trends. Prepare report on
housing needs of the local workforce and
strategies to meet those needs. Present report to
the City Council within six months of the meeting.

If strategies are adopted, begin implementation
program within one year of adoption.

Action 8.13: Remove single-family residences as a
permitted use in the C-C zoning district. Monitor
multifamily residential development activity, especially in mixed-use zones, and make recommendations, as
appropriate, to provide additional incentives and/or
updated development standards to facilitate housing
development, particularly for lower-income households.

Amend the Zoning Code by January 2026.

Conduct stakeholder outreach with developers
and community groups and service providers on
alternative housing at least once by January
2025.

Action 8.14: Update the Zoning Code, as necessary, to
accommodate alternative housing types such as housing
co-operatives, dormitories, tiny homes, and collective
home ownership models in more areas of the city,
including religious sites and publicly owned land.

Stakeholder outreach shall include discussions with forprofit and non-profit housing developers.

Amend the Zoning Code by January 2026.

Conduct stakeholder outreach with developers
and community groups and service providers on
alternative housing at least once by January
2025, with the goal of achieving 150 units of
alternative housing types by the end of 2031.

Action 8.15: Amend the Zoning Code in compliance with
SB 9 (2021, Atkins) to address objective standards and lot split criteria to facilitate lot splits in the single-family residential areas.

Amend the Zoning Code by December 2026.

Action 8.16: Monitor regulations, ordinances, processing procedures, and residential development impact and
permit fees to assess impacts on housing development.

At least every two years, monitor regulations,
ordinances, processing procedures, and
residential development fees and make
recommended changes within one year.

Action 8.17: Facilitate the development of a range of
multifamily homeownership opportunities by providing
flexible development standards (see Action 14.4).

Discuss potential locations for condominium or
townhome projects with developers by 2026.

Review development standards to provide
flexibility for condominium or townhome
development in multifamily zones and implement
recommended changes by December
2025.Support the development of at least 200
townhomes or condominiums during the planning
period.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-25
Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 8.18: Conduct an analysis of the commercial
parking standards to revise the ordinance to accurately reflect parking ratios that do not result in overparking.

Evaluate commercial parking standards to increase
flexibility for redeveloping commercial properties with residential uses in zoning districts that allow residential development.

By January 2027, hold discussions with at least
three commercial property owners or managers
of large shopping centers to identify changes to
the City’s development standards that would
increase flexibility for residential development.

Review parking trends and commercial parking
standards to reflect accurate parking ratios. If any
changes are identified, amend the City’s
Municipal Code and/or Zoning Code by January
2028.

Action 8.19: Provide technical assistance for owners of commercial centers to redevelop properties for residential uses. Prioritize technical assistance such as parking
analysis for sites identified in the Sites Inventory as opportunities for units affordable to lower and moderateincome households.

By January 2026, conduct outreach to property
owners of Sites Inventory that include parking
lots for sites with opportunities for lower and
moderate-income unit development.

Provide technical assistance to at least 10
property owners of commercial developments
with parking lots that desire to develop residential
uses by January 2029.

Implements the Following Policy H-2.,3, H-2.4, H-2.6, H-3.1, H-3.4, H-3.5, H-4.4, H-4.9
Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department; Development Services
Department; Office of the City Manager
Funding Sources Departmental Budget
Program 9: Large Lot Development
Bakersfield has a strong record of development on large sites due to the amount of land available in the city. The Sites Inventory identifies 32 sites larger than 10 acres for the development of housing affordable to lower-income households (a list of these sites by APN is in Table 17 in Appendix E, Housing Resources). These large sites are anticipated to accommodate 8,886lower-income units, 1,887 moderate-income units, and 1,893 above moderate-income units.

The City will support the inclusion of mixed-income housing large sites through development agreements between the City and the developer, specific plans, and other regulatory mechanisms. To facilitate the development of affordable housing on these larger parcels, the City will give higher priority to processing subdivision maps that include high density residential. An expedited review process will be available for the subdivision of larger sites into buildable lots where the development application can be found consistent with the General Plan, applicable Specific Plan, and master CEQA document. Additionally, the City will update its Infrastructure Master Plan to include these properties and require planned infrastructure as part of the Specific Plan process.

Actions Objectives and Timeframe
Action 9.1: Annually monitor proposed development on the 32 large sites in the inventory to ensure progress on meeting the RHNA. By January 2025, the City will pursue strategies to parcel and rezone portions of the site at appropriate sizes (e.g., 0.5 acres to 10 acres), including incentives like density bonuses, streamlining, reduced fees, and other mechanisms to facilitate affordability as assumed to meet the RHNA. Projects with higher percentages of affordable housing and/or higher residential densities shall be given priority over projects with lower densities.

Annually monitor development on large
sites. Conduct a mid-cycle assessment of
development on large sites, including a
review of parcel sizes and affordability
levels, and if necessary make changes to
meet site capacity by January 2028.

Support the development of 8,886 lowerincome units, 1,887 moderate-income units, and 1,893 above moderate-income
City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-26
Actions Objectives and Timeframe
If by January 2027, development trends on large sites are not producing anticipated densities to meet the RHNA, identify additional site capacity by January 2028.

Also, the City will implement an expedited review process by December 2026 for the subdivision of larger sites into buildable lots where the development application can be found consistent with the General Plan, applicable Specific Plan, and master environmental impact report. The City will ensure a streamlined process for large site development projects that provides a singular staff contact throughout the entirety of the development process to navigate all procedures.
units on large sites by December 2031.

Action 9.2: To facilitate the development of affordable housing on parcels (that can accommodate 50 to 150 units), routinely give high priority to processing subdivision maps that include affordable housing units.

By January 2025, the City will establish the following incentives for the development of affordable housing on large sites to encourage parceling of large sites at appropriate sizes and affordability, which may include, but is not limited to:
 Streamlining and expediting the approval process for land division for projects that include affordable housing units by January 2025
 Ministerial review of lot line adjustments by January 2025  Deferral of impact fees related to the subdivision to date of recordation of final map for projects affordable to lower income households by January 2025
 Providing technical assistance to acquire funding by January 2025 and annually thereafter
Implement permit streamlining and
incentive policy by January 2025.

Conduct at least three conversations with
housing developers about affordable
housing incentives on large parcels by
January 2025. Implement incentive
program by January 2025.

Implements the Following Policies H-3.5
Responsible Agency Development Services Department
Funding Sources General Fund
Program 10: Inclusionary Housing Ordinance
Inclusionary housing regulations help increase the availability of affordable housing stock in the city by requiring market-rate developments to include a portion of below-market-rate units and/or payment of fees to support the production of affordable housing. The City of Bakersfield does not currently have an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. The lack of such an ordinance is not a constraint to market-rate development but developing an ordinance may encourage the development of affordable housing. The City will conduct a feasibility study for an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance through an objective, data-driven feasibility study and input from the housing development and real estate community, residents, and other stakeholders.

Actions Objectives and Timeframe
Action 10.1: Hire third party objective consultant to conduct an economic feasibility and affordable unit in-lieu fee/nexus study to guide the development of an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, including consideration of:
 An inclusionary housing component (e.g., up to 25 percent),  Possible in-lieu fee structure,
 Feasibility of developer contribution to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund,
 Incentives such as increased densities, increased height Conduct feasibility/nexus study on the
Inclusionary Housing Ordinance by
January 2026. Report on findings and
recommendations by September 2026. If
an inclusionary housing program is
determined to be feasible, adopt an
ordinance by January 2027.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-27
Actions Objectives and Timeframe
limits, reduced parking standards, and ministerial review, for projects that incorporate increased affordable units or deeper levels of affordability, including very- and extremely-low income units.
 Feasibility and infrastructure impact assessment for an ADU bonus program
The City will ensure that the study is crafted with input from developers, builders, realtors, and regional housing advocates with Bakersfield members, as well as the community at large.

Based on the findings of the evaluation and the study, the City shall consider amendments to the ordinance with the goal of increasing the amount of deed restricted affordable housing built in the city while ensuring the requirements do not pose a constraint to overall housing production.

Action 10.2: Assist developers with the ability to acquire and refurbish foreclosed properties and maintain them as deedrestricted affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households.

The City will provide technical assistance to nonprofits wishing to purchase foreclosed properties with the intention of rehabilitating them for deed-restricted housing. The City will work closely with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), which serves as the Administering Fund Manager for the State’s Foreclosure
Intervention Housing Preservation Program (FIHPP).

The City will assist nonprofits with obtaining funding available through the FIHPP, which is made available as loans or grants to eligible borrowers to acquire and rehabilitate 1-25 unit properties at risk of foreclosure or in the foreclosure process.

Rehabilitate 25 units of affordable housing
for low- and moderate-income households
from foreclosed or tax default properties
by the end of the planning period with
annual outreach beginning January 2026.

Implements the Following Policies H-2.3
Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department; Development
Services Department
Funding Sources General Fund
Program 11: Homelessness Prevention and Housing
The City of Bakersfield's Economic and Community Development Department works in close coordination with the County of Kern and the Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative (BKRHC) to assess and plan for community needs related to homelessness and its impact on daily life. With the passage of the Public Safety & Vital Services Measure (PSVS, also known as Measure N), and substantial state and federal investments to end the nation's current homelessness epidemic, the Bakersfield City Council has made significant investments to transform the region's homeless services landscape.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-28
Collective efforts have established a Housing and Neighborhood Vitality Unit to facilitate the development of affordable housing; an Affordable Housing Strategic Plan to outline the City’s policies, programs, tools, and partnership; and an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to help leverage public and private investments. Residents at risk of homelessness or those experiencing homelessness can get connected to services by the Community Action Partnership of Kern through the Coordinated Entry System. This system connects those experiencing homelessness to services, based on their needs after identification, assessment, and referrals. In 2023, the Point-in-Time count identified 1,948 people experiencing homelessness countywide including both sheltered and unsheltered individuals. The City is committed to preserving existing initiatives, including support of the Brundage Lane Navigation Center which opened in 2020, while continuing to explore new opportunities to identify new housing resources and expand services.

Actions Objectives and Timeframe
Action 11.1: Identify and pursue federal, state, and regional funds for homeless service providers that operate temporary, permanent, and emergency shelters in the city that assist persons experiencing homelessness and at risk of becoming homeless. Consult with local community-based organizations and stakeholders to inform the design and development of homeless services, programming and needs assessments.

Support regional collaboration with the Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative (BKRHC) to provide
coordinated services.

By January 2025 and annually thereafter,
pursue funding from local, state, and federal
programs for homeless service providers, as
specified in the BKRHC 2020 10-year plan.

Serve 3,000 persons who experience
homelessness with shelter assistance and
200 households with Rapid Re-housing or
Homelessness Prevention assistance by
December 2031. Assist residents citywide
with emphasis on Central and Southeast
Bakersfield.

Action 11.2: Annually assess the capacity to accommodate individuals experiencing homelessness by comparing the most recent homeless point-in-time count to the number of shelter beds available on a year-round and seasonal basis, the
number of beds that go unused on an average monthly basis, and the percentage of those in emergency shelters that move to permanent housing (AB 362, 2021-Quirk-Silva).

Annually provide summary information to City Council on objectives and outcomes of the City’s funded services. Monitor data and metrics to improve the efficacy of homeless services, programs, and investments on an annual basis. Reporting shall include, at minimum:

Existing shelter beds
New shelter beds
Identify if those shelter beds are available on a year-round or seasonal basis
Average number of shelter beds that are unused on a monthly basis
Number of those exiting shelter to permanent housing
 Ability to provide health and human services for unhoused residents with special needs (seniors, people with physical or mental impairments, victims of domestic violence,
unsheltered youth, people with substance addictions, etc.) Provide financial and other resource support to the BKRHC to support the goals, objectives, and actions of the BKRHC 2020 10-year plan (Home At Last!), with the objective to reduce the number of days for housing placement, and to increase
staffing support and case management for preventative care and outreach services.

Annually provide summary information on
objectives and outcomes of City-funded
services (eight reports during the planning
period).

Assess level of service and funding
availability and coordinate with service
providers to identify actions to address
needs of residents experiencing
homelessness.

By December 2026, reduce the average
number of days of stay for individuals at the
Brundage Lane Navigation Center for
successful housing placement, using
December 2023 data as a baseline (156
days).

By December 2028, increase the combined
number of Kern County Homeless
Collaborative (KCHC) case managers to
provide housing placement, supportive
services and aftercare services by 15 to 20
new case manager positions.

Support the new campus of the Open Door
Network to provide services for women,
children and single fathers, to open by the
end of 2024.

By December 2025, hire additional street
outreach teams to reunite homeless
individuals in Bakersfield with their families
and support systems.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-29
Actions Objectives and Timeframe
Action 11.3: Provide financial and technical support to nonprofit organizations through Multifamily Housing Program – Supportive Housing Program to rehabilitate or develop
affordable housing for extremely low-income households and persons at risk for experiencing homelessness. Expedite permit processing for the development of such units.

Support the rehabilitation or the development
of at least 200 units of housing affordable to
extremely low-income households and
persons at risk of becoming homeless
(including tiny homes, micro units, SRO
units, co-housing units, and other alternative
housing types ) during the planning period.

Make information on permit processing
incentives available online by January 31,
2024.

Action 11.4: Develop a program with BKRHC that incentivizes property owners/managers with available units to rent to formerly homeless individuals and families.

Develop program by January 2025. Reach
out to at least 10 property owners or
managers by January 2026 with the goal of
coordinating housing for at least 96 formerly
homeless individuals and households during
the planning period.

Action 11.5: Seek resources for the acquisition/rehabilitation and operations of Permanent Supportive Housing that offers appropriate services so that people experiencing chronic homelessness can maintain permanent housing, including
finding opportunity sites and dedicating City affordable housing funds.

Permanent Supportive Housing should include either on- or off-site case management for mental and physical health, addiction treatment, social services, and jobs skills
development.

Support the acquisition or rehabilitation for
the purposes of Permanent Supportive
Housing with wraparound services for
persons experiencing chronic homelessness,
serving at least 30 extremely low-income
residents during the planning period.

Action 11.6: Provide financial support to organizations such as the County of Kern’s Building Blocks Program, a foster youth program that is a transitional housing program for emancipated foster youth (ages 18-21) who are homeless or at immediate risk of becoming homeless.

Assist at least 50 foster youth with
transitional housing during the planning
period by December 2031.

Action 11.7: Amend the Zoning Code to comply with the
following legislation:
 AB 2162 (2018-Chiu), to ensure that supportive housing with up to 50 units be a use by right in zones allowing multifamily usesa use by-right in zones mixed use is
permitted, including nonresidential zones and ensure that there is no minimum parking requirements for units
occupied by supportive housing residents if the
development is located within 0.5-mile of a public transit stop.
 AB 139 (2019-Quirk-Silva) to only subject emergency
shelters to those standards which apply to residential and commercial development within the same zone, except that a city can apply standards regulating the number of beds, parking for staff provided that the standards do not require more parking for emergency shelters than other residential or commercial uses within the same zone, length of stay, and other minor standards.
 AB 2339 (2022-Bloom) to expand the definition of
emergency shelters to include other interim interventions, including but not limited to, navigation centers, bridge housing, and respite or recuperative care as well as
ensuring emergency shelters are only subject to objective development standards that apply to residential to
commercial development within the same zone
Amend Zoning Code by December 2024
City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-30
Actions Objectives and Timeframe
 Review and adopt updates to the Zoning Code to that allow for “low barrier navigation centers” by-right in areas zoned for mixed uses and in nonresidential zones permitting
multifamily uses and conditioned on if the center meets specified requirements (AB 101, 2019-Budget Committee).

Action 11.8: Support the safe camping and parking location on the grounds of the M Street Navigation Center, operated by Community Action Partnership of Kern.

Identify potential funding sources to provide
long-term support for the safe camping and
parking services by December 2024.

Implements the Following Policies H-2.5, H-5.1, H-5.2, H-5.3, H-5.4 Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department; Development
Services Department; Office of the City
Manager
Funding Sources General Fund, CDBG, HOME, HUD, State
HCD, Kern County
Program 12: Review and Update the Development Review Process The City must regularly evaluate and update its development review and permitting policies, standards, and practices in response to State and federal laws intended to facilitate residential development. The City also takes into consideration the needs and desires of the community as it undertakes such policy updates.

The City also continues to improve the efficiency of the development review process. As a response to the state housing crisis, Senate Bill 35 (SB 35; 2017-Wiener) made changes to Housing Element law to limit local discretion for qualified housing projects. Amendments to Government Code Section 81560 changed the Permit Streamlining Act by creating a more ministerial, rather than discretionary, two-step application process. The City will continue to identify efficiencies for the development process in line with Government Code Section 81560 and further streamline the permit process. The City will also coordinate with developers to ensure a timely application and development process.

Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 12.1: Monitor average processing times for new housing projects and use data on processing times and applications to track review times and trends in citywide development.

Improve electronic plan review process with the goal of reducing approval times and related staff costs.

Complete upgrades to building permit
electronic processing system by January
2025.

Action 12.2: Assess the existing permit application and review process to identify efficiencies to streamline the development process where possible, prioritizing multifamily and affordable housing development. The City will also coordinate with developers to ensure a timely application and review process.

Develop recommendations
by January 2025 and, if needed, revise the
process within one year.

Action 12.3: Offer free Pre-Application Review process for development applicants.

Develop and implement a standard PreApplication Review process by January 2025.

Action 12.4: Review the City’s permit process to ensure compliance with AB 2011 (Wicks, 2022) which allows for
ministerial, by-right approval for affordable housing on commercially-zoned lands, and also allows such approvals for mixed-income housing along commercial corridors, as long as the projects meet specified affordability, labor, and
environmental criteria.

Review permit process for compliance by
January 2024. Complete and release AB
2011 project checklist by January 2025.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-31
Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 12.5: Review the conditional use permit (CUP) findings and revise to be objective and provide certainty. Remove CUP finding that requires use to be “in harmony” with the General Plan and applicable Specific Plans.

Review CUP findings and revise with
objective findings by December 2024.

Action 12.6: Amend Zoning Code to address updates to SB 35 and create written procedures for the Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process.

Amend Zoning Code and create written
procedures by December 2024.

Implements the Following Policies H-3.3, H-4.8, H-4.9
Responsible Agency Development Services Department
Funding Sources General Fund
Program 13: Incentivize and Track the Development of Accessory Dwelling Units The City of Bakersfield prioritizes and encourages the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as opportunities for infill housing and in support of various state laws encouraging their construction (AB 68, 2019-Ting; AB 670, 2019-Friedman; AB 881, 2019- Bloom; SB 13, 2019-Wieckowski). ADUs are an innovative approach to adding more housing, particularly in single-family residential neighborhoods. ADUs can also offer a reliable source of income for moderate to lower income homeowners. The City aims to reduce barriers to the development of ADUs and will explore options including fee waivers, and expediting the process for ADU permitting. The City has seen an increase in ADU production in recent years, particularly since 2018 when the State passed several bills to facilitate ADUs statewide. In recent years, multiple bills have added requirements for local governments related to ADU permitting and requirements. The City will continue to monitor the extent of ADU production to ensure that ADU-related policies and procedures are successful and that the Housing Element goals and RHNA production can be met.

Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 13.1: Monitor ADU production and affordability levels on an annual basis to ensure that they are satisfying the
construction targets adopted to meet RHNA obligations.

Encourage equitable distribution of ADU development
throughout the city through targeted outreach. Monitor review times for ADU and JADU permit applications and streamline permit review.

Implement additional actions to promote the construction of ADUs depending on the severity of the gap including:

Implementing incentives such as a no-interest loan program for ADU owners to rent to low or moderate-income residents.

Establishing relationships with and promote availability of area ADU technical assistance to loan providers.

Promote the development of ADUs with a
goal of issuing building permits to 320
ADUs during the planning period (or 40
ADUs permitted per year).

Review permit processing times for ADUs
by January 2026 and implement any
needed streamlining actions by January
2027.

Implement a Pilot Program funded by PLHA
to incentivize ADU production with the goal
of assisting 10 ADUs.

Monitor production and affordability levels
on an annual basis. If the City is trending to
miss its target by 2026, modify or develop
new incentives to promote ADU
development and identify sites for rezone
as necessary to meet the RHNA by the end
of 2027..

Action 13.2: Develop a virtual ADU permit meeting for
applicants to streamline the permit process.

Develop and implement virtual ADU permit
meeting process by January 2025.

Action 13.3: Post ADU/JADU Standard Plans in English and Spanish on the City’s website and information on potential funding sources. Update City website by December 2024 to provide link to California Housing Finance Agency (CHFA) ADU Publish materials on the City’s website by
January 2025.

Update City website with CHFA information
by December 2024
City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-32
Actions Objective and Timeframe
program that provides $40,000 in grant for predevelopment costs to income-eligible property owners.

Implements the Following Policy H-2.4, H-2.5
Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department; Development
Services Department
Funding Sources Departmental budget
Program 14: Support Homeownership Opportunities
The City recognizes that homeownership allows households to gain housing security and build wealth through equity, and can serve to strengthen and stabilize neighborhoods. The City partners with community housing development organizations to develop single-family homes and multifamily units and provide silent second mortgages to support homeownership for residents for whom it would otherwise be out of reach. The City also partners with the Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) to provide down payment assistance to low-income homebuyers (who earn up to 80 percent of the AMI). VCCDC also provides both pre- and post-purchase education and counseling to set up households for long-term success. All education and counseling services are provided by HUD-certified counselors and include budget development and financial literacy.

Actions Objectives and Timeframe
Action 14.1: Identify and pursue federal, State, and regional programs to move very low-, low-, and moderate-income
families from renters to homeowners, such as HUD’s
Homeownership Voucher Program, down payment and closing cost assistance, mortgage financing, and mortgage credit certificates for homebuyers.

Apply for grant funding from federal and
state opportunities at least once annually
and as opportunities arise. Assist an
average of 30 households per year (240
during the planning period) with
homeownership assistance through federal,
State, and regional programs, targeting
outreach to households in Southeast and
Central Bakersfield.

Update City website by December 2024 on
links to available homebuyer resources
from the California Housing Finance
Agency (CHFA).

Action 14.2: Partner with VCCDC and the Housing Authority to provide pre-purchase home buying counseling for residents to provide information on mortgage readiness, fair housing education, budgeting for a mortgage payment, credit education, money management, and identifying and avoiding predatory lending.

Provide homebuying counseling to at least
60 Bakersfield residents annually, resulting
in consultations provided to 480 residents
during the planning period.

Action 14.3: Increase participation in homeownership
education and assistance programs for historically
underrepresented residents in the homeownership market.

Facilitate workshops and/or education
campaigns through coordination with at
least three non-profit organizations and
employment-related organizations, such as
teachers’ associations, school districts, and
community-based service providers to
increase awareness of, and access to,
housing resources and financial planning
services during the planning period.

Conduct first workshop or education
campaign by December 2026.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-33
Actions Objectives and Timeframe
Action 14.4: Facilitate the development of a range of
multifamily homeownership opportunities (condominiums,
townhomes, small lot subdivision, etc.) by providing flexible development standards (see also Action 8.17).

Expand affordable homeownership by 200
units through affordability by design (unit
type and size) by the end of the planning
period.

Discuss potential locations for condominium
or townhome projects with developers by
2026. Review development standards to
provide flexibility for condominium or
townhome development in multifamily
zones and implement recommended
changes by December 2025 If any changes
are identified, amend the City’s Municipal
Code and/or Zoning Code by January 2028.

Implements the Following Policies H-1.2, H-4.5, H-4.6, H-4.7, H-4.8, H-5.1 Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department
Funding Sources Departmental budget, federal, State, and regional grant funds
Program 15: Support Climate Change Resiliency in Buildings and Neighborhoods The City of Bakersfield has existing building code and development review standards to incentivize energy-efficient and water-efficient building development. An energy-efficient buildings program is necessary to keep providing resources and support to developers engaging with sustainable design and energy-efficient building construction methods. The City is currently preparing a Climate Action Plan (CAP), which is a roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change. The Bakersfield CAP will serve to reduce GHG emissions within the city to align with State of California GHG reduction targets for 2030 and beyond. Additionally, the CAP aims to build community resilience to prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The actions in this program support the objectives and strategies of the CAP to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to changing climate conditions. The City submitted an application for the California Strategic Growth Council’s Round 5 Transformative Climate Communities Grant which included projects in Southeast Bakersfield. The City was awarded $22.1 million through the grant in December 2023. The program includes a Low-Income EnergyEfficiency Program to provide energy efficiency updates for 100 homes.

Actions Objectives and Timeframe
Action 15.1: Promote and support state and local programs for energy and water conservation in existing homes, such as support GRID alternatives and energy service provider PG&E provision of energy improvements for low-income housing units.

The Golden State Finance Authority provides financing for homeowners making energy and water efficiency improvements.

Hold at least one outreach event at least
once annually in Northwest, Northeast, or
Southwest Bakersfield, and hold at least
one workshop twice annually in Central
and Southeast Bakersfield, to educate
residents on home energy and water
conservation programs during the
planning period.

Action 15.2:

Through funding from the Transformative Climate Communities Grant, assist property owners for certain types of environmentally friendly building improvements such as solar panel installation and energy and water efficiency upgrades, induction cooking, and outdoor water conservation techniques, with priority given to units affordable to lower-income households.

Make 100 homes energy efficient by the
end of the planning period.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-34
Actions Objectives and Timeframe
Action 15.3: Support infrastructure for public transit and active transportation such as walking and biking in areas designated for housing opportunities, prioritizing Central and Southeast Bakersfield. The infrastructure project priority checklist will designate funds for public transit and active transportation projects that prioritize communities and corridors in Central and Southeast Bakersfield, and areas listed in the Sites Inventory that are designated for housing opportunity sites that can
accommodate at least 30 units of affordable/low-income housing.

By January 2025, create an infrastructure
project priority checklist. Designate
funding for at least two projects in Central
and Southeast Bakersfield for FY 2025-
2026 and one per year until December
2030 for a total of six projects during the
planning period. Implement projects by
December 2030.

Action 15.4: Develop an urban tree management plan that reduces the heat island effect and increases connectivity for walking and biking paths, prioritizing Central and Southeast Bakersfield and areas listed in the Sites Inventory that are designated for housing opportunity sites that can accommodate at least 30 units of affordable/low-income housing.

Coordinate with Recreation and Parks
Department to develop and adopt an
urban tree management plan by January
2027, with the goal of being designated a
Tree City by the Arbor Day Foundation by
2030. Plant at least 200 trees by the end
of the planning period in Central and
Southeast Bakersfield and areas listed in
the Sites Inventory that are designated for
housing opportunity sites that can
accommodate at least 30 units of
affordable/low-income housing.

Action 15.5: Increase public transit and active transportation connectivity between housing and places of employment and education, prioritizing Central and Southeast Bakersfield.

Coordinate annual meetings between
Kern Transit large employers (e.g.,
medical centers, large shopping centers,
office/ manufacturing/warehouse centers)
and educational institutions on ways to
improve transit and active transportation
connections with areas with existing and
planned housing, such as modifying
routers, frequency, and location of transit
stops.

Create a list of priority projects linking
housing, employment, and
amenities/services (such as grocery
stores, farmers markets, hospitals and
medical services, and recreational
opportunities) for infrastructure planning
by January 2026 and update annually.

Implement at least two priority projects by
December 2030.

Implements the Following Policies H-4.3, H-4.8
Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department; Development
Services Department; Department of
Public Works; Department of Recreation
and Parks
Funding Sources Departmental budget, federal, State, and regional grant funds
Program 16: Fair Housing Services
The City of Bakersfield implements Fair Housing Services through the Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (GBLA) to provide fair housing services. The GBLA’s Fair Housing Law Project (FHLP) provides fair housing education and outreach, conducts rental audits and investigations, and enforcement services for Bakersfield and Kern County residents who believe they have been victims of illegal housing discrimination, regardless of income. When Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-35
fair housing investigations yield evidence of illegal discrimination, FHLP can assist and represent victims in administrative agency complaints and/or lawsuits. The GBLA provides free legal services in civil matters to eligible low-income persons residing within our service area in Kern County and a hotline number to report potential housing discrimination. More information on fair housing resources is in Appendix D, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.

Actions Objectives
Action 16.1: Support fair housing services and education. The Community Development Department, through its Fair Housing Program, will support the intent and spirit of equal housing opportunities as expressed in the Civil Rights Act of 1986, Title VII of the 1968 Civil Rights Act, California Rumford Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, The California Fair Employment and Housing Act, The Unruh Act (California Government Code Section 51), The Ralph Civil Rights Act (California Civil Code Section 51.7), The Bane Civil Rights Act (California Civil Code Section 52.1), California Government Code Sections 111135, 65008 and 65589.5.

As part of the City’s Fair Housing Program the following activities will be completed:

Produce an annual Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing concurrent with the Consolidated Plan Annual Action Plan Provide annual fair housing tester training in order to promote tester pool retention
Investigate all formal housing discrimination complaints received and make appropriate referrals to enforcement agencies
Additionally, the City will provide support for the following actions:

Provide informational seminars to area residential real estate agents and brokers on fair housing laws and regulations.

Work with tenants and tenant advocates to identify violations of fair housing federal and State fair housing laws and support prospective and existing tenants who are experiencing discrimination.

Provide trainings for property owners/managers on the requirements of federal and State fair housing laws to prevent discrimination.

Provide trainings on fair housing
rights and services to at least 20 real
estate agents and brokers annually.

Provide trainings on fair housing
rights and services to at least 20
property owners and managers
annually.

Assist at least 150 residents and
landlords with fair housing services
annually.

Report the number of complaintbased testing efforts and number of resulting complaints filed with HUD or
California Civil Rights Department
annually.

Action 16.2: Promote fair lending practices throughout the city.

Ensure that low-income and minority residents have fair access to capital resources needed to acquire and maintain housing.

Prevent predatory lending through information and referrals.

Annually conduct and publish third
party review of City or regional HMDA
data to identify areas of need
regarding fair access to lending.

Implements the Following Policies H-4.1, H-4.2, H-4.3, H-4.6, H-4.9 Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department;
Development Services Department
Funding Sources General Fund and CDBG
Program 17: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
AB 686 (2017, Santiago) requires each city to administer its programs and activities related to housing in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing. The City will take actions to overcome patterns of segregation, address disparities in housing needs and access to opportunity, and foster inclusive communities. Appendix D, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH), summarizes the fair housing issues and concerns in Bakersfield based on findings of the City of Bakersfield Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice 2020- 2025 (AI) and additional research conducted as part of this Housing Element update.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-36
Programs under this goal are designed to affirmatively reduce barriers to housing and increase equitable conditions across neighborhoods, addressing issues such as historic and existing racial and economic inequities, housing mobility and access, community investment and engagement, and environmental health. The findings of the AFFH analysis were used to develop meaningful actions and metrics and milestones that promote inclusive communities, increase housing opportunities, and address racial/ethnic and economic disparities in the city. The actions for this program are separated under the headers of each AFFH identified housing issue.

AFFH Identified Housing Issue: Outreach Capacity and Enforcement The AI identified Contributing Factors to AFFH-related issues in the city that impact fair housing, including lack of variety of media, lack of resources for fair housing agencies, and the need for additional fair housing outreach and enforcement. Based on input from community engagement efforts and stakeholder meetings, community outreach on fair housing issues should be expanded to better support marginalized populations, including local tribal community groups, seniors, minority populations, and youth.

Actions Objectives and Timeframe
Action 17.1: Provide and if feasible expand information and referral services that direct families and individuals to financial resources for housing rental or purchase,
locating suitable housing, and obtaining housing with
special needs facilities such as disabled-accessible units.

Coordinate with GBLA to provide educational
workshops/trainings to tenants and landlords on fair
housing rights and responsibilities, including information on ADUs.

Expand outreach and public education strategies on
available tenant protection and fair housing services to reach vulnerable households by offering information in
multiple languages, targeted social media efforts,
combining information with other assistance programs,
distributing resources through local schools and colleges, and partnering with community-based organizations.

In FY 2023-2024, the City committed funds for a pilot
Eviction Prevention Program to include outreach and
education on tenant rights and landlord responsibilities.

Hold at least 8 informational events during the
planning period to disseminate informational
materials or provide trainings to residents, at
least once every two years in areas considered
sensitive communities (Central and Southeast
Bakersfield) prioritizing communities sensitive to
displacement.

Partner with at least three new schools or
community-based organizations during the
planning period to disseminate materials and
provide trainings to residents, with targeted
outreach in Central and Southeast Bakersfield.

Add more information about fair housing services
and a link to GBLA’s website on the City’s
webpage with Fair Housing information by
January 2024.

Present results from the data collected from year
one of the pilot Eviction Protection Program to
City Council by May 2025, and make
recommendations to continue and if possible,
expand the program. If approved, enact
recommendations within six months of approval
date.

The program will provide multi-lingual educational
public awareness and public education
workshops, meetings with residents to discuss
tenant rights, legal assistance to act as a liaison
between tenants and landlords, negotiate
settlement agreements, and attend
dispossessory hearings as necessary.

If the program is not approved by Council,
establish alternative actions such as expanding
partnerships with legal aid organizations,
enhancing rental assistance programs, or
developing new community-based outreach
activities by May 2026.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-37
Actions Objectives and Timeframe
Action 17.2: Implement local housing programs in a
manner that responds to the needs of a culturally diverse community that includes multi-generational families, a
variety of living arrangements, and Limited English
Proficiency households. Plans should ensure
collaboration with community groups, including faithbased and nonprofit organizations, to provide outreach on housing resources to all types of households and those
households with Limited English Proficiency.

Review affordable housing programs annually to
ensure compliance with current City policy to
Affirmatively Further Fair Housing and make
necessary changes within six months.

Action 17.3: Review the City’s outreach methods
annually, using feedback from resident surveys and
focused discussions with community organizations to
inform online, mail, and in-person outreach methods.

Increase participation of historically underrepresented residents in all City housing programs and community
planning activities by collaborating with local religious organizations, community-based organizations, and public agencies that serve the underrepresented groups.

Collaborate with existing and new community
stakeholders from all sectors and geographic areas to
engage in the public participation process.

Annually conduct citywide resident surveys to
obtain feedback about City outreach methods,
prioritizing feedback from underrepresented
residents.

Action 17.4: Expand and improve access to public
meetings by conducting public meetings at suitable times (using information from public feedback and survey
results) and locations, using both in-person and online methods such as Zoom. In-person meetings must
accommodate persons with disabilities, be accessible to nearby transit centers, and provide resources such as
childcare, translation, and food services. Develop an
outreach guide that will be used for all outreach
campaigns.

Expand and improve access to public meetings.

Conduct a public survey on outreach methods
and accessibility at public meetings to inform the
outreach guide. Develop the outreach guide by
January 2026.

Action 17.5: Review and update the City’s Language
Access Plan based on HUD guidelines and publish it on
the City’s website. The goal of the Language Access Plan is to survey, maintain and publish a list of resources that facilitate communication between City staff and those
households with Limited English Proficiency so that their housing needs are met. The City seeks to ensure that all residents may participate fully and equally in the housing market by maintain access to written and oral City
resources.

Review the City’s Language Access Plan and
update by January 2026.

Implements the Following Policies H-4.2, H-4.3, H-4.7, H-4.8, H-5.4 Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department; Development Services
Department; Office of the City Manager
Funding Sources CDBG
AFFH Identified Housing Issue: Replacing Segregated Living Patterns with Integrated and Balanced Living Patterns
An AFFH-identified issue is socio-economic segregation and the need for integration of special needs populations. As indicated in the AFFH analysis in Appendix D, the city has HUD-identified racially and/or ethnically concentrated areas of poverty (R/ECAPs), which are areas where lower household income and racial and ethnic concentration overlap.

These areas are concentrated in Central and Southeast Bakersfield and are predominantly Hispanic/Latino and areas that are historically Black/African American. R/ECAPs have City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-38
higher levels of segregation and poverty, as well as areas with a higher proportion of residents who are renters, higher levels of overcrowding, and higher levels of housing cost burden. These areas also have a higher share of multifamily housing compared to other areas of the city. There are also Racially Concentrated Areas of Affluence (RCAAs) that are predominantly majority white and have higher household income levels in Northwest, Northeast, and Southwest Bakersfield. As noted in Appendix D, much of the socioeconomic division that exists today can be traced to historic patterns of inequitable investment practices concerning public and private infrastructure.

This program complements other programs and objectives that are designed to increase integration of economic opportunities throughout the city and create equitable investment across communities.

Actions Objectives and Timeframe
Action 17.6: Budget for and implement plans and
strategies for communities in Central and Southeast
Bakersfield, prioritizing corridors and neighborhoods
designated for mixed-income housing opportunities in
the Sites Inventory.

Expand the Prosperity Neighborhood community
revitalization efforts, as well as apply for Transformative Climate Communities Implementation grants.

Implement existing City plans, such as the Downtown
Bakersfield Corridor Enhancement Master Plan and the
Bakersfield Transformative Climate Communities Plan,
and annually monitor implementation strategies to
ensure equitable practices that benefit low- and
moderate-income residents.

In Southeast Bakersfield, collaborate with local
organizations and residents to identify opportunities for placemaking improvements, including:
 Public transit and active transportation infrastructure that improve connectivity and safety such as micromobility stations, and traffic calming  Public art reflective of cultural identity and diversity  Neighborhood-serving public infrastructure such as
wayfinding signs, community gardens, shades,
street trees, recreation facilities, and benches
 Aesthetic enhancements such as alley beautification
and façade improvements
Collaborate with regional partners and seek grant
funding for implementation when practicable, such as
through Project for Public Spaces. Identify and apply for at least one relevant federal state, and private grant
opportunity annually that support open space and
community placemaking opportunities when NOFAs
become available.

Coordinate with the Public Works Department to review
the City’s biannual Capital Improvement Projects (CIP)
to ensure public facilities and infrastructure are
supportive of the needs of underserved communities.

For Fiscal Year 2025-26, as part of the annual CIP
program update, establish a minimum spending
target (15 percent) and report the percent of CIP
budget (including Federal, State, and regional grant
funds, including CDBG) committed to Central and
Southeast Bakersfield.

Hold at least three workshops during the planning
period in Southeast Bakersfield to develop
infrastructure and programming plans that support
mixed-income housing development. Hold the first
workshop by December 2026.

Prepare a report on the City’s infrastructure
investment from 2023 to 2028 from an equity and
anti-displacement lens to ensure that improvements
benefit lower-income neighborhoods by June 2029.

The report shall be made public.

Identify and apply for at least one relevant state,
federal or regional funding opportunity annually that
supports equitable infrastructure in Central and
Southeast
Action 17.7: Annually monitor the development of
housing units affordable to lower- and moderate-income
households in RCAAs and identify and implement
changes in the zoning code and/or incentive programs
(financial or streamlining) for high-density or deedrestricted housing in those areas.

Annually monitor housing production in RCAAs.

Implement incentive programs or zoning
amendments within one year of review.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-39
Actions Objectives and Timeframe
Action 17.8: Promote the development of ADUs,
prioritizing Northwest, Southwest, and Northeast
Bakersfield.

Conduct seven educational workshops, campaigns,
or outreach events to inform and promote ADU
development in the city to residents, with at least
five targeted to residents and developers in
Northwest, Southwest, and Northeast Bakersfield,
by December 2030. Contact at least four
community or neighborhood organizations to host
workshops and/or disseminate information and hold
at least two workshops about ADUs with housing
developers and/or real estate professionals, by
December 2030.

Achieve 70 percent of new ADUs in targeted
neighborhoods.

Action 17.9: Determine and implement strategy to
promote ADUs for moderate and lower-income
households.

Prepare a report on potential strategies to
encourage affordability of ADUs for moderate and
lower-income households, including but not limited
to, promoting the use of Section 8 vouchers or
development of cost incentive programs or nointerest loan program for ADU developers in exchange for income restrictions. Prepare report by
July 2025 and present to City Council for adoption
of a pilot program by October 2025. If adopted,
implement pilot program by January 2026.

If program is adopted, create 48 affordable (deedrestricted) ADUs by the end of the planning period (2026 to 2029).

Implements the Following Policies H-4.2, H-4.3, H-4.4, H-4.9 Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department; Public Works
Department
Funding Sources CDBG
AFFH Identified Housing Issue: Significant Disparities in Housing Needs and Access to Opportunity
According to HCD, “access to opportunity” is a concept that seeks to support development of housing and other place-based resources that serve historically underserved and disadvantaged populations and that is near job centers, high achieving schools, and other beneficial community resources. Access to opportunity also means improving the quality of life for existing residents of low-income communities with fewer resources. As discussed in the AFFH analysis in Appendix D, areas with greater proportions of low- and moderateincome households tend to have higher degrees of overcrowding, housing burdens, and exposure to pollutants than other areas of the city. Most of Northwest, Southwest, and Northeast Bakersfield are considered “high resource” or “highest resource” areas as identified by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC) educational, economic, and environmental opportunity indicators. Areas identified as “low resource” for those indicators are concentrated in Central and Southeast Bakersfield.

Additionally, as identified in the AFFH analysis, much of Central and Southeast Bakersfield is considered sensitive to displacement, and low-income residents are most vulnerable.

Feedback from community members and representatives of service organizations during the community and stakeholder workshops desired a greater mix of housing opportunities and equitable development.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-40
Actions Objectives and Timeframe
Action 17.10: Prioritize public health, education, economic, and safety programs in Central and Southeast Bakersfield in coordination with area public health entities (e.g., Bakersfield Family Medical Center, Kern Medical, Dignity Health Hospitals), Kern Transit, the City’s Economic and Community Development Department, Bakersfield City School District, workforce development groups, and the Bakersfield Police Department.

Identify addresses and compile mailing list and email addresses to focus outreach to neighborhoods in Central and Southeast Bakersfield to prioritize services in these areas.

Involve community organizations and advocates, business councils, and residents to refine program scope. Opportunities could include new or expanded policies and programs, added density bonuses, land banks, housing trust funds, and transit and economic development and prioritization.

Develop a comprehensive, long-term
community development strategy and/or
program priority strategy for Central and
Southeast Bakersfield by January 2026.

Action 17.11: Develop an outreach strategy in multiple
languages for long-standing property owners who own fewer than 10 residential units (either in single-family or multifamily rental housing) to assess needs and connect them with
resources, such as housing unit rehabilitation and financing programs. The intent of this program is to preserve Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (i.e., not currently regulated with affordability deed restrictions). The program will seek to prioritize communities vulnerable to displacement, generally in Central and Southeast Bakersfield.

Develop an outreach strategy for property
owners that own fewer than 10 residential
rental units by January 2026.

After the strategy is approved, conduct
outreach to at least 15 of the identified
property owners that own less than 10
residential units and assist at least 5
property owners with a combined total of
20 units or more by December 2031.

Action 17.12: Work with commercial property owners and
developers to identify sites for new grocery stores in Southeast Bakersfield and provide technical assistance and permit streamlining.

Provide technical assistance to support at
least one new community-serving grocery
store (e.g., supermarket) in Southeast
Bakersfield by the end of the planning
period.

Action 17.13: Upon expansion and/or intensification of
development on the Golden State Mall and City Serve sites, a 7- foot-tall sound wall shall be constructed along the residential alley that abuts the two sites to protect, stabilize, and enhance the Westchester neighborhood immediately beyond.

Construct the sound wall upon
development of residential uses on the
Golden State Mall and City Serve sites.

Action 17.14: Apply for planning and construction funding from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and other fundings sources to support adequate water and wastewater infrastructure for new and existing low-income housing
development.

Apply for funding by January 2026 and
every time a notice of funding availability
is released. If funded, support the
development of at least one water or
wastewater infrastructure project in
Central or Southeast Bakersfield by the
end of the planning period.

Implements the Following Policies H-1.2, H-1.4, H-4.2, H-4.3, H-4.7, H-4.8 Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department; Development
Services Department
Funding Sources CDBG
Program 18: Site Annexation
Annexation is the process by which a city adds land within its jurisdictional boundaries.

Lands must be within a city’s Sphere of Influence (SOI) to be annexed into the city or the SOI needs to be amended as part of the annexation process. The SOI is the planned growth area of a city, usually identified in their General Plan and includes General Plan land use designations for the areas within the SOI. An annexation is initiated by a Resolution of Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-41
Application submitted by the City to Kern County Local Agency Formation Commission (Kern LAFCo). Annexation encourages orderly growth and provides standardized (City) services to those who live in the annexed area. The annexation process is a shared procedure between Kern County and the City of Bakersfield, overseen by the Kern County Local Agency Formation Commission (Kern LAFCo). In Kern County, most petitions require 25 percent of the voters or landowners in the project area to sign the annexation petition, unless determined to be an “island” as set forth in Government Code section 56375.3. Upon approval of the annexation, the City then extends its services, laws, and voting privileges to the residents living or moving into the annexed area.

The Sites Inventory includes five annexations that are anticipated to be completed during the 6th cycle. A portion of the annexed properties are being used in the Sites Inventory with an assumed 4,822 lower-income units. Cities can take certain steps to “prezone” land in advance of annexation. Generally, the following steps must be taken to achieve annexation:
 City initiates annexation by a Resolution of Application submitted by the City or Petition of Application submitted by the property owner(s).
 Submit application and all required fees to LAFCo
 LAFCo Executive Officer will issue a Notice of Filing to the County Assessor and the Assessor provides assess valuation to the County Auditor  Within 60 days, the Board of Supervisors and certain agencies must formally approve the tax agreement resolution.
 LAFCo holds a public hearing, receives public comment, and makes a determination on the request.

The Resolution of Application for annexations was initiated by the City in March 2023. To ensure these parcels are available for development during the planning period, the City will work with property owners and Kern LAFCo to facilitate the annexation and availability of these parcels for residential development. Additionally, the City will update its Infrastructure Master Plan to include these properties and require planned infrastructure as part of the planning process. This City will ensure that infrastructure plans are created in a timely manner that coincides with housing development, and that housing is served by neighborhood-supporting retail and services.

Actions Objectives and Timeframe
Action 18.1: The City will take steps necessary for the annexation and development of all annexation parcels included in the Sites Inventory:

Provide technical assistance to the development applicant and support City Council approval of pre-zoning on all parcels by June 2024.

Coordinate with property owners and Kern LAFCo to support the annexation application and process. Achieve annexation
approval by January 2025.
 Support the development of a Specific Plan or Master Plan with the development capacity that meets RHNA objectives.

Ensure infrastructure plans, including community
infrastructure needs, are included with any Specific Plan or Master Plan and are adequate and timely for proposed
development and phasing.

Identify potential funding needs and sources to ensure adequate community infrastructure for annexed sites during the planning Achieve City Council approval of prezoning by June 2024.

Achieve LAFCo approval of annexation by
January 2025.

Support the development of 4,822 lowerincome units by the end of the planning period.

By January 2026, if development does not
appear to be on track for completion
during the planning period, identify
alternative sites and complete rezones as
needed to complete the RHNA by
December 2027.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-42
Actions Objectives and Timeframe
period.

Annually monitor the annexation process and proposed
development on the three sites in the Sites Inventory to ensure progress on meeting the RHNA. If by January 2026 the City determines that development on any of these sites would be infeasible by 2031, the City will locate alternative sites and methods to accommodate the lower-income units assumed for those sites.

Implements the Following Policies H-3.2
Responsible Agency Development Services Department
Funding Sources General Fund
Program 19: 15-Minute Neighborhoods
The City’s single-family zoning does not allow for neighborhood-service commercial uses.

As a result, driving is often needed to access local services. The City will enact strategies to promote transitioning single-family neighborhoods, at appropriate locations, into 15-minute walkable neighborhoods by integrating neighborhood-serving uses, and live/work spaces with residential uses. This approach enhances housing options by introducing medium density housing into single-family neighborhoods, providing the middle-income housing that is missing in the City's range of housing choices. To implement this goal, the City will enact several changes to the Zoning Code, including but not limited to:
 Allowing neighborhood-serving nonresidential uses into residential neighborhoods, including co-working spaces
 Redefining home occupation and live/work arrangements  Promote lot splits under SB 9 in low-density neighborhoods by creating clear guidance and procedures, with handouts available on the City’s website and at the planning counter.
 Promoting small lot subdivisions and appropriately scaled multifamily buildings To ensure that these changes align with community aspirations, the City will engage in a robust community engagement process that may include, but not be limited to: stakeholder meetings, online surveys, and public hearings.

Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 19.1: Conduct an analysis of appropriate locations and zoning tools to implement 15-minute neighborhoods
that emphasize equal access to core services and
opportunities.

Conduct analysis by mid-year 2026 and amend
Zoning Code to allow accessory commercial
uses in residential neighborhoods by 2027.

Review City standards for home occupation and
live/work arrangements in residential
neighborhoods and implement changes to allow
greater flexibility, as needed, by January 2026.

Facilitate the transitioning of two pilot
neighborhoods in Central or Southeast
Bakersfield by 2031 including the following
actions:.
 Map essential amenities and assess
accessibility.
 Amend the Zoning Code by December 2025
to implement objective design standards and
mixed-use zoning to increase compactness,
Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-43
Actions Objective and Timeframe
smaller block sizes, flexible-use spaces, and
standards that activate ground floors.
 Connect community retailers with business
support services.

Create guidance and procedures for SB 9 and
publish handouts on the City’s website and at
the planning counter by January 2025.

Implements the Following Policies H-2.4, H-3.2
Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department; Development
Services Department
Funding Sources General Fund
Program 20: Community Land Trust
In October 2023, the City Council authorized the establishment and formation of the Bakersfield Community Land Trust (CLT) to further promote affordable housing and housing mobility by providing assured perpetual affordable housing to buyers and renters. The City will be able to transfer surplus property to the CLT with the initial goal of incorporating 100 parcels for development. The City will prioritize potential sites for the CLT in Central and Southeast Bakersfield. The CLT will evaluate and create processes for a variety of types of housing models: owner-occupied, tenant opportunities to purchase, or rental units. The specific programs will develop and manage resale-restricted owner-occupied housing and rental units on leased land.

To ensure the success of the CLT, the City will be utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to purchase properties and apply for funding through Local Housing Trust Fund for the construction of units. The City will prioritize the development of a CLT for special housing needs populations, including farmworkers.

Actions Objective and Timeframe
Action 20.1: Conduct community outreach, develop the
CLT policies, and apply for funding. Transfer surplus
property to the CLT, prioritizing sites in Central and
Southeast Bakersfield.

Complete transfer of property by end of 2025.

Develop 15 properties by end of 2028.

Incorporate 100 parcels for development by the
end of the planning period.

Implements the Following Policies H-2.3, H-2.5, H-4.1, H-4.9 Responsible Agency Bakersfield Economic and Community
Development Department; Development
Services Department
Funding Sources General Fund

2.3 Summary of Quantified Objectives
The City’s quantified objectives for the 2023-2031 planning period are:
 Sites to facilitate new housing units to meet the RHNA  Rehabilitation of 176 housing units
 Construction of 320 ADUs
 Conservation of 3,070 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers  Preservation of 395 units at risk of converting to market-rate units City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-44
 Preservation of 50 units through housing inspection and code enforcement action  Conservation of 20 units from foreclosure prevention
 Conservation of 30 units from energy and water efficiency improvement program Table 2-1 summarizes these objectives for the 2023-2031 planning period by income group.

Table 2-1 Quantified Housing Objectives (2023-2031)
Extremely
Low
Income
Very Low
Income
Low
Income
Moderate
Income
Above
Moderate
Income Total
New Development
(RHNA)
5,553 5,576 7,082 5,317 10,206 33,734
Units To be Rehabilitated – – 176 – – 176
Housing
Inspections/Code
Enforcement (Units
Preserved)
– – 50 – – 50
Foreclosure Prevention
Referrals (Housing
Conserved)
– – – 10 10 20
Energy and WaterEfficiency Improvements
(Housing Conserved)
– – 15 15 – 30
ADUs Developed – – 30 28 310 368
Section 8 Housing Choice
Vouchers (Housing
Conserved)
– – 3,070 – – 3,070
At-Risk Housing Units to
be Preserved
– – 395 – – 395
Note: Government Code Section 65583 mandates that localities calculate the subset of the very-low income regional need that constitutes the communities need for extremely low-income housing. As an alternative to calculating the subset, local jurisdictions may assume that 50 percent of the very low-income category is represented by households of extremely low income (less than 30 percent of the median family income).

2.4 Summary of AFFH Actions and Metrics
Summary of AFFH Actions and Metrics summarizes the actions, timelines, and metrics of programs designed to address fair housing concerns
Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-45
Table 2-2 AFFH Program Summary
Program Action Timeline
Geographic
Targeting Metrics
Fair Housing Outreach and Enforcement
AFFH Action 17.1 Provide and if feasible expand information and referral services that direct families and individuals
to financial resources for housing rental or
purchase, locating suitable housing, and obtaining
housing with special needs facilities such as
disabled-accessible units.

By January 2025 Citywide Add more information about fair housing services and a link to
GBLA’s website on the City’s
webpage with Fair Housing
information.

Coordinate with GBLA to provide educational
workshops/trainings to tenants and landlords on
fair housing rights and responsibilities, including
information on ADUs.

Annually
Every two years
Central and
Southeast
Bakersfield with
emphasis on
communities
sensitive to
displacement
Hold at least 8 informational
events during the planning
period to disseminate
informational materials or
provide trainings to residents,
including events in sensitive
communities at least once every
two years.

Expand outreach and public education strategies
on available tenant protection and fair housing
services to reach vulnerable households by offering
information in multiple languages, targeted social
media efforts, combining information with other
assistance programs, distributing resources
through local schools and colleges, and partnering
with community-based organizations.

Beginning December
2025 and annually
thereafter
Central and
Southeast
Bakersfield
Partner with at least three new
schools or community-based
organizations to disseminate
materials and provide trainings
to residents, with targeted
outreach.

In FY 2023-2024, the City committed funds for a
pilot Eviction Prevention Program to include
outreach and education on tenant rights and
landlord responsibilities. The program will provide
multi-lingual educational public awareness and
public education workshops, meetings with
residents to discuss tenant rights, legal assistance
to act as a liaison between tenants and landlords,
negotiate settlement agreements, and attend
dispossessory hearings as necessary.

By May 2025
Enact
recommendations
within six months of
approval
Citywide Present results from the data
collected from year one of the
pilot Eviction Protection
Program to City Council by May
2025, and make
recommendations to continue
and if possible, expand the
program. If approved, enact
recommendations within six
months of approval date.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-46
Program Action Timeline
Geographic
Targeting Metrics
AFFH Action 17.2 Implement local housing programs in a manner that responds to the needs of a culturally diverse
community that includes multi-generational
families, a variety of living arrangements, and
Limited English Proficiency households. Plans
should ensure collaboration with community
groups, including faith-based and nonprofit
organizations, to provide outreach on housing
resources to all types of households and those
households with Limited English Proficiency.

Beginning January
2025 and every two
years
Within six months
Citywide Review affordable housing
programs to ensure compliance
with current City policy to
Affirmatively Further Fair
Housing and make necessary
changes within six months.

AFFH Action 17.3 Review the City’s outreach methods annually, using feedback from resident surveys and focused
discussions with community organizations to inform
online, mail, and in-person outreach methods.

Increase participation of historically
underrepresented residents in all City housing
programs and community planning activities by
collaborating with local religious organizations,
community-based organizations, and public
agencies that serve the underrepresented groups.

Collaborate with existing and new community
stakeholders from all sectors and geographic areas
to engage in the public participation process.

Beginning January
2025 and every three
years
Citywide Conduct at least one citywide
resident survey every three
years to obtain feedback about
City outreach methods,
prioritizing feedback from
underrepresented residents.

AFFH Action 17.4 Expand and improve access to public meetings by conducting public meetings at suitable times (using
information from public feedback and survey
results) and locations, using both in-person and
online methods such as Zoom. In-person meetings
must accommodate persons with disabilities, be
accessible to nearby transit centers, and provide
resources such as childcare, translation, and food
services. Develop an outreach guide that will be
used for all outreach campaigns.

By January 2026 Citywide Expand and improve access to
public meetings. Conduct a
public survey on outreach
methods and accessibility at
public meetings to inform the
outreach guide. Develop the
outreach guide by January
2026.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-47
Program Action Timeline
Geographic
Targeting Metrics
AFFH Action 17.5 Review and update the City’s Language Access Plan based on HUD guidelines and publish it on
the City’s website. The goal of the Language
Access Plan is to survey, maintain and publish a
list of resources that facilitate communication
between City staff and those households with
Limited English Proficiency so that their housing
needs are met. The City seeks to ensure that all
residents may participate fully and equally in the
housing market by maintain access to written and
oral City resources.

By January 2026 Citywide Review and update the City’s
Language Access Plan.

Action 2.1 Provide annual cultural sensitivity trainings that will support safe and sanitary housing to improve
capacity of building and code enforcement staff to
work with diverse communities.

Beginning in 2025 and
annually thereafter
N/A Hold at least five cultural
sensitivity trainings for staff
during the planning period.

Action 14.2 Partner with VCCDC and the Housing Authority to provide pre-purchase home buying counseling for
residents.

By December 2025
and annually
thereafter
Citywide Provide homebuying counseling
to at least 60 Bakersfield
residents annually, resulting in
consultations provided to 480
residents.

Action 16.1 Support fair housing services and education including production of an Analysis of Impediments
to Fair Housing Choice, fair housing tester training,
investigation of discrimination complaints,
informational seminars, and trainings for property
owners/mangers. Provide informational seminars to
area residential real estate agents and brokers on
fair housing laws and regulations.

Work with tenants and tenant advocates to identify
violations of fair housing federal and State fair
housing laws and support prospective and existing
tenants who are experiencing discrimination.

Provide trainings for property owners/managers on
the requirements of federal and State fair housing
laws to prevent discrimination.

Annually Citywide Provide trainings on fair housing
rights and services to at least
20 real estate agents and
brokers.

Provide trainings on fair housing
rights and services to at least
20 property owners and
managers.

Assist at least 150 residents
and landlords with fair housing
services.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-48
Program Action Timeline
Geographic
Targeting Metrics
New Housing Opportunities in High Resource Areas
AFFH Action 17.7 Annually monitor the development of housing units affordable to lower- and moderate-income
households in RCAAs and identify and implement
changes in the zoning code and/or incentive
programs (financial or streamlining) for high-density
or deed-restricted housing in those areas.

Beginning 2025 and
annually thereafter
RCAAs (Northeast
and Northwest
Bakersfield)
Monitor housing production in
RCAAs. Implement incentive
programs or zoning
amendments within one year of
review.

Action 4.1, 4.2 Annually apply for funds to facilitate development of affordable housing and partner with nonprofit
housing developers. Maintain information on
housing opportunity sites on the City website and
conduct meetings with developers.

Annually Citywide Facilitate the entitlement of
1,000 subsidized housing units
affordable to lower income
households with the goal of
achieving 30 percent in high
resource areas during the
planning period.

Action 5.3 Hold annual meetings with nonprofits and
agencies, provide incentives beyond state density
bonus law, and provide technical and/or financial
assistance to developers or organizations to
facilitate the development or rehabilitation of
farmworker housing.

Annually Citywide Facilitate the development or
rehabilitation of 335 units of
affordable farmworker housing
during the planning period.

Action 5.5 Annually meet with representatives of educational institutions and design and conduct a survey to
determine student housing needs.

By January 2025 and
annually thereafter
Bakersfield College,
CSU Bakersfield,
and other
educational
institutions
In partnership with the
educational institutions, identify
existing programs and
resources that can be leveraged
to meet needs with the goal of
creating 200 student housing
units.

Action 5.7 Submit applications for funding the development of alternative affordable housing developments and
provide technical assistance and/or incentives in
future NOFAs.

By January 2026 Citywide Facilitate the development of
two alternative housing projects
that would serve 50 ELI
residents.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-49
Program Action Timeline
Geographic
Targeting Metrics
Action 6.2 Annually conduct one workshop for tenants and one for landlords on Housing Choice Vouchers.

Annually Citywide with
emphasis on
properties near
schools and
employment
opportunities,
especially in high
resource areas.

Conduct 16 workshops during
the planning period, Conduct
outreach to tenants and
landlords with the goal of
increasing HCV recipients in
high resource areas by 10
percent during the planning
period.

Action 8.9 Implement actions outlined under Action 8.9 to support the development of housing adjacent to the
HSR Station, including annual meetings with the
High Speed Rail Authority, review of development
standards, and zoning code amendments.

Annually Central Bakersfield Support the development of 2,368 lower-income units, 1,287
moderate-income units, and
108 above moderate-income
units in Central Bakersfield area
during the planning period.

Housing Mobility
AFFH Action 17.8 Promote the development of ADUs through educational workshops, campaigns, or outreach
events and outreach to community or
neighborhood organizations, prioritizing Northwest,
Southwest, and Northeast Bakersfield.

Conduct seven educational outreach events to
inform and promote ADU development in the city,
with at least five targeted to residents and
developers in Northwest, Southwest, and Northeast
Bakersfield.

Contact at least four community or neighborhood
organizations to host workshops and/or
disseminate information and hold at least two
workshops about ADUs with housing developers
and/or real estate professionals.

Initiate contacts in
2025 and annually
thereafter. Conduct
seven educational
workshops,
campaigns, or
outreach events by
December 2030.

Contact at least four
community or
neighborhood
organizations to host
workshops and/or
disseminate
information by
December 2030.

Northwest,
Southwest, and
Northeast
Bakersfield
Support the development of at
least 320 ADUs in the city.

Achieve 70 percent of new
ADUs in targeted
neighborhoods during the
planning period.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-50
Program Action Timeline
Geographic
Targeting Metrics
AFFH Action 17.9 Determine and implement strategy to promote ADUs for moderate and lower-income households.

Prepare a report on potential strategies to
encourage affordability of ADUs for moderate and
lower-income households, including but not limited
to, promoting the use of Section 8 vouchers or
development of cost incentive programs or nointerest loan program for ADU developers in exchange for income restrictions.

Prepare report by
January 2025 and
present to City Council
for adoption of a pilot
program by
October2025. If
adopted, implement
pilot program by
January 2026.

Citywide If program is adopted, create 48
affordable (deed-restricted)
ADUs over eight years
Action 1.3 Make funds available to community-based
organizations to acquire and rehabilitate units
which may have been abandoned or otherwise lost
from the City’s housing stock and sell them to very
low and low-income first-time homebuyers.

By January 2026 Central and
Southeast
Bakersfield
(Downtown, Old
Town Kern, 34th
Street corridor, and
Martin Luther King
Boulevard corridor)
Assist at least 10 very low- and
low-income households,
including 7 in Central and
Southeast Bakersfield, secure
housing during the planning
period.

Action 5.1 Facilitate the development of housing for persons with disabilities (including developmental
disabilities) through prioritization of assistance for
affordable housing development that with services,
resources, and assistance.

Annually pursue
opportunities with
affordable housing
developers
Citywide Develop 25 housing units for
households with persons with
disabilities during the planning
period.

Action 5.2 Provide services and programs such as the Home Access Grant Program to provide grants for
housing modifications for better accessibility
Annually Citywide Provide at least 100 households
with Home Access Grants
during the planning period.

Action 6.1 Promote the Section 8 voucher program to
landlords and residents.

Annually Citywide Assist 3,070 households
through Section 8 vouchers
annually.

Action 8.7 Develop incentives and mitigations to constraints for smaller rental and owner units and larger rental
units and hold annual workshops with developers.

Annually Citywide Implement technical assistance
and identify incentives with the
goal of facilitating the
development of 10 large family
units and 25 small units.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-51
Program Action Timeline
Geographic
Targeting Metrics
Action 8.10 Review the General Plan, applicable Specific Plan, and Zoning Code and Zoning Map by June 2024
and implement any changes by January 2025.

Following adoption of Zoning Code changes,
monitor construction in lower-density residential
areas (e.g., R-1 and R-2 Zoning Districts).

Review GP/Zoning
code by December
2024
Implement changes by
end of 2025
Northeast,
Northwest, and
Southwest
Bakersfield (high
and moderate
resource areas)
Implement actions with the goal
of developing 30 moderateincome housing types
(duplexes, triplexes,
townhomes) annually thereafter
for a total of 250 units during
the planning period.

Action 8.14, 8.17,

14.4 Update the Zoning Code, as necessary, to
accommodate alternative housing types such as
housing co-operatives, dormitories, tiny homes,
and collective home ownership models in more
areas of the city, including religious sites and
publicly owned land.

By January 2026 Citywide Conduct stakeholder outreach
on alternative housing with the
goal of achieving 150 units of
alternative housing types during
the planning period.

Support the development of at
least 200 townhomes or
condominiums during the
planning period
Expand affordable
homeownership by 200 units
through affordability by design
(unit type and size) by the end
of the planning period.

Action 14.1 Apply for grant funding from federal and state opportunities at least once annually and as
opportunities arise for homeownership
opportunities for lower and moderate income
renters.

Annually Citywide Assist an average of 30
households per year (240
during the planning period) with
homeownership assistance.

Place-based Strategies for Neighborhood Improvement
AFFH Action 17.6 Budget for and implement plans and strategies for communities in Central and Southeast Bakersfield,
prioritizing corridors and neighborhoods designated
for mixed-income housing opportunities in the Sites
Inventory.

FY 2025-2026 Central and
Southeast
Bakersfield
(R/ECAPs)
For Fiscal Year 2025-26, as
part of the annual CIP program
update, establish a minimum
spending target (15 percent)
and report the percent of CIP
budget (including Federal,
State, and regional grant funds,
including CDBG) committed to
Central and Southeast
Bakersfield.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-52
Program Action Timeline
Geographic
Targeting Metrics
Expand the Prosperity Neighborhood community
revitalization efforts, as well as apply for
Transformative Climate Communities
Implementation grants. Implement existing City
plans, such as the Downtown Bakersfield Corridor
Enhancement Master Plan and the Bakersfield
Transformative Climate Communities Plan, and
annually monitor implementation strategies to
ensure equitable practices that benefit low- and
moderate-income residents.

In Southeast Bakersfield, collaborate with local
organizations and residents to identify opportunities
for placemaking improvements, including:
 Public transit and active transportation
infrastructure
 Public art reflective of cultural identity and
diversity
 Neighborhood-serving public infrastructure such
as wayfinding signs, community gardens,
shades, street trees, recreation facilities, and
benches
First workshop by
December 2026
Three workshops total
by 2031
Southeast
Bakersfield
Hold at least three workshops
during the planning period in
Southeast Bakersfield to
develop infrastructure and
programming plans that support
mixed-income housing
development.

Collaborate with regional partners and seek grant
funding for implementation when practicable.

Coordinate with the Public Works Department to
review the City’s biannual Capital Improvement
Projects (CIP) to ensure public facilities and
infrastructure are supportive of the needs of
underserved communities.

Prepare investment
report annually from
2023 to 2028
Citywide Prepare a report on the City’s
infrastructure investment from
2023 to 2028 from an equity
and anti-displacement lens to
ensure that improvements
benefit lower-income
neighborhoods. The report shall
be made public.

AFFH Action 17.10 Prioritize public health, education, economic, and safety programs in Central and Southeast
Bakersfield in coordination with area public health
entities (e.g., Bakersfield Family Medical Center,
Kern Medical, Dignity Health Hospitals), Kern
Transit, the City’s Economic and Community
Development Department, Bakersfield City School
District, workforce development groups, and the
Bakersfield Police Department.

By January 2026 Central and
Southeast
Bakersfield
Develop a comprehensive,
long-term community
development strategy and/or
program priority strategy for
Central and Southeast
Bakersfield.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-53
Program Action Timeline
Geographic
Targeting Metrics
Identify addresses and compile mailing list and
email addresses to focus outreach to
neighborhoods in Central and Southeast
Bakersfield to prioritize services in these areas.

Involve community organizations and advocates,
business councils, and residents to refine program
scope. Opportunities could include new or
expanded policies and programs, added density
bonuses, land banks, housing trust funds, and
transit and economic development and
prioritization.

AFFH Action 17.12 Work with commercial property owners and developers to identify sites for new grocery stores
in Southeast Bakersfield and provide technical
assistance and permit streamlining.

Beginning December
2025 and annually
thereafter
Southeast
Bakersfield
Provide technical assistance to
support at least one new
community-serving grocery
store (e.g., supermarket) in
Southeast Bakersfield.

AFFH Action 17.13 Upon expansion and/or intensification of development on the Golden State Mall and City
Serve sites, a 7-foot-tall sound wall shall be
constructed along the residential alley that abuts
the two sites to protect, stabilize, and enhance the
Westchester neighborhood immediately beyond.

Upon development of
residential uses, with
completion by the end
of the planning period
Westchester
neighborhood
Construct the sound wall on the
Golden State Mall and City
Serve sites.

AFFH Action 17.14 Apply for planning and construction funding from the State Water Resources Control Board
(SWRCB) and other fundings sources to support
adequate water and wastewater infrastructure for
new and existing low-income housing
development.

By January 2026 and
when a notice of
funding availability is
released
Central and
Southeast
Bakersfield
Apply for funding. If funded,
support the development of at
least one water or wastewater
infrastructure project in Central
or Southeast Bakersfield.

Action 1.2 Conduct community-based outreach and, on a
case-by-case basis, provide funds for the testing
and abatement of housing units for lead-based
paint.

Annually Central and
Southeast
Bakersfield
Assist in the reduction of leadbased paint hazards in 30 units during the planning period.

Action 10.2 Assist developers with the ability to acquire and refurbish foreclosed properties and resell them as
deed-restricted affordable housing for low- and
moderate-income households.

As properties are
available with annual
outreach beginning
January 2026
Citywide Rehabilitate 50 units of
affordable housing for low- and
moderate-income households
from foreclosed properties.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-54
Program Action Timeline
Geographic
Targeting Metrics
Action 15.3 Support infrastructure for public transit and active transportation such as walking and biking in areas
designated for housing opportunities, prioritizing
Central and Southeast Bakersfield.

Designate funding for
projects for FY 2025-
2026
Implement projects by
December 2030
Central and
Southeast
Bakersfield
Implement at least two projects
in Central and Southeast
Bakersfield.

Action 15.4 Coordinate with Recreation and Parks Department to develop and adopt an urban tree management
plan by January 2027, with the goal of being
designated a Tree City by the Arbor Day
Foundation by 2030.

By January 2027 Central/Southeast
Bakersfield and
areas with
opportunity sites for
affordable housing
Plant at least 200 trees by the
end of the planning period in
Central and Southeast
Bakersfield and areas listed in
the Sites Inventory that are
designated for housing
opportunity sites that can
accommodate at least 30 units
of affordable/low-income
housing.

Action 15.5 Coordinate meetings with Kern Transit and large employers and create a list of priority projects
linking housing, employment, and
amenities/services.

By January 2026 with
annual updates
Central and
Southeast
Bakersfield
Implement at least two priority
projects by December 2030.

Tenant Protections and Anti-displacement
AFFH Action 17.11 Develop an outreach strategy in multiple languages for long-standing property owners who own fewer
than 10 residential units (either in single-family or
multifamily rental housing) to assess needs and
connect them with resources, such as housing unit
rehabilitation and financing programs. The intent of
this program is to preserve Naturally Occurring
Affordable Housing (i.e., not currently regulated
with affordability deed restrictions). The program
will seek to prioritize communities vulnerable to
displacement, generally in Central and Southeast
Bakersfield.

By January 2026 Central and
Southeast
Bakersfield
Develop an outreach strategy
for property owners that own
fewer than 10 residential rental
units.

Annually Under the approved strategy,
conduct outreach to at least 15
of the identified property owners
and assist at least 5 property
owners for a combined total of
20 units or more.

Housing Plan
Draft Housing Element 2-55
Program Action Timeline
Geographic
Targeting Metrics
Action 1.1 Provide housing rehabilitation assistance through the Home Accessibility Grant Program for owneroccupied households, particularly vulnerable and low-income households.

Annually Citywide with
emphasis on
Central Bakersfield
where aging
housing units are
more concentrated
Provide grants for home repairs
of at least fifteen owneroccupied housing units per year for a total of 120 housing units
during the planning period
Action 1.6 Provide financial support for minor home repairs for owner-occupied mobile homes.

Annually Mobile home parks Provide financial support
annually with the goal of
assisting 16 mobile
homeowners during the
planning period.

Action 2.2 Amend the Bakersfield Municipal Code (BMC) to comply with Section 17970.5 of the California
Health and Safety Code.

By January 2025 Citywide Amend the BMC by January
2025.

Action 3.1, 3.2 Monitor the status of 395 units at risk of conversion to market-rate units and meet with property owners
to preserve affordable units.

Monitor annually, and
ensure proper
notification by
landlords at least
three years prior to
expiration
Citywide Preserve affordability of all
affordable units in Bakersfield,
including the 395 at-risk units.

Action 3.3 Provide education on tenants’ rights and
conversion procedures, tenant relocation
assistance, free legal assistance, and other
applicable services.

At least 18 months
prior to the expiration
of the regulatory
agreement for at-risk
units
Citywide Ensure that tenants understand
their rights to remain in the units
and that they receive
information and referrals
regarding the City’s Rapid
Rehousing and Tenant Based
Rental Assistance programs.

Action 6.5 Collect reporting by GBLA quarterly and review data.

By December 2026 Citywide If warranted, recommend
adoption of a local tenant
protection ordinance to City
Council by December 2026.

Action 6.9 Access potential for a TOPA or COPA policy to give tenants and/or qualified organizations advance
notice that the landlord intends to sell the building,
along with specified timelines to exercise the “right
of first offer” and “right of first refusal.”
By January 2026 Citywide Prepare and present a report on the development of TOPA or
COPA policy to the City Council
by January 2026. If a policy is
approved, develop the policy by
May 2026.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
2-56
Program Action Timeline
Geographic
Targeting Metrics
Action 11.1 Pursue funding from local, state, and federal programs for homeless service providers, as
specified in the BKRHC 2020 10-year plan.

By January 2025 and
annually thereafter
Citywide with
emphasis on
Central and
Southeast
Bakersfield
Serve 3,000 persons who
experience homelessness with
shelter assistance and 200
households with Rapid Rehousing or Homelessness
Prevention assistance by
December 2031
Action 11.2 Provide financial and other resource support to the BKRHC to support the goals, objectives, and
actions of the BKRHC 2020 10-year plan (Home At
Last!), with the objective to reduce the number of
days for housing placement, and to increase
staffing support and case management for
preventative care and outreach services.

By December 2026 Citywide Reduce the average number of
days of stay for individuals at
the Brundage Lane Navigation
Center for successful housing
placement, using December
2023 data as a baseline (156
days).

By December 2028 Increase the combined number
of Kern County Homeless
Collaborative (KCHC) case
managers to provide housing
placement, supportive services
and aftercare services by 15 to
20 new case manager
positions.

Action 11.4 Develop a program with BKRHC that incentivizes property owners/managers with available units to
rent to formerly homeless individuals and families
January 2026 Citywide with
emphasis on
Central and
Southwest
Bakersfield
Develop program by January
2026 with the goal of
coordinating housing for 96
formerly homeless individuals
during the planning period.

Action 11.5 Support the acquisition or rehabilitation for the purposes of Permanent Supportive Housing with
wraparound services for persons experiencing
chronic homelessness.

Annually Citywide with
emphasis on
Central and
Southwest
Bakersfield
Serve 30 ELI residents.

Action 11.6 Provide financial support to organizations such as the County of Kern’s Building Blocks Program
Beginning 2024 and
annually thereafter
Citywide with
emphasis on
Central and
Southwest
Bakersfield
Assist at least 50 foster youth
with transitional housing during
the planning period
Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-1
Summary of Public Participation
The Housing Element must reflect the values and preferences of the community.

Accordingly, community participation is an important component of the development of this Element. Government Code Section 65583(c)(8) states that the local government must make “a diligent effort to achieve public participation of all economic segments of the community in the development of the housing element.” This process not only includes community members, but also participation from local agencies and housing groups, community organizations, and housing sponsors.

Bakersfield solicited input from stakeholders and community members through interviews, surveys, a project-specific website, a housing sites survey tool, community events, and public meetings. To jumpstart the outreach process and to inform the community about the Housing Element Update, the City compiled and contacted more than 340 stakeholders and organizations that serve special needs households and renters, provide affordable housing, and offer fair housing services. Staff asked organizations to forward the information to their own stakeholders and requested assistance and partnership in community outreach.

These entities were included in all notifications associated with the Housing Element update, including community events, housing survey, and a housing map tool. A summary of the public participation is detailed below. Detailed information on the public engagement program is outlined below. Copies of community engagement materials are provided in this appendix.

1.1 Public Noticing
To reach the largest and broadest spectrum of community members and stakeholders, Bakersfield utilized the following notification methods throughout the Housing Element update process:
 The project was covered in the Kern County Farm Bureau E-Newsletter and in various local media outlets including KGET-17, 23ABC, Bakersfield.com, and KERO 23 ABC News.
 Regular posts to the City’s social media accounts, including Facebook and Instagram, announcing project website launch, survey, and a housing sites survey tool, public meetings, and release of the Draft Housing Element for public review.  Broadcasts on the local public access television station.  Email lists of community and advocacy groups, non-profits, faith-based organizations, school-based organizations, mobile home park associations, homeowners associations, disability advocates and neighborhood groups to provide outreach and regular updates on the project. In addition, the City is maintaining an “interested parties” list for those who have requested regular updates about the General Plan update.  The City developed flyers in English and Spanish advertising the project. Specifically, the City developed and circulated a bilingual, introductory flyer informing residents about the Housing Element, the need for adequate housing in Bakersfield, how to plan for new housing, types of housing, a project schedule, and contact information. More than 1,300 flyers were distributed to government facilities and pop-up events.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-2

1.2 Community Outreach

1.2.1 Affordable Housing Strategy
As part of creating the City of Bakersfield Affordable Housing Strategy, a series of community engagement efforts were conducted in 2021 and 2022. Community outreach efforts included partner focus groups, a planning commission presentation, a City Council presentation, a community survey and a community workshop, and a project website. Four focus groups were organized around existing, emerging, and potential partners.

To support broad community engagement in multiple languages, an online “self-paced workshop” about housing issues and opportunities in Bakersfield was hosted from December 15th, 2021 through February 4th, 2022. It was accessible via the project webpage and promoted through multiple City communication channels. A news segment on 23ABC News (KERO TV) also helped encourage community participation. The workshop attracted 182 participants who were able to view three short videos and answer a series of 15 questions in English, Spanish, or Punjabi.

On April 27, 2022, the City hosted a community workshop to present draft strategies and get feedback from the community. The workshop was held at the community center at MLK Park. The city provided on-site translation services in Spanish and background materials were translated into Spanish and Punjabi. The workshop was promoted on the project website and through partnership with the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. 23ABC News (KERO TV) covered the event and broadcast a segment on the evening news along with an online print story. Comments were received in English and Spanish from community participants.

Community input from these efforts include the following themes:
 Housing Issues
▫ Need more housing and more diverse housing choices (e.g., small to mid-size multifamily buildings; duplexes/triplexes/fourplexes; and ADUs) in every neighborhood. There is significant interest in creating a more walkable and wellconnected community through transit and infill housing. ▫ Lack of affordable housing, to rent and to own, is a growing issue. Gentrification is also a concern, with many seeing longtime residents being priced out and unable to purchase a home.
▫ Existing “friction” and costs associated with development review ▫ Community opposition is an obstacle to housing production ▫ Lack of community information in landlord and tenant issues, with landlord tensions, tenants are fearful of eviction. More education is needed throughout the community regarding what affordable housing is, who it serves, and why it’s important for everyone.
▫ The most urgent housing needs include housing for the homeless (including transitional housing and permanent supportive housing), housing for smaller households, housing for seniors, and housing for people with special needs. ▫ Many residents cited a path to home ownership in addition to a desire to see more affordable housing constructed and rehabilitated for all income levels and household sizes.

Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-3
▫ Housing size and type was brought up as an issue, with residents looking for more options beyond single family homes, and those with families wanting more affordable options in neighborhoods that are high in opportunity. Barriers to housing for specific groups, such as youth transitioning from foster care, those formerly incarcerated, and unhoused populations.
▫ Rental housing is in poor condition and in areas that feel unsafe and lack access to everyday amenities.
 Housing Policy Opportunities
▫ Community-based organizations, nonprofits, employers, educational institutions and others are eager to partner with the City and each other on proactive housing solutions.
– Public sector entities with land resources are a key potential partner for the City and affordable housing developers.
– Community-based nonprofits have land and the interest in supporting affordable housing development, but additional capacity building is needed for these groups.
▫ Ongoing partnerships are needed to coordinate on defining funding priorities. – “Third-Sector” funding strategies involving nonprofit trust funds and community development financial institutions are intriguing but additional due diligence and capacity building is needed.
▫ Community members support reducing the cost of building and creating incentives for building affordable housing in order to create more housing affordability. ▫ A desire for the city to explore new local funding sources that are tied to market rate development, specifically linkage fees and impact fees. ▫ A desire to have public input into the disposition of Affordable Housing Trust Fund resources.

An extensive summary of the community engagement efforts and community input for the Affordable Housing Strategy are available in Appendix G.

1.2.2 Informational City Council Meeting
On April 6, 2022, City staff presented at a City Council meeting that was open to the public.

City staff presented an introduction to the housing element, the regional housing needs allocation (RHNA), state legislation, and the project timeline. While members of the public attended the meeting, there were no public speakers on the item.

1.2.3 Introduction to the General Plan Workshop Series
The City of Bakersfield hosted a series of “Introduction to General Plan Workshops” to kickoff its comprehensive General Plan update effort in March 2022. Three workshops (two inperson workshops and one virtual workshop) were conducted to introduce new General Plan goals and requirements to the community, educate the community on housing element requirements, and increase public understanding of the decision-making process and importance of public participation.

A variety of noticing methods were used in advance of the workshop series to encourage public attendance and participation. All forms of noticing methods provided meeting details (dates, times, locations, zoom links), the General Plan Update website and email, and were City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-4
bilingual (English and Spanish). Notification methods included flyer distributions at community pop-up events, electronic distribution (e-blasts), social media posts, phone calls and e-mails to community organizations and community postings from the Greenfield Walking Group on their Facebook page. The public workshops were announced and reported by Bakersfield.com, KGET-17, and 23ABC.

In-person workshops were hosted on March 22 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Community House and March 23 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Silver Creek Community Center. Each workshop featured interactive stations including a kid’s activity station placed around the meeting room and audience style seating for a presentation.

More than 50 combined participants attended the in-person Intro to General Plan workshops; a total of 27 attendees signed in during the March 22nd workshop and 20 attendees during the March 23rd workshop.

The following recurring themes emerged from comments received.  Affordable housing
 Affordable rental options
 Safe communities
 Education and assistance programs for renters and new homeowners  Housing options for homeless
 Mixed-use housing options (businesses on lower level and housing on upper level)  Mixed income housing
 Quality housing (energy efficient, materials and design) An Introduction to General Plan Workshop was conducted on April 14, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. virtually via Zoom to provide an alternative to the in-person meetings. Ten community members participated in the virtual workshop.

Attendees participated in answering polling questions during the workshop. The workshop included two breakout sessions following the presentation. Participants were assigned to the breakout rooms automatically. One breakout room focused on the housing element update and the second breakout room focused on all remaining elements of the general plan.

The following themes emerged from comments received.

What are opportunities to build new housing in Bakersfield?  Utilize open spaces and empty lots in rural areas
 Create balance with housing development and open space with more emphasis on parks
 Great opportunities to provide starter homes in both up-and-coming and low-income areas – consider pet-friendly developments
 Would like to see new housing in central Bakersfield (e.g., Oleander area, along California Avenue and Union Avenue), Downtown Bakersfield, and East Bakersfield  Build diverse types of housing – consider mixed use retail and housing (Ming Avenue between Stine Road and H is a good corridor) and smaller square footage like townhouses, etc.
 Strive to discourage urban sprawl
Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-5
 Bridge housing with neighboring unincorporated areas/pockets if there are plans for annexation
 Provide a mixture of affordable and market rate rental and ownership opportunities What are opportunities to maintain current housing in Bakersfield?  Consider using existing vacant housing and invest more in rehabilitation/community development to create opportunities for low-income homes and take a block-by-block approach versus one home at a time (e.g., Virginia Ave)  Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) can provide development opportunities  Mill Creek expansion is a great opportunity to maintain housing in older neighborhoods  Look at connectivity issues in older areas and make improvements. Kentucky Street project is a great example.
 Existing housing rehabilitation programs would benefit homeowners and recommend looking into stock quality assessment and secure grants to help What types of housing are needed in Bakersfield?
 Apartments for families with green spaces and parks
 Affordable housing including providing incentives to developers  Low- and moderate-income renters and buyers
 Zero lot line and smaller footprint
Which housing topics are most important to you?
 Housing costs – and a need to provide more affordable options  Revitalization of dilapidated, vacant homes to improve the community  Inclusion of active transportation and projects to help encourage density

1.2.4 Visioning Workshop Series
City staff implemented a series of interactive Visioning Workshops to receive vital community input that helped establish the vision and values that guide the General Plan update. A total of four workshops (two in-person and two virtual) were held between May and July 2022 creating opportunities for Bakersfield community members to engage in the process and provide feedback. More than 68 members of the public participated in the Visioning Workshop series.

A variety of noticing methods were used in advance of the workshops to encourage public attendance and participation. All forms of noticing methods provided meeting details, project description, the General Plan website and e-mail address, and were multi-lingual (English, Spanish, and Punjabi). Information for all workshops was posted on the City of Bakersfield General Plan website (www.bakersfield2045.com), advertised on the City of Bakersfield website (www.bakersfieldcity.us), Facebook page and other social media accounts, distributed through eblasts, flyer placement at City public counters at the East Bakersfield Festival, direct e-mails to community organizations and postings from the Community Action Partnership of Kern via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The Kern County Farm Bureau shared the information via newsletter. The public workshops were announced and/or reported by KERO 23 ABC News.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-6
In-person workshops were hosted on May 24 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the RiverLakes Ranch Community Center and June 22 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Friendship House Community Center to provide opportunities for the community to receive information on the General Plan and Housing Element updates and to solicit meaningful input on the General Plan vision and guiding principles. Feedback was gathered during focused discussion and interactive activities.

More than 37 combined participants attended the in-person Visioning workshops. Eleven attendees signed in during the May 24th workshop and 26 attendees signed in during the June 22nd workshop.

Participants identified diverse housing opportunities, including more affordable housing, multifamily and multi-generational housing, and other innovative options for all income levels, as Bakersfield’s assets.

Visioning Workshops were conducted on June 7 and July 12, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. virtually via Zoom to provide an alternative to the in-person Visioning workshops. Spanish translation was available during each of the virtual workshops. Approximately 31 combined community members participated in the virtual Visioning Workshops; a total of 10 participants logged on during the June 7 workshop and 21 participants logged on during the July 12 workshop.

The July 12 workshop was promoted in a story by KABC 23, in a Facebook post by the Community Action Partnership of Kern, and by the Kern County Farm Bureau through their E-News to their memberships and service audiences.

During the visioning exercise, participants identified equitable and affordable housing, including providing city-wide locations not just downtown, and emergency housing options, as an opportunity to improve Bakersfield in the future.

1.2.5 Housing Opportunities Virtual Workshop
On October 11, 2022, the City hosted a virtual workshop on housing site opportunities in Bakersfield. The workshop consisted of an informative PowerPoint presentation on housing sites and an online map survey tool and a public discussion period. During the public discussion period attendees were encouraged to describe and identify where future housing should be planned. The PowerPoint presentation was available in Spanish via written translation. Live Spanish translation was available upon request. The event was marketed on the City’s social media accounts, the project website, and a distribution of flyers. All marketing materials were available in English and Spanish. The workshop was attended by 10 community members. The comments made during the meeting were clarification comments on the instructions for the online map survey tool.

1.2.6 Housing Opportunity Public Comment Workshop
On October 18, 2022, the City hosted an in-person open house event specifically for housing site opportunities in Bakersfield. The workshop was hosted by the City of Bakersfield Development Services department. The workshop consisted of an informative PowerPoint presentation on housing sites and an online map tool, and a public discussion period. During the public discussion period attendees were encouraged to describe and identify where future housing should be planned. The PowerPoint presentation was available in Spanish via written translation. Live Spanish translation was available upon request. The event was marketed on the City’s social media accounts, the project website, and a distribution of flyers. All marketing materials were available in English and Spanish.

No community members attended this event.

Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-7

1.2.7 Individual Meetings and Focus Group Interviews
A series of virtual stakeholder interviews were hosted October 11-13, 2022, and on October 17, 2022. The purpose of the stakeholder interviews was to provide an opportunity for stakeholders and experts to identify key issues and expectations for the General Plan update process, including the housing element. Stakeholders were identified through an iterative process with City staff and Rincon Consultants, and represented a variety of organizations, businesses, and segments of the community. Interviews were organized based on specific topics of the General Plan.

Nine affordable housing developers were invited to attend, and four representatives were able to participate. Additionally, seven market rate housing developers were invited to attend, and five representatives were able to participate.

Market Rate Housing Developers: Key Findings
There was agreement that the City is helpful and supportive of housing development, including higher density housing and smaller units. Existing and potential State regulations, as well as local zoning restrictions and development standards, were identified as impediments to housing production. Other considerations for the General Plan update process included: streamlining CEQA, reassessing impact fees, streamlining permit processes, and identifying opportunities for infill development outside of Downtown Bakersfield.

Additional comments from participants included:
 First city to approve smallest, most compact plans – “buyers are still warming up to our smaller product”
 Track ADUs separately from single-family housing units  Went through process to better streamline permitting and plan check procedure but limitations on what can be done given State processes and anti-housing climate  Critical housing issues include State regulations, supply chain issues, labor shortages, and anti-housing sentiments
 Opportunities to amend the zoning code to allow more housing type diversity  Housing has been dominated by locally founded and owned companies; publicly owned companies are more interested in diversity of housing and density  There is a consumer demand for higher density housing and more affordable product types
 Attached ADUs are popular options for families due to the desire for multigenerational housing types
 Uncertainty from State climate change and energy policies, such as increased requirements for energy efficiency, which could add cost to housing  Opportunity for infill housing development and lot consolidation outside of downtown, especially for missing middle housing types developed by smaller developers – utility owned land could be cleaned up and made available
 Developments in Downtown Bakersfield need to have 100+ units to be practical, but there are difficulties making the land available
 Bakersfield does not yet have a transit-oriented market for housing  Opportunities exist for reducing impact fees and streamlining the permit process – reduce the number of department reviews and steps
City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-8
 Consider providing a project advocate on City staff that can walk the developer through the entire development process
 Consider allowing multifamily housing on properties zoned for commercial by-right.

North and West Bakersfield has a lot of empty lots because they are zoned commercial Affordable Housing Developers: Key Findings
Stakeholders identified issues and opportunities for affordable housing development. The general consensus is the City has proven to be a good partner for affordable housing and has committed to funding, and staff are found to be highly cooperative. Many issues were identified to be found outside of the City’s control, such as State formulas for tax credits, but there were opportunities identified at the local level to improve project viability.  It is difficult to locate land in high-resource TCAC areas to qualify for State tax credits  The northwestern side of Bakersfield is more reluctant to add affordable housing  It is difficult to get larger landowners to subdivide and to get smaller properties to consolidate
 Having a single point of contact at City staff for the affordable housing development process would be beneficial to expedite projects
 Landowners want to sell as quickly as possible, so it would be beneficial for affordable housing developers to know the status of the project under City review  Competition for tax credits is Fresno and Merced – City funds help affordable housing projects be more competitive
 The biggest issue is cost. Reducing development impact fees in targeted areas could be a potential way to encourage affordable housing development  Reducing CEQA requirements for housing would be helpful because environmental studies slow down the process significantly and require a large cost  It is good to have an option for market-rate developers to have an option to provide inlieu fees versus inclusionary housing  City should consider developing standard criteria and ranking projects for funding (see State tax credit application scoring criteria)

1.2.8 Equity Task Force
To gather local expert-level knowledge and input on the Housing Element and General Plan Update, an Equity Task Force (ETF) was convened with nine representatives of local and regional organizations that focus on the needs of lower-income and special housing needs populations. The purpose of the equity task force was to inform the development of equitable and meaningful General Plan policies and approaches, including those included in the Housing Element Update. The ETF consisted of members of the following organizations:
 Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability
 Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homelessness Collaborative (BKRHC)  Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc. (GBLA)
 Bakersfield Senior Center
 MLK CommUNITY Initiative
 ShePower Leadership Academy
 Dolores Huerta Foundation
Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-9
Two ETF meetings were conducted prior to the release of the public draft Housing Element on February 22, 2023, and March 17, 2023. All meetings were completed virtually. The intention of the first meeting was to establish task force expectations, provide introductory information for the general plan and housing element, and discuss housing policies.

The following housing equity issues were identified:
 Increased housing cost
 Need rent control and rental assistance due to high rental costs  Lack of affordable housing and general lack of quality affordable housing, not just deedrestricted affordable housing  Lack of senior affordable housing
 Need additional resources to help affordable housing projects pencil out for non-profit and market rate developers, possible use of Measure N funds  Need to prioritize landlord tenant rights and education (i.e., need to provide education for tenants on their rights and resources)
 Need resources to ensure that AB 1482 (tenant protections) is enforced  Agencies like GBLA have funding/staff restrictions to take cases, however there is a lack of resources for outreach and assistance generally.
 Long wait time for affordable housing
 Housing discrimination, including non-explicit “redlining”  Landlords do not rent to section 8 participants
 Inclusionary Zoning would be helpful to develop affordable housing  Existing habitability problems and safe/sanitary home issues (roof leaking, etc.) - need Code Enforcement to address, and access to legal assistance for tenants  Converted motels sometimes less safe for housing due to lack of amenities  Selective annexation processes have resulted in resource inequity between residents of the city and residents of the county
The following existing public housing resources were identified:
 The Housing Authority is the main resource for affordable housing development, but additional resources would be helpful to augment resource capacity  Experience challenges when development and rehabilitation projects are not implemented. Recommend the City be proactive to potential developers to support rehabilitation costs, but not competing for grant funding that may not come through in the end. Recommend using more nimble funding streams, such as Measure N, to support private investors.
 Timing and gap funding is an issue for affordable housing development The following additional services, amenities, and other resident resources were identified:
 Need more services to repair and address habitability  Housing development for lower-income residents is needed on the western side of Bakersfield and Riverwalk area
 Need education on available resources
 More outreach needed to residents in and near areas proposed for annexation City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-10

1.2.9 Project Website
To further facilitate the distribution and gathering of information, the City created a project website dedicated to the General Plan update. The project website provided detailed background information on the Housing Element, answers to frequently asked questions, links to upcoming and past event materials, links to articles and videos on the general plan topics, including the Housing Element. Educational materials included an introduction, informational flyers, and frequently asked questions specifically on the housing element (https://bakersfield2045.com/housing-element/). Project materials associated with the Housing Element update were regularly posted on the project website, including documents available for public review, information for upcoming events, and virtual workshop PowerPoint presentations and video recordings. A link on the website enabled people to sign up for project email updates and provide comment at any time throughout the project process.

Community members also had the opportunity to provide input via online forms. People posted general comments through the website that encompassed the following themes:
 Identified a need for affordable rental housing (less than $1,800/month).  Desire to allow ADUs and tiny homes with no extensive parking restrictions.  Desire to have more homeownership opportunities with development of more condominiums and townhomes.
 Desire to build all high-density housing in areas outside Downtown.  Desire to build transit-oriented development, including higher density residential development near transit stops (e.g., bus stops, high speed rail).

1.2.10 Housing Opportunity Sites Public Comment Survey
The City made available on the project website a Geographic Information System (GIS)- based housing opportunity sites survey from October 11, 2022 to November 15, 2022. The sites survey gave the public an opportunity to provide comments and recommendations relating to the housing opportunity sites. The activity was sent out via email lists to interested parties and was advertised on the City’s social media and website. 11 public comments were received. The following key themes were collected from community input:
 Support for new multifamily housing in the Northwest Bakersfield, Southwest Bakersfield, Northeast Bakersfield, and Central Bakersfield neighborhoods.  Recommend the City take possession of abandoned properties for redevelopment or restoration of existing structures.
 Recommend including more housing projects within the sites inventory that appear to be in the project permitting pipeline.

Input gathered through this activity was used to guide the City’s site selection process.

1.2.11 Online Housing Needs and Opportunities Survey
The City prepared and distributed surveys inquiring about housing, access to resources, and experiences with discrimination to all individuals in the City of Bakersfield. The project website hosted an online housing survey for 52 days (from May 16 to July 7, 2022). The surveys were translated into Spanish. The surveys were available online and in paper form. There were 268 survey participants (266 surveys completed in English and 2 surveys completed in Spanish).

The input provided by the participants included the following major themes:

Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-11
 Important aspects of housing include quality and size of housing, affordability, and close to work and/or school were the most important aspects when choosing housing.  Biggest barriers to housing are that the cost of quality housing is too high, low supply of housing, and cost of housing is too high in areas with good jobs and services were the biggest barriers to affordable desirable housing.
 Urgent housing issues include affordability of desired housing, homelessness, and availability of desired housing were identified as the most urgent housing issues in Bakersfield.
 Housing type needs include housing with 1-2 bedrooms, housing with 3 or more bedrooms, and emergency, transitional or permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness were ranked as the top housing types needed in Bakersfield.  Desired areas for new housing include areas near public transit stops, employment and shopping centers as well as land that can be converted from commercial (office/store) residential or mixed use (e.g., apartments or condominiums with ground floor store or restaurant, are the best areas to develop housing.
 Half of the survey participants expressed interest in developing an ADU on their current or future property.
 General recommendations for housing included equitable housing, diversified housing types, and housing connected to services, infrastructure, and transit.

1.2.12 Rezone Outreach
In order to accommodate the RHNA and fulfill Program 7 of the Housing Element, a rezoning initiative is necessary. City staff have recommended changes to the zone classifications of certain parcels to allow for construction of various and innovative types of housing units. In addition, this rezoning effort will require future development on sites identified in the Sites Inventory to achieve minimum and maximum densities.

Three stakeholder engagements (held April 17, 2023, January 26, 2024, and February 1, 2024) were conducted to give the development community and interested parties an opportunity to share questions and concerns on the ability to implement the proposed amendments. At the April 17th meeting, developers stated their concerns against density minimums and the removal of parking minimums, and a single-family residential developer stated that the community does not want density. Comments shared at the January and February 2024 stakeholder engagements were minimal and did not differ from comments received during the April 17th meeting.

In addition, a public workshop was held in front of the Planning Commission on January 18, 2024. The following input was gathered:
 Both opposition and support for the zone changes
 Statements that the City should rely on the developer and economic market to determine the number of minimum parking spaces
 Support for a requirement that ADA parking spaces be required regardless of parking minimums
 Opposition to requiring amenities based on a point system for multi-unit development  Opposition for objective standards; opposition to establish new mixed-use zones vs. allowing residential in all current commercial zones
 Support for allowing fewer homes in low-density neighborhoods (like R-1 zones), and more homes in higher-density areas (like R-4 and R-5 zones) City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-12
City staff also conducted outreach efforts with individuals who own property that could be a candidate for rezoning. The City sent a total of four mailings to property owners notifying them of the rezoning effort and requested their input. A Frequently Asked Questions pamphlet and a Descriptive Guide of the various zone districts were included in those mailings. A Consent to Rezone form was included as part of the third mailing, with many property owners returning the form affirming support for the proposed rezoning.

Property owners also initiated contact with staff requesting that their property be included in these efforts. The City included these properties with the rezoning effort whenever appropriate and at no cost to the property owner.
 A public hearing held on February 29, 2024 provided an opportunity for property owners and the community to share their opinions on the proposed rezoning. Sandra Plasencia representing Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability provided comment supporting an inclusionary zoning ordinance and in-lieu fee option, clear metrics for housing programs for the Housing Element update, and review of impacts on development costs, permit times, and other factors for increasing housing development for lower-income households. Two commenters, including Max Bacerra, board member of the Housing Authority of the County of Kern, and commercial developer Eric Mora, spoke in favor of the proposed rezone and noted that the ability to provide mixed use and higher allowable densities would add value to properties. Another commenter, Jess Federick, representing WZI, Inc., stated concerns about high-density development on properties with commercial uses, and potential environmental health concerns in the Westchester neighborhood with increased density and high-speed rail.  The City Council completed the introduction of the rezoning ordinance on April 10, 2024, and the second reading on April 24, 2024. The completion of this rezoning effort signaled the introduction of higher density and mixed-use zones as new zoning classifications into the City’s zoning matrix, ensuring new opportunities for a broad range of housing types at varying densities throughout the community.

1.3 Themes in Community Input
During community outreach, community members identified the following overarching themes regarding housing in Bakersfield. The following highlights each theme and provides details on how it is addressed in the Housing Element.

Need more affordable housing for both renters and buyers.

How addressed:
 The City will accommodate at least 30,572 units affordable to very low-, low-, and moderate-income households. The City will accommodate these units on sites that are currently vacant or underutilized, including 290 sites that will be rezoned to allow higher residential densities. Of the sites to be rezoned, 106 sites that currently allow commercial or industrial uses will be rezoned to allow multifamily housing.  At least 25 percent of moderate and above-moderate housing units can be accommodated on sites that support multifamily housing, encouraging the development of townhomes and condominiums for more affordable homeownership opportunities.  Housing Program 4 directs the City to provide financial and technical support for the development of at least 400 subsidized affordable housing units for extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households.

Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-13
 Housing Program 13 includes actions to encourage the development of at least 320 accessory dwelling units (ADUs) during the planning period by creating standard plans and streamlining the permit process. ADUs often provide relatively affordable rental options.
 Although the City does not control the housing market, the City can assist homebuyers.

The City will support workshops on homebuying education, direct counseling services, and financial assistance to residents as directed through Housing Program 14.  The City will develop the Community Land Trust as described in Housing Plan Program 20, to increase available affordable housing options.

Need to increase the variety of available rental and for-sale housing types, including apartments and townhomes, and more options for studio, one, and two-bedroom units.

How addressed:
 Housing Program 8 directs the City to develop web-based tools and resources to inform community members of housing development opportunity sites, current major residential housing developments, and the step-by-step process for residential development, in order to encourage development for a variety of housing types.  Housing Program 8 also directs the City to provide technical assistance for lot consolidation, maximize density potential of land resources, particularly within 0.25-mile of public transit stops, and continue to provide incentives and technical assistance to acquire and construct market-rate and affordable infill residential projects in Downtown Bakersfield and along strategic corridors, including Chester Avenue, Martin Luther King Boulevard, and Panama Lane.
 Housing Program 8 also directs the City to encourage the development of both smaller rental and owner units (studio and one-bedroom) and larger rental units (3 to 4- bedroom units) in residential and mixed-use development through conversations with developers, identifying and providing incentives and reduce constraints to encourage the construction of these housing types.

Need increased resources and housing options for people experiencing homelessness.

How addressed:
 Housing Program 11 directs the City to continue identifying and pursuing federal, state, and regional funds for homeless service providers that operate temporary, permanent, and emergency shelters in the city that assist persons experiencing homelessness and at risk of becoming homeless.
 Housing Program 11 directs the City to annually assess and report the capacity to accommodate individuals experiencing homelessness including existing shelter beds, new shelter beds, identify if those shelter beds are available on a year-round or seasonal basis, average number of shelter beds that are unused on a monthly basis, and number of those exiting shelter to permanent housing.  Housing Program 11 directs the City to develop a program with the County of Kern and the Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative (BKRHC) to incentive property owners/managers with available units to rent to formerly homeless individuals and families.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-14
 Housing Program 11 directs the City to provide financial support to organizations, such as the County of Kern’s Building Blocks Program and BKRHC.

Need increased access and services for education on housing rights and resources for tenants and landlords.

How addressed:
 Housing Program 16 directs the City to provide educational opportunities and resources including facilitating informational seminars, working with tenants and tenant advocates to identify violations, and providing trainings for property owners/managers on the requirements of federal and State fair housing laws to prevent discrimination.  Housing Program 17 directs the City to continue and potentially expand information and referral services that direct families and individuals to financial resources for housing rental or purchase, locating suitable housing, and obtaining housing with special needs facilities such as disabled-accessible units.
 Housing Program 17 also directs the City to expand and improve access to public meetings by conducting public meetings at suitable times (using information from public feedback and survey results), using both in-person and online methods such as Zoom.

In-person meetings must accommodate persons with disabilities, be accessible to nearby transit centers, and provide resources such as childcare, translation, and food services. The City will also develop an outreach guide that will be used for all outreach campaigns.

Support for building housing throughout all neighborhoods in Bakersfield.

How addressed:
 As described in Appendix E, Housing Resources, the Sites Inventory (list of housing opportunity locations) accommodates new housing in strategic areas across the city as part of a larger effort to stimulate economic development and focus infrastructure improvements. The inventory identifies residentially zoned vacant and underutilized properties to accommodate housing at all income levels. These housing opportunity sites accompany rezoning strategies to increase allowable residential densities and/or add housing as an allowable use in places that previously only allowed non-residential uses.
 The Sites Inventory identifies housing opportunity sites to intensify residential densities around the planned high-speed rail (HSR) station, as well as along several existing commercial corridors including Chester Avenue, Martin Luther King Boulevard, and Panama Lane. Opportunity sites in Northwest Bakersfield include vacant and underutilized parcels along Rosedale Highway and Stockdale Highway as well as Allen Road and Old Farm Road. The City also identified housing opportunity sites in Southwest Bakersfield around the CSU Bakersfield campus, adjacent to several large retail centers, and on larger vacant parcels to the south of Panama Lane.  Housing Program 13 directs the City to promote the development of ADUs to add housing in lower-density neighborhoods.

Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-15
Support for transit-oriented development and increasing density in areas with existing services.

How addressed:
 Housing opportunity sites were prioritized by location, including proximity to transit, job centers, and community services. Site selection focused heavily on infill development of vacant and nonvacant sites along strategic corridors and in neighborhoods with existing services.
 Housing Program 19 directs the City to promote transitioning single-family neighborhoods, at appropriate locations, into 15-minute walkable neighborhoods by integrating neighborhood-serving uses, and live/work spaces with residential uses. This approach enhances housing options by introducing medium density housing into singlefamily neighborhoods, providing the middle-income housing that is missing in the City's range of housing choices.
 Housing Program 8 directs the City to maximize density potential of land resources, particularly within 0.25-mile of public transit stops and continue to provide incentives and technical assistance to acquire and construct market-rate and affordable infill residential projects in Downtown Bakersfield and along strategic corridors, including Chester Avenue, Martin Luther King Boulevard, and Panama Lane.

Need for quality of life and community development initiatives with increased density, particularly in Central and Southeast Bakersfield and for annexation sites.  Housing Program 15 supports infrastructure for public transit and active transportation such as walking and biking in areas designated for housing opportunities, prioritizing Central and Southeast Bakersfield, and an urban tree management plan that reduces the heat island effect and increases connectivity for walking and biking paths.  Housing Program 17 directs the development of a 7-foot-tall sound wall on the Golden State Mall and City Serve sites to protect, stabilize, and enhance the Westchester neighborhood immediately beyond.
 Housing Program 17 implements programs designed to affirmatively reduce barriers to housing and increase equitable conditions across neighborhoods, addressing issues, such as historic and existing racial and economic inequities, housing mobility and access, community investment and engagement, and environmental health. This program also implements meaningful actions, metrics, and milestones identified in the AFFH analysis to promote inclusive communities, increase housing opportunities, and address racial/ethnic and economic disparities in the city.  Housing Program 17 directs the City to work with commercial property owners and developers to identify sites for new grocery stores in Southeast Bakersfield and provide technical assistance and permit streamlining.
 Housing Program 18 ensures that infrastructure plans, including community infrastructure needs, are included with any Specific Plan or Master Plan for annexation sites, and directs the City to identify potential funding needs and sources to ensure adequate community infrastructure for annexed sites during the planning period.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-16

1.4 Draft Housing Element Available for Public Input
Bakersfield’s Draft 6th Cycle Housing Element was available for public review for 30 days from April 17, 2023, through May 17, 2023. The City received comment letters via email and the project website from 30 individuals and organizations.

In response to public comments, City staff made changes to the site inventory, enhanced the analysis, and revised the housing policies and programs to reflect public input on the Draft Housing Element. A comment matrix with the general comment themes and City response is provided in Table A-1 below.

Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-17
Table A-1 Summary of Comments and Responses
Comment Theme Responses
Concerns relating to the Sites
Inventory and rezoning effort,
such as requests to include or
rezone specific properties (letters
from B. DeBranch, W. Jackson, S.

Patel, and Y. Singh)
The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) is a State mandate and the City must comply with State law by planning for future residential development through the identification of sites that can accommodate the assigned RHNA.

Development of the City’s Site Inventory is detailed more in Appendix E, Housing Resources, and public input was provided on Site Inventory and the rezoning strategy.

The City undertook a number of additional engagement efforts related to the Site Inventory. As detailed in Chapter 1, multiple engagement events were held between November 2021 and March 2022, as the City was developing the Affordable Housing Strategy. In addition, stakeholder meetings, community workshops, an online survey, and the Site Inventory interactive activity gave the public additional opportunities to provide input on the Site Inventory. The Site Inventory interactive survey was available on the City’s Housing Element website from October 2022 to November 2022, and the public was invited to review sites proposed for inclusion in the inventory and provide comment on individual sites or groups of sites. The City honored all requests from property owners who asked that their property(s) be removed from the Site Inventory through this process, and additional requests received more recently, including one received during the 30-day Draft Housing Element public comment period, have been honored.

The City is obligated to rezone land suitable to facilitate development and to accommodate the RHNA. The rezone effort, occurring concurrently with adoption of the Housing Element update, is not limited to the sites included in the Site Inventory. The rezone effort can include additional sites, such as those requested by property owners. The City will consider requested properties for the rezone effort. There was an inquiry about the specific land use and zoning designations of an annexation site included in the Site Inventory (letters from M. Wade). Information on the progress of the annexation and proposed rezone strategy for that site has been added to the description of the Zerker and 7th Standard annexation on page E-35, and an updated zoning map for that site has been included in Attachment A.

Concerns relating to
environmental and infrastructure
constraints such as road and
sidewalk improvements, water and
air quality, fire, transit, and
infrastructure funding, specifically
in Central and Southeast
Bakersfield (comments submitted
via the project website, and letter
from S. Plascencia-Rodriguez,
Leadership Counsel for Justice
and Accountability)
Development of the Site Inventory took into consideration potential environmental constraints that may limit housing development on specific sites or areas of the city. Future development projects on specific sites will be required to assess environmental impacts through the City’s development review process.

Program 15 includes actions to improve infrastructure, especially in areas with proposed housing development, such as public transit, walking and biking paths, and energy and water efficiency in new buildings. Housing Plan Programs 15.3 and 15.5 were revised to prioritize Central and Southeast Bakersfield.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-18
Comment Theme Responses
Policies and programs should
reflect Bakersfield redlining history
and rectify past injustices (letter
from S. Plascencia-Rodriguez,
Leadership Counsel for Justice
and Accountability)
The Draft Housing Element is required to analyze local data and knowledge to analyze local fair housing issues. Appendix D, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, includes information on historic and current segregation patterns in Bakersfield and measurable actions the City will take to address fair housing issues. The sources of information provided in Appendix D include historic research on redlining and use of racial covenants. Policies and programs were developed to address inequities among communities and population groups, especially Program 17, which includes Meaningful Actions the City will implement during the planning period. Several program actions were revised or added to prioritize in Central and Southeast Bakersfield (communities in greatest resource need that have been historically neglected through redlining), including community planning, infrastructure investments, and public outreach and education.

Policies and programs should
reflect the needs of the city and
respond to issues such as
affordable housing,
homelessness, special needs
populations, displacement, and
fair housing (comments submitted
via the project website, and letters
from S.Pelz, Housing Authority of
the County of Kern, and S.

Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership
Counsel for Justice and
Accountability)
The Draft Housing Element includes programs to address the city’s needs. Each program contains specific actions, timelines, and objectives to achieve the City’s goals. Specific programs include, but are not limited to:

Program 2: Continuation of the City’s Code Enforcement Division to promote safe and sanitary housing.

Program 5: The City will promote the development of a variety of housing for special needs populations.

Program 11: The City will continue to provide services for homeless individuals and facilitate the development of permanent supportive housing.

Program 17: The City will support fair housing services and education.

Program 6: The City will provide assistance to vulnerable communities to ensure that tenants can remain The Housing Element has been updated to address comments as followed:

Action 5.9 was added to create a report on potential funding sources for rental assistance for special needs populations.

Additional analysis on farmworker households was included and the need for additional farmworker housing units was clarified in Appendix B, Housing Needs Assessment.

Clarification of the effect of short-term rentals may have on the supply and price of long-term rentals was added to Appendix C, Housing Constraints
The displacement analysis in Appendix D, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, was updated to reflect housing affordability as a driving factor.

Clarification was added in Appendix D, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, on which residents would be the most impacted from deteriorating housing.

Additional analysis on foreclosure trends was added as a constraint to housing Appendix C, Housing Constraints.

Some requests for additional analysis were outside the scope of the Housing Element and were therefore not included in revisions.

Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-19
Comment Theme Responses
Appreciation for, and desires to
strengthen the efforts by the City
to enhance affordability by
providing fee waivers, expediting
project review, rezoning areas for
residential uses, and developing
standards supportive of higher
densities, especially in proximity to
transit and to develop “missing
middle housing” (comments
submitted via the project website,
and letters from S. Pelz, Housing
Authority of the County of Kern,
and S. Plascencia-Rodriguez,
Leadership Counsel for Justice
and Accountability, and L.

Mendibles, Caltrans)
The Draft Housing Element has been updated to address comments as followed:

Appendix C, Housing Constraints, was revised to reflect the zoning ordinance update that was adopted by the City in spring 2024, including reduction in parking requirements, creation of higher-density and mixed-use zoning districts, and allowance for smaller housing typologies particularly near transit corridors.

Appendix E, Housing Resources, was revised to include the following information: Clarification of the smaller sites included Sites Inventory in Southeast Bakersfield.

Concerns relating to the
availability and ability to achieve
development of affordable
housing, especially for special
housing needs groups such as
farmworkers (comments submitted
via the project website, and letters
from E. Pelz, Housing Authority of
the County of Kern, S. PlascenciaRodriguez, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, D.

Dmohowski, Home Builders
Association of Kern County)
The Housing Element includes programs to facilitate the development of affordable housing, such as preparation of a study to support consideration of an inclusionary housing ordinance, provision of technical and financial support for the production of regulated affordable housing, and preservation of affordable housing at risk of conversion to market rate.

The City has a goal of supporting the development of 1,000 units of rent-restricted affordable housing. The City will also support the development of market rate housing that is affordable to moderate and lower-income households by increasing the allowable densities of several parcels in the city through the rezone effort, and promoting the development of multifamily housing on large vacant parcels.

In Program 5, the number of housing units that the City will support for farmworkers during the housing element planning period has been increased from 30 units to 365 units. The following language was added to Action 5.3: The City Council has established an Affordable Housing Trust Fund that includes an annual Notice of Funding Availability. The City commits to prioritizing funds for units for farm laborers. The City also added Program 30 to fulfil the goals of the newly established Community Land Trust, which will create affordable housing opportunities for lower-income and special housing needs groups such as farmworkers.

Public participation should be fair
and equitable to all (letter from S.

Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership
Counsel for Justice and
Accountability)
The City conducted an extensive public outreach process to develop the Affordable Housing Strategy prior to the outreach efforts for the Housing Element from November 2021 through March 2022, which analyzed constraints and opportunities for housing development throughout the city and guided several of the policies and programs for the Housing Element.

The outreach for the Housing Element and the Affordable Housing Strategy included direct outreach to community-based organizations, stakeholder focus groups, multiple advertising platforms, several virtual and in-person engagement efforts, and opportunities for input in multiple languages. All public engagement events were advertised in multiple ways, and in multiple languages.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-20
Comment Theme Responses
Implement a fee structure to offset
the impact of short-term rentals
and waiving of fees to facilitate
supportive housing and analyze
the effects of short-term rentals on
housing pricing, affordability, and
other factors (letters from S.Pelz,
Housing Authority of the County of
Kern, and S. PlascenciaRodriguez, Leadership Counsel
for Justice and Accountability)
As noted in Chapter 2 of the Draft Housing Element, Program Action 6.8 tasks the City with developing a report on the impacts of short-term rentals. To address this comment, Action 6.8 has been amended to include consideration of a shortterm rental fee if the study concludes that short-term rentals impact on the availability and/or affordability of rental housing in the city. The City currently has not adopted any ordinance specific to short-term rentals.

Advocate for state and federal
level policy reform to facilitate
affordable housing development
(letter from S.Pelz, Housing
Authority of the County of Kern)
While this is outside the scope of the Draft Housing Element, the City’s goals and objectives aim to increase affordable housing opportunities and reduce constraints such as development impact fees.

Tenant protection policies and
resources and landlord education
efforts should be strengthened
(comments submitted via the
project website, and letter from S.

Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership
Counsel for Justice and
Accountability)
Tenant protection and landlord education efforts are encompassed in Chapter 2, Program 6: Strengthening Tenant and Owner Protections and Support and Program 3: Preservation of At-Risk Affordable Housing to ensure that property owners and managers adhere to fair housing laws and to provide education and access to resources such as legal assistance. This includes providing rental support to low-income households, tenant/owner counseling, information on tenants’ rights, and tenant relocation assistance.

Strengthen efforts to improve the
energy efficiency of new housing
(comments submitted via the
project website)
This recommendation is encompassed in Chapter 2, Program 15: Support Climate Change Resiliency in Buildings and Neighborhoods which incentivizes energy-efficient and water-efficient building development.

Support for Accessory Dwelling
Units (ADUs) can as a valuable
addition to the city’s housing
stock, and concerns regarding
issues related to ADUs, especially
for lower-income households
(comments submitted via the
project website, and letter from S.

Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership
Counsel for Justice and
Accountability)
The City will support and encourage the development of ADUs as described in Chapter 2, Program 13.

Program 17: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing was amended to include information on tenant and landlord rights for ADUs, and now reads as follows: “Coordinate with GBLA to provide educational workshops/trainings to tenants and landlords on fair housing rights and responsibilities, including information on ADUs.” Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-21
Comment Theme Responses
Support for the policies and
programs in the Housing Element,
including construction of a variety
of housing types, supporting
affordable home ownership, and
reducing barriers to housing
development (comments
submitted via the project website
and D. Dmohowski, Home
Builders Association of Kern
County)
The City’s completion of a zoning ordinance update introduced higher density and mixed-use zones as new zoning classifications into the City’s zoning matrix, ensuring new opportunities for a broad range of housing types at varying densities throughout the community, including townhomes. This objective is encompassed in Chapter 2, Program 8, which aims to reduce barriers and incentivize housing development. Additionally, Program 14 aims to facilitate homeownership opportunities and education efforts. Action 8.19 was added to the Housing Element to encourage developers to build condominium projects in the city.

Areas such as the Southeast,
Eastside and Central areas of
Bakersfield, Rexland Acres,
Greenfield, and Casa Loma are
identified as R/ECAPs under SB
535 and are areas that must be
meaningfully included in the
development of the Housing
Element. (comments submitted via
the project website, and letter from
S. Plascencia-Rodriguez,
Leadership Counsel for Justice
and Accountability)
A discussion of R/ECAPs and Southeast and Central Bakersfield is provided in Appendix D, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing. The Housing Element does not address communities that are outside of the City limits. Annexation requests are encouraged. Applications are forwarded to the Local Agency Formation Commission for processing. However, the City can address future plans for lands within the City’s Sphere of Influence in the General Plan Update that is currently underway.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-22

1.5 Revised Draft Housing Element for Public Review (September 2023)
Following preliminary HCD review and subsequent revision of the draft 6th cycle Housing Element, the City held a second public review period for seven days, from September 5 to September 12, 2023. Three comment letters were submitted.

The Home Builders Association of Kern County submitted a public comment letter on September 7, 2023. The Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability (Leadership Counsel) submitted a public comment letter on September 12, 2023 and a supplemental letter on September 15, 2023. In response to those letters, the City requested a meeting with Leadership Counsel, which was held on November 1, 2023. During this meeting, Leadership Counsel identified their priority concerns, which are included in Table A-2. The Leadership Counsel also submitted a comment letter to the City on April 11, 2024.

In response to these comments, City staff made changes to the analysis and revised the housing policies and programs to reflect public comments on the Draft Housing Element. A comment matrix with the general comment themes and City response is provided in Table A-2 below.

Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-23
Table A-2 Revised Public Draft Summary of Comments and Responses Comment Theme How Comment Was Addressed
Concern about the high cost of marketbased constraints to housing development, including availability of
labor, supply chain issues related to
building materials and infrastructure, high
interest rates, high cost of insurance for
attached housing and homeowners’
associations, limited access to capital.
energy efficiency building code updates to
the cost of constructing housing (D.

Dmohowski, Home Builders Association
of Kern County)
Market and governmental constraints are detailed in Appendix C, Housing Constraints. The City will implement programs to increase flexibility of development standards and provide technical assistance and streamlining where possible, especially to support the development of housing affordable to lower-income and special needs households, to mitigate some of the costs associated with development, as described in Chapter 2, Programs 4, 5, 8, 9, and 12.

Infill sites often feature aging and
inadequate backbone infrastructure such
as sewer and water mains, and electrical
service that are extremely costly to
replace or upgrade to accommodate
higher densities (D. Dmohowski, Home
Builders Association of Kern County)
The City will support development of infill sites in Downtown Bakersfield and along strategic corridors with incentives, technical assistance, and grant funding when possible, as detailed in Chapter 2, Program 8.

Consider appointing a staff permitprocess expediter/trouble-shooter for larger projects. Also, seek regular
customer feedback on the effectiveness
and user friendliness of the new
electronic permit system (D. Dmohowski,
Home Builders Association of Kern
County)
As a result of this comment, the following action was added to Action 9.1: The City will ensure a streamlined process for large site development projects that provides a singular staff contact throughout the entirety of the development process to navigate all procedures.

Concern that new high-density zones with
minimum densities will not be supported
by market demand or financial feasibility
(D. Dmohowski, Home Builders
Association of Kern County)
A detailed list of recently developed multifamily projects is provided in Appendix E, Housing Resources, beginning on page E-10. In a review of development trends across 25 multifamily projects developed or pending construction in Bakersfield within the last 10 years, there were 12 projects in high-density zones (C-C and R-4 zones) which achieved an average of 63 percent of allowable density. The City will support development in high-density zones through flexible development standards, technical assistance, and grant funding when possible, as described in Chapter 2, Programs 4, 5, 8, 9, and 12.

The City has received several inquiries from property owners to increase allowable densities for residential use, some of which are included as comment letters in Appendix A. The City sent letters to all property owners of sites proposed for rezone informing them of the rezone effort and advertised the planning effort in the newspaper.

Property owners had the opportunity to comment on the rezone to the City directly via phone or email, or at the public hearing.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-24
Comment Theme How Comment Was Addressed
Referring to Program 15, there is concern
that retrofitting existing homes for energy
and water savings will be expensive (D.

Dmohowski, Home Builders Association
of Kern County)
Program 15 supports access to state and local programs for energy and water improvements, including financing opportunities and financial incentives, with a focus on outreach to low- and moderate-income households. There is no mandate for residents to participate in such programs.

Support for, and opposition to, an
Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (D.

Dmohowski, Home Builders Association
of Kern County, S. Plascencia-Rodriguez,
Leadership Counsel for Justice and
Accountability)
Under Program 10, the City will conduct a feasibility study for an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance that will take into account data on potential effects, as well as input from the housing development and real estate community, residents, and other stakeholders. The process will be guided by a third-party objective consultant to conduct an economic feasibility and affordable unit in-lieu fee/nexus study.

The Housing Element was revised to include the following discussion in Appendix C, Housing Constraints: Even in the absence of an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, the City has demonstrated consistent support for affordable housing development. By analyzing the average number of affordable units developed annually compared to similarly-sized cities, it becomes evident that the City has made noteworthy strides in addressing housing affordability concerns. The City supported the construction of 12 projects with 743 deed-restricted units in the 5th housing cycle and brought the number of total deed restricted units to 4,882. The City will soon add another 126 affordable units with the approval of the CityServe project. The City’s adoption of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund in 2021 leverages available federal and state funds and will streamline affordable housing development. The City’s approach thus far is characterized by strategic planning and stakeholder engagement, which underscores the City’s commitment to navigating the complexities of affordable housing without the mandate of an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.

Residents need counsel support during
eviction processes and more protections
(S. Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership
Counsel for Justice and Accountability)
City added a description of the pilot Eviction Prevention Program in AFFH section 3.2 Ability to Address Complaints.

City added the following text to Action 17.1: “In FY 2023-2024, the City committed funds for a pilot Eviction Prevention Program to include outreach and education on tenant rights and landlord responsibilities.” The City added this text for Actions and objectives for Action 17.1: “Present results from the reporting collected from year one of the pilot Eviction Protection Program to City Council by January 2026, and make recommendations to continue and if possible, expand the program. If approved, enact recommendations within one six months of the approval date.” The program will provide multi-lingual educational public awareness and public education workshops, meetings with residents to discuss tenant rights, legal assistance to act as a liaison between tenants and landlords, negotiate settlement agreements, and attend dispossessory hearings as necessary.

Additionally, the following text was added to Action 6.9: Assess potential for a Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) or Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) Policy which would give tenants and/or qualified organizations advance notice that the landlord intends to sell the building, along with specified timelines to exercise the “right of first offer” and “right of first refusal.” Prepare and present a report on the development of TOPA or COPA policy to the City Council by January 2026. If a policy is approved, develop the policy by May 2026.

Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-25
Comment Theme How Comment Was Addressed
The City had a rental assistance program
during COVID that should be brought
back (S. Plascencia-Rodriguez,
Leadership Counsel for Justice and
Accountability).

Action 6.6 was changed from “Assess the need for a rental assistance program” to “Review potential funding sources for a rental assistance program.”
The following text was added to the description of Program 6: Tenant and Owner Protections and Support in the Housing Plan (Chapter 2): “During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the City, in partnership with HACK, enacted the Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance program through the CARES Act Emergency Rental Assistance, to provide relief funds to lower-income residents. The CARES Act funding was temporary, and the City is no longer able to continue the assistance program. The City recognizes that rental and utility assistance may still be needed to support lower-income residents and prevent homelessness. Therefore, the City will review potential funding sources for a long-term program to provide relief to tenants to avoid the displacement.” The metrics are too low for rehab and
repair programs to address habitability
issues that they witnessed during field
visits (S. Plascencia-Rodriguez,
Leadership Counsel for Justice and
Accountability).

The following text was added to Appendix B Section 1.5.5: “In response to the negative public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City assisted homeowners through a Home Repair and Weatherization Program. The program provided grants, up to $15,000 per household, to homeowners disproportionately impacted by the pandemic that needed improvements to preserve the health and safety of their homes. The program was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the funds have since been exhausted. In a continued dedication to these efforts, the City continuously partners with Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) to provide emergency and supportive services for residents. CAPK’s energy programs provide approximately 1,000 eligible households per year in the county with free weatherization services, including households in Bakersfield.

CAPK’s Home Repair and Weatherization Program targets approximately 150-200 in Bakersfield per year.

Services include caulking doors and windows, adding weatherstripping and insulation, refrigerator replacement, installing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, checking gas appliance safety, and minor home repairs.

Although the City does not directly fund this program, the City’s support of other CAPK programs and initiatives allows CAPK to provide this program at no charge. The City additionally partners with the Golden Empire Habitat for Humanity (HfH). HfH has an Aging in Place program that provides critical home repairs to our aging population.

The City does not directly fund this program; however, through its CDBG grant, the City supports other HfH programs, including a construction trade workforce development program that provides hands on experience through HfH resources such as the Aging in Place program. The City’s support to HfH programs allows HfH to provide the Aging in Place program.

The following text was added to Program 1 Residential Rehabilitation and Repair Program in Chapter 2:
“Additionally, as described in Appendix B, Housing Needs Assessment, the City continuously partners with Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) to provide emergency and supportive services for residents.

CAPK’s Home Repair and Weatherization Program serves approximately 150-200 in Bakersfield per year. The City will increase resident participation in programs designed to reduce household energy costs, particularly home weatherization programs.”
Support current discussions on
community land trusts. Would like to see
a land trust that specifically benefits
farmworkers (S. Plascencia-Rodriguez,
Leadership Counsel for Justice and
Accountability).

The City recently adopted a resolution to establish the Bakersfield Community Land Trust to provide affordable housing options that will benefit lower-income residents, including farmworkers. Program 20 was added in the Housing Plan to evaluate best practices and develop a framework for the CLT.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-26
This page left intentionally blank.

Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-27

1.6 Revised Draft Housing Element for Public Review (April 2024) HCD issued an official comment letter on the draft Housing Element on September 20, 2023. The Housing Element was revised per HCD comment and released for public review for seven days from April 22 to April 29, 2024. The City posted the revised Housing Element on the project website and emailed the list of interested parties. The City received three comment letters via email and mail and another three comments were submitted via the project website. The comment themes are summarized below.  Support for the draft Housing Element and the City’s commitment to supporting housing development (R. White, Habitat for Humanity; L. Parker, the Bakersfield Senior Center; and S. Pelz, the Housing Authority of the County of Kern)  Desire for multifamily housing in and around strip malls and Downtown and affordable housing near jobs and amenities (anonymous)
 Opposition to an inclusionary zoning policy due to lack of evidence that such a policy results in more affordable housing (S. Pelz, the Housing Authority of the County of Kern)  Desire for the Housing Element to analyze the needs of special housing needs groups and the contributing factors to disparities in housing access in greater detail, and add and revise housing programs, timelines, and objectives (S. Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability)
The City also met with the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability during the public review period. During the meeting with the City and in the comment letter, the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability provided several comments, some of which were included in previous comment submittals and addressed in the above discussions. New comments that were not included in previous letters were considered. In response to these comments, City staff made changes to the analysis and revised the housing policies and programs to reflect public comments on the draft Housing Element.

Revisions to the Housing Element based on Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability comments are summarized in Table A-3.

Table A-3 Subsequent Public Draft (April 2024) Summary of Comments and Responses Comment Theme How Comment was Addressed
Based on observation from outreach in Central and
Southeast Bakersfield, residents with disabilities face barriers to housing, including finding housing that will accommodate fixed incomes and/or disabilities, and
costs of living than exceed incomes.

This information was added to the Local Knowledge
section of Appendix D, Affirmatively Furthering Fair
Housing.

Programs 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 15.5, and 17.6 need
timelines.

Program actions 14.3, 14.4, 15.5, and 17.6 were
revised with timelines and new objectives as
appropriate.

Timelines and metrics should be revised for several
programs, as listed in the comment letter.

Program actions 1.3, 6.2, 6.5, and 6.9 were revised
with timelines, specific actions, and new objectives
as appropriate.

Actions 15.3 and 15.5, intended to support
infrastructure development, need clear timelines and
actions related to implementation.

Actions 15.3 and 15.5 were revised with objectives
and timelines related to implementation.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-28
Comment Theme How Comment was Addressed
The City needs to adopt policies committing to apply to the State Water Resources Control Board and all
available funding sources available for the extension of water and wastewater for new and existing low-income
housing projects to ensure the expansion of affordable
housing.

Action 17.4 was added as follows:

Action 17.14: Apply for planning and construction
funding from the State Water Resources Control
Board (SWRCB) and other funding sources to
support adequate water and wastewater
infrastructure for new and existing low-income
housing development.

Apply for funding by January 2026 and every time a
notice of funding availability is released. If funded,
support the development of at least one water or
wastewater infrastructure project in Central or
Southeast Bakersfield by the end of the planning
period.

1.7 Revised Draft Housing Element for Public Review (October 2024)
The City met with interested parties on August 13, 2024 to discuss the status of the Housing Element update and receive feedback on requested revisions. Attendees included representatives of the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, MLK CommUNITY, and The Public Interest Law Project. Attendees provided input on the housing and quality of life concerns and needs in lower-income communities of the city, including Southeast Bakersfield. Specifically, attendees raised the following concerns:
 Rising housing costs, including utility and water costs  Southeast Bakersfield needs infrastructure improvements, trees, improved transportation, and more green space
 Additional analysis and support are needed for farmworker housing  The City must do more outreach in Southeast Bakersfield for input on plans and programs
 Housing Element programs need stronger commitments
 The City should conduct a feasibility study for a policy to set indoor temperature thresholds
HCD issued an official comment letter on the draft Housing Element on July 18, 2024. The Housing Element was revised per HCD and public comment and released for public review for seven days from October 11 to October 18, 2024. The City posted the revised Housing Element on the project website and emailed the list of interested parties.

On October 15, 2024, during the review period, the City held a town hall meeting, advertised via email and social media platforms. Approximately 22 people attended. The City provided an update on the Housing Element, had resources available from Economic & Community Development, Code Enforcement, and Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (GBLA), and had printed materials and staff available to answer questions. City staff answered questions and noted comments on the following issues:
 Home prices for both rental and for-sale housing have increased. A lot of people are on fixed income, and it is difficult to find jobs
 Plans in the Housing Element for the City to partner with non-profits Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-29
 City action to address substandard housing conditions and landlords that do not provide safe/sanitary housing
Two comment letters were received prior to the October 2024 public comment period. One comment letter was submitted by Friends of the Bakersfield Kit Fox and Environment to HCD on August 16, 2024, expressing concern regarding potential environmental impacts on biological resources as a result of updates to the zoning code per CEQA. Another comment letter was submitted by the Home Builders Association of Kern County in September 2024 that expresses support of the overall housing element and concerns with exploring inclusionary zoning. During the October 2024 public comment period, one comment letter was received from the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, and two comments were received via the project website, although one of those comments simply acknowledged that a comment letter was submitted by Friends of the Bakersfield Kit Fox and Environment. The comment themes are summarized below.  Support for the City’s efforts to streamline the permit process and to consider organizational changes that will facilitate the production of all housing types, including market-rate (A. Brandt Oliver, Home Builders Association of Kern County)  Support for the zoning reclassifications and plans to conserve existing housing and neighborhoods (A. Brandt Oliver, Home Builders Association of Kern County)  Concern for potential inclusionary zoning regulations due to studies that indicate that inclusionary zoning policies will increase housing prices and reduce unit production (A.

Brandt Oliver, Home Builders Association of Kern County)  General support for recent City plans and improvements (website comment)  The City should increase public engagement efforts to inform and implement the policies and programs of the Housing Element (S. Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability)
 City-led engagement efforts should be conducted in multiple languages or provide translation services (S. Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability)
 Support for the sufficient development of affordable housing and concern regarding housing affordability due to recent increases in housing costs (S. Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability)
 Concern for resources for residents of housing development on recent annexation sites (S. Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability)  Concerns regarding the quality of housing of ADUs and the City’s ability to monitor ADU developments (S. Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability)
 Desire for more relocation assistance for tenants who need to leave housing units temporarily due to improvements directed by Code Enforcement (S. PlascenciaRodriguez, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability)  Desire for greater analysis of unmet housing needs, housing conditions, displacement risks, fair housing issues and trends, and constraints, especially for special housing needs groups; and to add and revise housing programs, timelines, and objectives (S.

Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability)  Program 6 actions regarding assistance and education for foreclosure prevention should be strengthened (S. Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability)
City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-30
 Concern regarding environmental hazards and lack of infrastructure as constraints to housing development and fair housing (S. Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability)
 Concern regarding the suitability and realistic capacity of sites in the Sites Inventory (S.

Plascencia-Rodriguez, Leadership Counsel for Justic and Accountability) In response to the comments from the October 15 town hall meeting and the comment letters, City staff made changes to the analysis and revised the housing policies and programs to reflect public comments on the draft Housing Element:
 In response to the comment that supports permit streamlining, the City moved up the deadline for Program Action 9.2 to implement an incentive program for affordable housing development on large sites that includes streamlining  The City revised Housing Element Program Actions 13.2, 17.2, and 17.3 according to the revisions suggested by the Leadership Counsel for Justic and Accountability  In response to concerns regarding substandard housing conditions, the City revised Program Action 2.2 to strengthen the responsibility of the City’s Code Enforcement Division to inspect housing units upon a tenant complaint and direct mitigation actions to bring units into compliance
 In response to the desire for affordable housing production and to address fair housing concerns regarding equitable housing opportunities, the City added an objective to Program Action 4.1 to achieve 30 percent of extremely low-, very low-, and low-income units in areas designated high resource by TCAC. The City also increased the objective in Program Action 8.10 to achieve more moderate-income housing types in lowerdensity areas  To address concerns raised about housing needs for farmworkers, the City increased the objective of number of farmworker housing units in Program Action 5.3  In response to the need for stronger objectives for foreclosure prevention, the City added the objective to Program Action 6.4 to provide at least 20 households with foreclosure prevention program referrals
 In response to comments inquiring about opportunities for the City to partner with nonprofit organizations, the City expanded Program Action 10.2 to provide technical assistance to non-profits wishing to purchase foreclosed properties with the intention of rehabilitating them for deed-restricted housing. In response to comments regarding the need for affordable housing, the City also increased the unit objective of Program Action

10.2 1.8 Revised Draft Housing Element for Public Review (December 2024)
HCD issued an official comment letter on the draft Housing Element on December 23, 2024.

The Housing Element was revised per HCD and public comment and released for public review for seven days from June 6 to June 13, 2025. The City posted the revised Housing Element on the project website and emailed the list of interested parties. Two comment letters were received during public comment period. One comment letter was submitted by Home Builders Association expressing support of the overall housing element and support of streamlined permitting, higher density housing, and concerns about inclusionary zoning.

Another comment letter was received from the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. The comment themes are summarized below.

Summary of Public Participation
Draft Housing Element A-31
 The draft acknowledges limited park access in low-income communities of color but lacks concrete programs to address this, such as targeted funding or state grants, and fails to include a broader range of community-desired amenities like recreational, social service, youth, and senior programs in R/ECAP areas.
 The City must conduct a thorough analysis of climate resilience needs such as air quality monitoring, filtration, weatherization, and insulation, and revise its programs to address existing disparities in land use development.
 Data on where large housing sites have actually been developed should be included in order to assess whether the 32 sites listed in the inventory are realistically viable for affordable housing during the planning period.
 The site inventory should increase the number of housing units in high resource areas to promote equitable affordable housing distribution.
 Programs should include a review of the last five years of code enforcement complaints and engage community stakeholders proactively in program design.

In response to the comments from the comment letters, City staff made changes to the analysis and revised the housing policies and programs to reflect public comments on the draft Housing Element:
 The City revised Housing Element Program Actions 4.1 and 2.4 according to the revisions suggested by the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability  Additional narrative was included to reflect the communities desire for recreational facilities/programs, social service programs, youth programs, and senior citizen programs on page D-39 and D-74.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element Update
A-32
This page left intentionally blank.

Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-1
Housing Needs Assessment
Ensuring adequate housing for all of Bakersfield’s present and future residents is a primary housing goal for the City. This chapter examines demographic trends, special housing needs, and housing affordability to provide a comprehensive review of Bakersfield’s housing needs.

1.1 Population Characteristics
Population characteristics, such as growth rate, age, and income levels, affect the type and amount of housing needed in a community. Residents’ age and income, employment trends, and other factors influence the type of housing needed and the community’s ability to afford housing. The following section analyzes Bakersfield’s population characteristics and trends.

1.1.1 Population Growth
The population of Bakersfield, as of the 2020 Census, is 403,455. The city added 156,398 residents in the last 20 years, a growth rate of 63 percent. Comparatively, Kern County grew by 37 percent during this time, the Kern County/Kings County/Tulare County tri-county area grew by an average of 28 percent, and the State of California grew by less than 17 percent.

The population has increased over time; however, the rate of population growth has declined since 1980. As shown in Table B-1, the rate of population growth was 65.5 percent between 1980 and 1990; however, the rate declined to 16.1 percent between 2010 and 2020. The average annual growth rate in Bakersfield from 1980 to 2020 has been 3.2 percent, higher than Kern County’s rate of 2.0 percent and significantly higher than the Kern County/Kings County/Tulare County tri-county area’s rate of 0.7 percent.

Table B-1 Population Growth
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Total Population 105,611 174,820 247,057 347,483 403,455 Percent Change 65.5% 41.3% 40.7% 16.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010; Social Explorer tables for Census 2020.

The Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG) latest forecast conducted in 2020 predicts Bakersfield’s population to increase to 507,400 by 2035, an increase of 26 percent over 2020 conditions.1

1.1.2 Age Characteristics
The city’s current and future housing needs are determined in part by the age of its residents. Each age group has distinct housing needs and preferences based on lifestyle, family types and sizes, and income levels. Traditionally, the young adult population (20-34 years of age) and the senior population (65 years and over) tend to favor apartments, low to moderately priced condominiums, and smaller single-family units. Adults between 35-64 years old and households with school-age children tend to seek out moderate to high-cost 1 Kern COG 2022 RTP/SCS Chapter 3: Planning Assumptions, Table 3-2. https://www.kerncog.org/wpcontent/uploads/2022/04/CHAPTER-3-PLANNING-ASSUMPTIONS-2022-RTP-1.pdf City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-2
apartments, condominiums, and larger single-family units, as they tend to have higher and/or dual incomes and larger household sizes.

Population estimates by age group for Bakersfield are presented in Table B-2 below.

Approximately 10 percent of the population in Bakersfield is 65 years of age or older, which is similar to the share of that age group in Kern County (11 percent) and the tri-county area (11 percent) but half of the share of that age group in California (19 percent). Bakersfield also has a similar share of youth compared to Kern County and the tri-county area but a higher share of youth than California – approximately 30 percent of city residents are under 18, while approximately 29 percent of residents are under 18 in the county, 29 percent of residents are under 18 in the tri-county area, and 12 percent of residents are under 18 in California.

Bakersfield’s population is younger on average than California’s, but like the state and the nation, is growing older. Over the past two decades, the percentage of the population younger than 40 years has decreased, while the population over 60 has increased. The largest increase in residents was those age 20-39, followed by those age 60 and older.

Table B-2 Age Characteristics
Age Range 2020 Number of Residents 2020 Percent of Population Total: 379,879
Youth Under 18 113,630 29.9%
Youth: Under 5 Years 31,098 8.2%
Youth: 5 to 17 Years 82,532 21.7%
Adults 18-64 228,253 60.1%
Young Adults: 18 to 24 Years 38,390 10.1%
Adults: 25 to 64 Years 189,863 50.0%
Seniors 65+ 37,996 10.0%
Seniors: 65 to 84 Years 33,490 8.8%
Older Seniors: 85 Years and Over 4,506 1.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS16-20 (5-year Estimates), Table B01001.

1.1.3 Race and Ethnicity
A community’s racial and ethnic composition has implications for housing needs based on household characteristics and cultural norms that may affect housing needs and preferences – for instance, some racial and ethnic groups may have multiple family generations residing together in one household more commonly than other groups.

The Kern region has a Hispanic/Latino ethnic majority of 55 percent of the total population in 2020; however, the term “Hispanic” can also be of any race according to the Census. NonHispanic whites account for 31 percent of the population, reduced from 50 percent in 2000.2

Table B-3 provides a comparison of race and ethnicity in Bakersfield, Kern County, the tricounty area, and State of California in 2020. According to 2016-2020 ACS estimates, Hispanic/Latino is the largest racial/ethnic group, followed by non-Hispanic white.

Bakersfield and Kern County have a higher percentage of Hispanic/Latino residents compared to California, but a slightly lower percentage compared to the tri-county area. The 2 Kern COG. 2022 RTP/SCS. Chapter 3: Planning Assumptions https://www.kerncog.org/wpcontent/uploads/2022/04/CHAPTER-3-PLANNING-ASSUMPTIONS-2022-RTP-1.pdf Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-3
next largest racial/ethnic groups in Bakersfield are Asian Americans and Black/African Americans, which constitutes a proportionally larger share of the city population than in Kern County or the tri-county area.

Between 2000 and 2020, the racial and ethnic demographic has shifted. Since 2000, the city’s proportion of non-Hispanic white population declined, while the percent of the city’s population that identifies as Hispanic/Latino increased from 32.5 percent to 51.1 percent.

The proportion of the population that identifies as Asian American increased from 4.1 to 7.1 percent, while the proportion of the Black/African American population declined slightly, from

8.9 to 7.0 percent.

Between 2000 and 2020, the number of non-Hispanic white residents and American Indian and Alaska Native residents declined, while the number of residents in all other racial/ethnic groups increased.3
Table B-3 Race and Ethnicity
Race/Ethnicity
City of
Bakersfield Percent
Kern
County Percent
TriCounty
Area Percent California Percent
Total Population 379,879 892,458 1,507,503 39,346,023 100.0% Hispanic or Latino
(of any race)
194,159 51.1% 480,700 53.9% 865,573 57.9% 15,380,929 39.1% Not Hispanic or
Latino
Non-Hispanic White 119,103 31.4% 296,505 33.2% 472,973 30.9% 14,365,145 36.5% Asian American 27,159 7.1% 41,599 4.7% 62,877 3.9% 5,743,983 14.6% Black or African
American
26,497 7.0% 45,312 5.1% 60,113 4.1% 2,142,371 5.4%
Two or More Races 10,012 2.6% 21,158 2.4% 32,606 2.3% 1,322,199 3.4% Some Other Race 1,387 0.4% 2,024 0.2% 3,732 0.2% 124,148 0.3% American Indian and
Alaska Native
919 0.2% 4,149 0.5% 7,936 0.6% 131,724 0.3%
Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacific
Islander
643 0.2% 1,011 0.1% 1,693 0.1% 135,524 0.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B02001.

1.2 Household Characteristics
The U.S. Census Bureau defines a household as all persons who occupy a housing unit, which may include single persons living alone, families related through marriage or blood and unrelated individuals living together. Persons living in retirement or convalescent homes, dormitories, or other group living situations are not considered households.

Household type and size, income levels, the presence of special needs populations, and other household characteristics determine the type of housing needed by residents, their preferences, and their ability to obtain housing that meets their needs. For example, singleperson households tend to reside in apartment units or smaller single-family homes.

Households with multiple people, such as families with children, typically need residences 3 U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 & 2010, ACS16-20 (5-year Estimates), Table B03002.

City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-4
with several bedrooms. This section details the various household characteristics in Bakersfield.

Table B-4 shows household growth data for Bakersfield. As of 2020, there were 118,568 households in Bakersfield, a 6.7 percent increase from 2010. From 2010 to 2020, the rate of household growth did not keep pace with the rate of population growth (16.1 percent), indicating the potential for more people to reside together in a single housing unit.

Table B-4 Households (1980-2020)
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Total Households 39,602 62,467 83,441 111,132 118,568
Percent Change From Previous
Decade

57.7% 33.6% 33.2% 6.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 1980(STF1:T3), 1990(SF1:P3), 2000(SF1:P15); ACS 16-20 (5-year Estimates), Table B25003
As shown in Table B-5, the average household size in Bakersfield is 3.17, with a slightly higher average among owner-occupied households than renters. Bakersfield has a larger average household size than Kern County and California but a smaller household size than the tri-county area. Bakersfield’s average household size has increased by 2.3 percent from

3.1 since 2010.4

Table B-5 Average Household Size
Tenure City of Bakersfield Kern County Tri-County Area California Owner
Occupied

3.25 3.13 3.20 3.01
Renter
Occupied

3.04 3.18 3.17 2.85
Total 3.17 3.15 3.19 2.94
Source: Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B25010 As shown in Figure B-1, the most common household type in the city is married-couple households, followed by female-headed households. Bakersfield has a lower percentage of single-person households than the state.
4 U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 06-10, 11-15, 16-20 (5-year Estimates), Table B25010 Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-5
Figure B-1 Households by Type
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B11012 In Bakersfield, 47,018 households, or approximately 40 percent of all households, have children under the age of 18 residing in them. This percentage is much higher than for California as a whole, where only 30 percent of households contain children. The majority of households in Bakersfield with children under the age of 18 (77 percent) are married couples or cohabitating couple households.

1.2.1 Overcrowding
Typically, HUD uses the threshold of 1.01 persons or more per room (excluding bathrooms and kitchens) to identify overcrowded housing units. Units with more than 1.5 persons per room are considered severely overcrowded. According to the 2016-2020 ACS, 9,725 households (8.2 percent) of Bakersfield households are considered overcrowded, including 3,155 that are severely overcrowded (2.7 percent). These rates are lower than Kern County (9.2 percent overcrowded, 2.7 percent severely overcrowded) and the tri-county area (9.4 percent overcrowded, 2.6 percent overcrowded) and similar to California as a whole (8.2 percent overcrowded, 3.0 percent severely overcrowded), as shown in Table B-6. 5 In 2020, households that rent in Bakersfield are twice as likely to experience overcrowded conditions (6,137 households, 12.8 percent of all renter households) than households that own their home (3,588 households, 5.1 percent of all owner households). As shown in Figure B-2, the rate of overcrowded households has increased for both owner-occupied households and renter-occupied households from 2010 to 2020. From 2010 to 2020, the percentage of renter-occupied households who were experiencing severely overcrowded housing conditions had doubled (2.2 to 5.3 percent).
5 U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 16-20 (5-year Estimates), Table B25014

50.2%

50.5%

49.7%

8.7%

8.3%

6.8%

25.4%

24.5%

26.2%

15.7%

16.7%

17.3%
City of Bakersfield
Kern County
California
Households by Type (2020)
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Married-Couple Household Cohabiting Couple Household
Female Householder, No Spouse Or Partner Present Male Householder, No Spouse Or Partner Present City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-6
Table B-6 Overcrowded Households by Tenure
Tenure
City of
Bakersfield Kern County Tri-County Area California
Overcrowded Owner
Households
3,588
(5.1%)
9,073
(5.6%)
15,553
(5.9%)
302,457
(4.2%)
Severely Overcrowded
Owner Households
628
(0.9%)
1,936
(1.2%)
3,512
(1.3%)
79,417
(1.1%)
Overcrowded Renter
Households
6,137
(12.8%)
16,091
(14.3%)
27,462
(14.3%)
773,281
(13.2%)
Severely Overcrowded
Renter Households
2,527
(5.3%)
5,505
(4.9%)
8,215
(4.3%)
315,568
(5.4%)
Total Overcrowded
Households
9,725
(8.2%)
25,164
(9.2%)
43,015
(9.4%)
1,075,738
(8.2%)
Total Severely
Overcrowded
Households
3,155
(2.7%)
7,441
(2.7%)
11,727
(2.6%)
394,985
(3.0%)
Source: Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B25014 Figure B-2 Overcrowded Households in Bakersfield by Severity and Year Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2006-2010, 2011-2015, 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B25014

1.3 Economic Characteristics
Employment availability and income levels impact housing affordability and a community’s needs. The availability of higher-paying jobs provides broader housing opportunities for residents, while lower-paying jobs limit housing options. In addition, employment growth affects the demand for housing. In some cases, the prevalence of one category of jobs can affect the surrounding community’s housing needs and demand (such as military installations, college campuses, large warehouse operations, and seasonal agriculture).

Employment characteristics and income distribution are discussed in the following sections.

3.5%

0.4%

1.7%

0.5%

3.4%

0.5%

2.4%

0.8%

4.2%

0.6%

3.7%

1.6%

0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

2.5%

3.0%

3.5%

4.0%

4.5%
Owner - 1.01 to 1.50 Owner - 1.51 to 2.00 Renter - 1.51 to 2.00 Renter - 2.01 or More 2010 2015 2020
Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-7

1.3.1 Employment Characteristics
As of 2020, Bakersfield had 162,696 employed residents, an increase of 12.6 percent from 2010. This employment growth was higher than Kern County’s rate of growth (12.3 percent), and higher than the state average (11.8 percent). Table B-7 summarizes the employment characteristics of Bakersfield’s civilian population. The largest industry for Bakersfield residents was educational/health care/social services followed by retail trade and arts/entertainment/recreation/accommodation/food services. In contrast, agriculture/forestry/fishing and hunting/mining was the second largest employment category in the county and tri-county area.

Table B-7 Employment by Industry
Bakersfield
Number of
Employed
Residents
Bakersfield
Percent of
Total
Kern County
Number of
Employed
Residents
Kern County
Percent of
Total
Total: 162,696 346,787
Educational Services, and Health Care
and Social Assistance
40,435 24.9% 73,883 21.3%
Retail Trade 18,897 11.6% 36,250 10.5%
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation, and
Accommodation and Food Services
15,556 9.6% 29,302 8.4%
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting,
and Mining
14,175 8.7% 50,819 14.7%
Professional, Scientific, and Management,
and Administrative, and Waste
Management Services
13,585 8.3% 27,651 8.0%
Construction 11,387 7.0% 24,779 7.1%
Transportation and Warehousing, and
Utilities
10,820 6.7% 21,163 6.1%
Public Administration 9,130 5.6% 23,417 6.8%
Manufacturing 8,293 5.1% 18,663 5.4%
Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate,
and Rental and Leasing
7,484 4.6% 12,571 3.6%
Other Services, Except Public
Administration
6,407 3.9% 15,744 4.5%
Wholesale Trade 4,308 2.6% 9,194 2.7%
Information 2,219 1.4% 3,351 1.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table C24050.

More residents live in Bakersfield and work outside the city than live and work in Bakersfield, as shown in Figure B-3. Of the 148,613 residents of the city who are employed, more than half commute outside the city for work. The dark green arrow on the left shows that 66,789 people reside outside of the city but hold employment in the city, 71,269 people who reside in the city also work in the city, and 77,345 people reside in the city but hold employment in other jurisdictions. The jobs-to-housing ratio in Bakersfield is 1.30, an increase from 1.26 in 2010.6 These numbers indicate that Bakersfield is both a strong 6 U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 06-10, 11-15, 16-20 (5-year Estimates), Table B25001, C24050.

City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-8
residential and employment base, but there may be a disconnect between the types of jobs available in the city and the types of jobs held by residents of the city.

1.3.2 Income Distribution
Household income affects access to housing opportunities, including the ability to locate housing in a desired location and afford a desired unit. Additionally, household income relates to the ability to pursue ownership opportunities, which can be a method for building long-term and intergenerational wealth.

For planning and funding purposes, the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has developed the following income categories based on the Area Median Income (AMI) of a metropolitan area:
 Extremely Low-income: households earning up to 30 percent of the AMI  Very Low-income: households earning between 31 and 50 percent of the AMI  Low-income: households earning between 51 and 80 percent of the AMI  Moderate-income: households earning between 81 and 120 percent of the AMI  Above Moderate-income: households earning over 120 percent of the AMI AMI refers to the midpoint of a region’s income distribution such that half of families earn more than the median income and half earn less than the median income. In 2022, the median family income for Bakersfield was determined to be $67,900. HCD and HUD determined that the 2022 AMI for Kern County was $80,300 for a family of four.7 Using a weighted average between 2016 and 2020, the median household income in Bakersfield was $65,687 per year, which was approximately 20 percent higher than the county and 15 percent higher than the tri-county area, but 16.5 percent below the state average.8
The distribution of households per income category is shown in Table B-8. Moderate and above moderate-income households were more likely to be homeowners, while extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households were more likely to rent. About half of all households in Bakersfield earned less than the AMI. Compared to the state income distribution (using the AMI for the entire state), Bakersfield has a higher share of households that earn greater than the AMI, and a lower share of households that earn below moderateincome levels. 7 HCD. State Income Limits for 2022. https://www.hcd.ca.gov/docs/grants-and-funding/inc2k22.pdf 8 U.S. Census Bureau, ACS16-20 (5-year Estimates), Table B19013.

Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-9
Figure B-3 Inflow-Outflow Job Counts
Source: U.S. Census 2019. Bakersfield Inflow/Outflow Analysis: https://onthemap.ces.census.gov/ City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-10
Table B-8 Income Distribution in Bakersfield
Income Level by
Kern County AMI Owner Renter
Total
Households
Percent of
Bakersfield
Households
Percent of
California
Households
(State AMI)
Extremely Low-Income (less
than or equal to 30% AMI)
4,540 9,875 14,415 12.3% 16.8%
Very Low-Income (between
31 and 50% AMI)
5,495 8,955 14,450 12.3% 13.4%
Low-Income (between 51
and 80% AMI)
9,355 10,405 19,760 16.9% 17.3%
Moderate-Income (between
81 and 100% AMI)
5,710 5,355 11,065 9.5% 10.1%
Moderate/Above ModerateIncome (greater than 100%
AMI)
44,005 13,350 57,355 49.0% 42.4%
Total 69,105 47,945 117,050 100.0% 100.0%
Source: 2015-2019, CHAS

1.3.3 Household Income
As shown in Table B-9, the median household income from the 2016-2020 ACS estimates is $65,687. Table B-10 shows the median household income by race and ethnicity for Bakersfield, Kern County, the tri-county area, and California. While Bakersfield residents generally have lower median household incomes than the state averages, some racial/ethnic groups, such as Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and American Indian and Alaska Native, have higher median incomes in the city than the state. All racial/ethnic groups have a higher median household income in the city than comparative groups in the county.

Table B-9 Median Household Income
City of
Bakersfield Kern County Tri-County Area California
Median Household
Income
$65,687 $54,851 $56,313 $78,672
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS16-20 (5-year Estimates), Table B19013 Table B-10 Median Household Income by Race and Ethnicity Race/Ethnicity
City of
Bakersfield Kern County Tri-County Area California
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific
Islander
$88,021 $73,750 $86,307 $81,682
Asian American $86,382 $74,021 $73,982 $101,380
Non-Hispanic white $78,282 $66,163 $68,511 $90,496
American Indian and Alaska Native $65,558 $49,412 $43,962 $60,182 Two or More Races $61,954 $49,484 $61,277 $76,733
Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-11
Race/Ethnicity
City of
Bakersfield Kern County Tri-County Area California
Hispanic/Latino (of any race) $56,844 $47,095 $47,510 $62,330 Other Race $54,565 $49,168 $48,093 $59,287
Black/African American $40,642 $39,422 $46,735 $54,976
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B19013.

1.3.4 Households in Poverty
According to the 2016-2020 ACS, 12,207 Bakersfield households earned an income below the poverty level, representing 13.8 percent of all households in the city. That percent was lower than Kern County (16.7 percent) and the tri-county area (19.4 percent), but higher than the state average (9.0 percent).9 The percent of households in poverty in the city has not changed during the past ten years. The racial/ethnic groups in the city with higher percentages of households that earned an income below the poverty level are Black/African American (28.0 percent), Other Race (19.1 percent), and Hispanic/Latino of any race (17.3 percent).10

1.4 Special Needs Groups
Certain residents may have more difficulty finding suitable, affordable housing due to special needs and circumstances related to employment and income, family characteristics, disability, or household characteristics. The special needs groups described in this section include seniors, persons with disabilities, large households, single parents, people living in poverty, farm workers, homeless individuals and families, and college students. Many of these groups overlap. For example, some farm workers experience homelessness due to the seasonality of their work, and many seniors have a disability. Most special needs groups benefit from affordable housing options, particularly housing located near public transportation, employment and schools, and medical and community services. An overview of special needs groups in Bakersfield is provided in Table B-11.

Table B-11 Special Needs Groups in Bakersfield
Special Needs Group
Number of Persons
or Households
Percent of Total
Persons1
Percent of Total
Households2
Persons with Disabilities (including
Developmental Disabilities)
40,024 persons 10.6% –
Senior Households 20,972 households – 17.7%
Large Households4 21,065 households – 17.8%
Extremely Low-Income Households 14,450 households – 12.3% Female-Headed, Single-Parent
Households
30,153 households – 25.4%
Farmworkers 5 20,469 persons N/A –
9 The US Census calculates the poverty threshold by income level and number of family members. See more at https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/poverty/guidance/poverty-measures.html. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS16-20 (5-year Estimates), Table B17019. 10 U.S. Census Bureau, ACS16-20 (5-year Estimates), Table B17010A.

City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-12
Special Needs Group
Number of Persons
or Households
Percent of Total
Persons1
Percent of Total
Households2
Unsheltered Persons 6 1,243 persons 0.3% –
1 Population estimate of 379,879 ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates). 2 118,568 total households.
3 Households with female-householder with no spouse/partner present. Includes female-headed households with children present.
4 Defined as five or more members under one household.
5 Farmworker data is from USDA 2017 Census of Agriculture and represents Kern County. 6 Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative 2022 P.I.T. Count for Kern County (Metro Bakersfield population) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Data (2016-2020), Table B18101, Table B25007, Table DP02, B17012 Table B11016, Table B17019, Table S1101, Table C24010, Kern County Homeless Point in Time (PIT) Count, 20122 (Metro Bakersfield count)

1.4.1 Seniors
As a result of both income and rent changes in older age, severe housing cost burdens are more common among seniors, which can make it difficult for them to find affordable housing. Senior residents often have limited incomes, which can result in severe housing cost burdens, particularly during periods of rental price increases. As shown in Table B-12, relative to California as a whole, Bakersfield senior householders have a higher share at lower income levels, with more senior households earning less than $30,000 per year and fewer seniors with an annual income of $100,000 or more. More than one-third of senior households in Bakersfield (7,124 households) have an annual income of less than $30,000.

Table B-13 shows income levels for senior householders by housing tenure.11 The majority of senior householders (74.7 percent) own their home. This is consistent with the rate for senior householders in the tri-county area and California as a whole.

Table B-12 Senior Households by Income

City of
Bakersfield Percent
Kern
County Percent California Percent
Total Households 118,568 273,556 13,103,114
Households with householder
65 Years and Over
20,972 17.7% 58,117 21.2% 3,198,850 24.4%
$0 to $29,999/year 7,124 34.0% 22,307 38.4% 923,422 28.9% $30,000 to $59,999/year 5,153 24.6% 15,121 26.0% 736,717 23.0% $60,000 to $99,999/year 4,065 19.4% 10,743 18.5% 635,254 19.9% $100,000 to $199,999/year 3,622 17.3% 7,927 13.6% 631,845 19.8% $200,000+/year 1,017 4.8% 2,019 3.5% 271,612 8.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B19037 11 According to the US Census, the householder refers to the person (or one of the people) in whose name the housing unit is owned or rented (maintained) or, if there is no such person, any adult member, excluding roomers, boarders, or paid employees. If the house is owned or rented jointly by a married couple, the householder may be either the husband or the wife.

Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-13
Table B-13 Senior Population by Tenure
City of
Bakersfield Percent
Kern
County
Percen
t
Californi
a
Percen
t
Total Senior Households: 20,972 58,117 3,198,85
0 Owner Occupied 15,661 74.7% 44,406 76.4% 2,340,68
9 73.2%
Householder 65 to 74 Years 9,719 62.1% 26,393 59.4% 1,350,39 3 57.7%
Householder 75 to 84 Years 4,347 27.8% 13,340 30.0% 688,443 29.4% Householder 85 Years and Over 1,595 10.2% 4,673 10.5% 301,853 12.9% Renter Occupied 5,311 25.3% 13,711 23.6% 858,161 26.8%
Householder 65 to 74 Years 3,038 57.2% 8,690 63.4% 484,266 56.4% Householder 75 to 84 Years 1,512 28.5% 3,505 25.6% 234,067 27.3% Householder 85 Years and Over 761 14.3% 1,516 11.1% 139,828 16.3% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B25007 In a survey conducted for the City’s Affordable Housing Strategy from December 2021 to February 2022, respondents named “housing for seniors, specific developments for seniors, including housing with supportive services” as number four out of six on a list of “most urgent housing needs” (see Appendix G).

1.4.1.1 Resources for Senior-Headed Households
The special needs of seniors can be met through a range of services, including congregate care, rent subsides, shared housing, and housing rehabilitation assistance. For seniors with physical limitations or disabilities, housing can be modified with features that help ensure continued independent living arrangements. Several licensed care facilities that provide assisted living, nursing care, and general services to seniors are located in Bakersfield. The average cost of assisted senior living in the city is $3,150 per month.12 Annually, that amount is $37,800, which surpasses the annual income of at least 7,124 senior residents in the city.

There are 970 existing and planned housing units available for lower-income seniors in the city. Westchester Senior Village opened in March 2022, which is a 27-unit apartment complex reserved for people 62 and older earning no more than half the city's median income. In 2020, Bakersfield approved an allocation of $1.574 million to develop 22nd Street Lofts, an affordable housing development for 20 units for seniors aged 62 and older.

Opened in September 2022, this project serves extremely low-income seniors by providing housing in the city’s downtown core. The project offers community amenity space such as a community room with computer stations, fitness room, laundry facilities, and a supportive services office space. Recently, the City of Bakersfield allocated $719,953 to support 610 4th Street, a 16-unit senior housing complex directly adjacent to the Bakersfield Senior Center and secured $6 million to support this project and a redevelopment of the existing Bakersfield Senior Center into a 4-story mixed-use complex with 36-units of senior housing on the top two floors.
12 Seniorhomes.com. Assisted Living in Bakersfield, CA. Accessed October 18, 2022.

City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-14
Other affordable housing options for seniors in the city include:13  Pinewood Glen Retirement Community (99 units)
 Village Park Senior Apartments (60 units)
 Park Place Senior Apartments (80 units)
 Mill Creek Village (56 units)
 California Avenue Senior Housing (180 units)
 Mill Creek Courtyard (62 units)
 Canyon Hills Senior Housing (70 units)
 St. John Manor (79 units)
 Bakersfield Senior Apartments (49 units)
 Sunnylane Village (40 units)
 Harmony Court Apartments (96 units)
Although some senior residents may own their home or reside with family, there is an identified housing need for low-income seniors.

1.4.2 Persons with Disabilities (Including Developmental Disabilities) Physical, mental, and/or developmental disabilities may provide challenges to gaining employment, mobility, or independent living. Persons with disabilities may experience housing burdens and other challenges due to restricted income and/or accessibility needs.

Persons with extreme disabilities may require housing in a supportive or institutional setting.

Housing needs for persons with disabilities depends on the severity of the disability(ies). For persons with disabilities who live independently or with other family members, independent living can be supported with special housing features, financial support, and in-home supportive services.

Housing for persons with disabilities must be adapted according to individual needs. Various types of housing may be inaccessible to persons with mobility and sensory limitations.

Housing may need to be adapted to accommodate widened doorways and hallways, access ramps, larger bathrooms, lowered countertops, and other features necessary for accessibility, and many housing types may not have suitable space for such adaptations.

Location of housing is also an important factor for persons with mobility restrictions who rely on public transportation for travel.

Table B-14 displays persons with disabilities in Bakersfield by age group. According to the 2016-2020 ACS, a total of 40,024 residents in Bakersfield have at least one disability, approximately 10.6 percent of the total population. Adults 65 years and older have the highest rates of disabilities, with 16.6 percent of the population having one disability and an additional 21.9 percent with two disabilities. These rates are similar to the tri-county area and slightly higher than the California average.

Figure B-4 shows the percent of individuals with a disability by type of disability. As stated above, different disabilities require different housing accommodations. The most common disability in Bakersfield is ambulatory difficulty, followed by cognitive difficulties. 13 Kern County Housing Authority. Senior Housing. https://kernha.org/senior-housing/. Accessed October 18, 2022.

Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-15
Table B-14 Population with a Disability by Age
City of Bakersfield Kern County Tri-County Area California Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Total 377,974 864,023 1,458,134 38,838,726
Under 18 Years
- Total
Population
113,339 30.0% 257,756 29.8% 441,222 30.3% 8,942,907 23.0% Under 18 Years
- One Type of
Disability
2,877 2.5% 5,792 2.2% 11,949 2.7% 207,793 2.3%
Under 18 Years
- Two or More
Types of
Disability
1,453 1.3% 3,272 1.3% 5,293 1.2% 99,013 1.1%
18 to 64 Years -
Total Population
227,750 60.3% 510,141 59.0% 423,980 96.1% 24,347,39
5 62.7%
18 to 64 Years -
One Type of
Disability
12,657 5.6% 29,490 5.8% 854,080 58.6% 1,077,809 4.4%
18 to 64 Years -
Two or More
Types of
Disability
8,828 3.9% 23,435 4.6% 48,598 5.7% 866,771 3.6%
65 Years and
Older - Total
Population
36,885 9.8% 96,126 11.1% 38,602 4.5% 5,548,424 14.3%
65 Years and
Older - One
Type of
Disability
6,135 16.6% 16,593 17.3% 766,880 89.8% 803,463 14.5%
65 Years and
Older - Two or
More Types of
Disability
8,074 21.9% 19,844 20.6% 162,832 11.2% 1,092,102 19.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table C18108 City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-16
Figure B-4 Disability by Type
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B18102 - B18107.

1.4.2.1 Persons with Developmental Disabilities
As defined by federal law, “developmental disability” means a severe, chronic disability of an individual that:
 Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments;
 Is manifested before the individual attains 18 years of age;  Is likely to continue indefinitely;
 Results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity: a) self-care; b) receptive and expressive language; c) learning; d) mobility; e) self- direction; f) capacity for independent living; or g) economic selfsufficiency; and  Reflects the individual’s need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic services, individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.

Many persons with developmental disabilities can live and work independently in a conventional housing environment. More severely disabled individuals require a group living environment with supervision. The most severely affected individuals may require an institutional environment with medical services and physical therapy. Many persons with developmental disabilities require supportive services during the transition from childhood to a more independent living situation as an adult.

As shown in Table B-15, there were 6,584 individuals in Bakersfield with a developmental disability as of 2021, the latest available data. The majority of individuals with a developmental disability live in the home of a parent, family member, or guardian, followed by independent or supported living, as shown in Table B-16.

23.0%

18.5%

38.4%

51.2%

22.2%

33.9%
Hearing
Difficulty
Vision Difficulty Cognitive
Difficulty
Ambulatory
Difficulty
Self-Care
Difficulty
Independent
Living Difficulty

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%
Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-17
Table B-15 Persons with Developmental Disability by Age City of Bakersfield Kern County California
Units Percent Units Percent Units Percent
0-17 years 3,437 0.9% 5,594 0.6% 192,384 0.5%
18+ years 3,147 0.8% 5,101 0.6% 185,353 0.5%
Total Population
with a
Developmental
Disability (percent
of total population)1
6,584 - 10,695 377,737
Source: DDS Quarterly Consumer Report, December 2021
1 ACS data used for total population.

Table B-16 Persons with Developmental Disabilities by Residence City of Bakersfield Kern County California
Home of Parent/Family/Guardian 5,305 8,698 309,381
Independent/Supported Living 506 909 27,881
Community Care Facility 360 461 23,728
Foster/Family Home 275 402 8,288
Intermediate Care Facility 79 157 6,188
Other 56 106 4,792
Source: DDS Quarterly Consumer Report, December 2021
Resources for Persons with Disabilities
State and federal legislation mandates that a percentage of units in new or substantially rehabilitated multifamily apartment complexes must be made accessible to individuals with limited physical mobility. For example, accessibility requirements for federally assisted housing with five or more units requires at least five percent of the dwelling units to be accessible for persons with mobility disabilities. The City does not regulate residential care homes for six or fewer persons; such homes are permitted in all residential zones as regular residential uses. Residential care homes for more than six persons require a conditional use permit in residential zones, except in the R-4 zone for people with disabilities. Residential care homes are permitted by right in most commercial and some industrial zones subject to the city's site plan review process. A business license is required for care homes for over six clients. The City also offers flexibility with development standards and reasonable accommodations for housing development projects that propose housing affordable to seniors and persons with disabilities, as described in Appendix C, Housing Constraints. All new construction must have 5 percent of units (minimum) set aside for households with disabilities.

The City of Bakersfield’s Home Accessibility Grant Program provides grants for housing modifications designed to provide or improve access to disabled homeowners or renters.

The assistance is provided to those persons who have permanent physical challenges and are mobility impaired. This program is intended to promote independence at no cost to HUD qualified applicants by modifying their homes. Limited grants up to $3,500 (non-repayable funds) are available for residential accessibility related modifications for qualified residents City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-18
in the city. Household must be at or below 80 percent of the AMI as published by HUD.14 In the 5th housing cycle, the City was able to assist 112 households with Home Accessibility grants.

Persons with disabilities can benefit from services from the Kern County Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) and Independent Living Center of Kern County (ILCKC). Additionally, HUD reports that as of July 2022, the Housing Authority of the County of Kern (HACK) has awarded 75 non-elderly disabled vouchers to assist lower-income residents with disabilities with rental costs.15

1.4.3 Large Households
Large households (defined as five or more persons per household) are a special needs group due to the typically limited supply of adequately sized and affordable housing units appropriate for large households.

In Bakersfield, most residents living together are in family households as opposed to nonfamily households. As shown in Table B-17, 21,065 households, or 17.8 percent of total households, are considered large households. Almost all large households are family households. Comparatively, 18.2 percent of households in Kern County are considered large households, 20.5 percent in the tri-county area, and 14.5 percent in California.

Table B-17 Household Size
Household Size Number of Households Percent of Total Households Total Households 118,568
Family Households 88,421 74.6%
2-4 Person Households 67,608 57.0%
5+ Person Households 20,813 17.6%
Nonfamily Households 30,147 25.4%
1-4 Person Households 29,895 25.2%
5+ Person Households 252 0.2%
Total Large Households 21,065 17.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B11016

1.4.3.1 Resources for Large Households
Large households require at least four bedrooms to not be considered overcrowded.

According to the 2016-2020 ACS, Bakersfield has 32,294 housing units with four or more bedrooms, indicating that Bakersfield has sufficient housing units to accommodate large households residing in the city.16 However, there is often a mismatch between available units and affordability to households needing such units. Approximately 8.2 percent of the households in the city are overcrowded. Lower and moderate-income large households can benefit from affordable housing programs, including the City’s Creating A Stable Home (CASH) Down Payment Assistance Program, fair housing and tenant/landlord counseling, and affordable housing development.
14 City of Bakersfield. https://www.bakersfieldcity.us/971/Home-Accessibility-Grant-Program 15 HUD. HCV – Special Purpose Vouchers. https://app.powerbigov.us/view?r=eyJrIjoiM2Y2OTQ2MTAtODVkNC00YmM2LThhOWEtZWY4MGU5YWFmZDFmIiwidCI6IjYx NTUyNGM1LTIyZTktNGJjZC1hODkzLTExODBhNTNmYzdiMiJ9 16 U.S. Census Bureau, ACS16-20 (5-year Estimates), Table B25041 Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-19

1.4.4 Female-Headed Households
Single-parent families, particularly female-headed, single-parent families with children, often require special consideration and assistance because they have a higher housing cost burden relative to the general population and may require accessible day care, health care, and other supportive services. Female-headed families with children are a particularly vulnerable group. Studies have shown that female-headed households are more likely to be affected by poverty and housing discrimination than male-headed households. According to 2016-2020 ACS data, there are 20,414 female-headed households (no spouse present) with children in Bakersfield, with 6,627 (32.5 percent) earning an income below the poverty line.

This rate is higher than the rate of 21.5 percent in California for the same group.

Table B-18 shows female-headed households in Bakersfield, Kern County, tri-county area, and California. Female-headed households with children under 18 years old comprised 29 percent of all female-headed households in Bakersfield, higher than in Kern County, the tricounty area, and California.

Table B-18 Female-Headed Households

City of
Bakersfield Percent
Kern
County Percent
TriCounty
Area Percent California Percent
Female
Householder, No
Spouse or Partner
Present
30,153 67,058 3,430,42
6 26.2% 3,430,426
Living Alone 12,409 41.2% 28,466 42.4% 1,722,60
0 50.2% 1,722,600 50.2%
With Own Children
Under 18 Years
8,749 29.0% 18,513 27.6% 615,734 17.9% 615,734 17.9%
With Relatives, No
Own Children Under
18 Years
7,878 26.1% 17,810 26.6% 858,959 25.0% 858,959 25.0%
With Only
Nonrelatives Present
1,117 3.7% 2,269 3.4% 233,133 6.8% 233,133 6.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B11012

1.4.4.1 Resources for Female-Headed Households
Lower-income single-parent households can benefit from City programs that provide housing and support services or that facilitate the development of affordable housing.

Affordable housing opportunities can also be expanded for low- and moderate-income single-parent households through the City’s CASH Down Payment Assistance Program.

Single parents can also benefit from the Kern County General Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance to residents of Kern County, including assistance with rent, utilities, transportation, and personal needs.17 The Housing Authority of the County of Kern (HACK) has also acquired several single-family homes, duplexes, apartment complexes with 1 to 3-bedroom units, and condominiums throughout the city for lower-income families.

There is an identified housing need for low-income families, including female-headed households with children.
17 Kern County Department of Human Services. General Assistance. https://www.kcdhs.org/services/general-assistanceupdated City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-20

1.4.5 Extremely Low-Income Residents
Extremely low-income (ELI) households are defined by HCD as households with income less than 30 percent of AMI. Households with extremely low-income have a variety of housing situations and needs. For example, most families and individuals receiving public assistance, such as social security insurance (SSI) or disability insurance are considered extremely low-income households. As shown in, Table B-8 14,415 households in Bakersfield are ELI households, earning an income below 30 percent of the AMI. More ELI households are renters (69 percent, 9,875 households) compared to owners (31 percent, 4,540 households). These households may require specific housing solutions such as deeper income targeting for subsidies, housing with supportive services, single-room occupancy, or rent subsidies. Projections from the Kern Council of Governments predict that by 2035, total ELI households in the city will decrease through 2050.18 ELI households may have overlapping needs with other special needs groups, such as persons with disabilities, seniors, college students, and female-headed households.

During the 5th Cycle Housing Element, the City of Bakersfield began the development process for 504 deed-restricted units reserved for extremely low-income households.

Individuals transitioning out of homelessness account for a majority of those units, however, veterans, seniors, and households that are not considered a special needs group were represented in these production numbers. Generally, success in developing units to serve ELI families was contributed to the City’s commitment to providing additional gap financing resources for affordable housing production and ongoing collaboration with affordable housing developers. ELI families often require the deepest level of subsidy, due to the income levels and opportunity to support rental assistance would further stabilize this portion of the community who are likely to be cost burdened. However, the City’s efforts to produce ELI housing during the 5th Cycle were given priority and continued support with the City’s investment in affordable housing development and financing.

ELI households in Bakersfield are likely to overpay housing costs, regardless of tenure.

According to CHAS 2015-2019 estimates, 87 percent of ELI households that rent are cost burdened, and 78 percent of homeowners are cost burdened, meaning they pay over 30 percent of their income on housing costs. This leaves most ELI residents with little income to spend on food and education, and other basic needs.

As shown in Table B-19, provided by 2015-2019 CHAS data, households that rent and are considered extremely low-income are likely to have at least one housing problem (defined as housing cost burden greater than 30 percent of income, overcrowding, or without complete kitchen or plumbing facilities). A total of 84 percent of ELI households reported experiencing at least one housing problem, and housing problems were more common among renter ELI households.
18 Kern Council of Governments. Regional Growth Forecast for Kern Council of Governments. https://www.kerncog.org/wpcontent/uploads/2009/10/Kern_2020-2050_Regional_Growth_Forecast.pdf Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-21
Table B-19 Extremely Low-Income Households Situations by Tenure

Owner
Occupied Percent
Renter
Occupied Percent Total Percent
At least one Housing
Problem
3,535 77.8% 8,565 86.7% 12,100 83.9%
No Housing Problem 1,005 22.2% 1,310 13.3% 2,315 16.1%
Total 4,540 100.0% 9,875 100.0% 14,415 100.0%
Source: US Housing and Urban Development, CHAS 2015-2019 (5-Year Estimates)

1.4.6 Projected ELI Households
To calculate the projected housing needs for extremely low-income units, the City utilized Census data related to income distribution within the city. As a result, Bakersfield has a projected need of 5,553 units for ELI households (14.8 percent of the RHNA for the 6th cycle planning period. Many extremely low-income households will be seeking rental housing and most likely facing overpayment, overcrowding, one or more substandard housing conditions, or other special needs. To address the range of needs, the City will employ a detailed housing strategy including the promotion of a variety of housing types, such as single-room occupancy (SRO) units. The City will continue to provide financial and technical support to non-profit organizations through MHP – Supportive Housing Program to rehabilitate or develop affordable housing for extremely low-income households and persons at risk for experiencing homelessness. As outlined in Chapter 2, Housing Plan, the City will expedite permit processing for the development of such units, with the goal of supporting the rehabilitation or the development of at least 10 units of housing (tiny homes, SRO units, or other types of housing) affordable to extremely low income or at-risk of experiencing homelessness during the planning period, and provide technical assistance and pursue Project Homekey funding for alternative housing development for affordable to extremely low-income residents. The City will also update the Zoning Code to accommodate alternative housing types such as housing co-operatives, SROs, dormitories, tiny homes, and collective home ownership models in more areas of the city, including religious sites and publicly owned land.

1.4.6.1 Resources for Extremely Low-Income Households
Many extremely low-income households seek rental housing and may face overpayment, overcrowding or substandard housing conditions. Some extremely low-income households could have physical or mental disabilities and/or other special needs. Supportive housing units are residential uses subject only to those requirements and restrictions that apply to other residential uses of the same type in the same zone. Supportive housing is permitted in the C-1, C-2, and C-C zones through a Conditional Use Permit, as described in Appendix C, Housing Constraints.

Affordable housing opportunities for extremely low-income households can be expanded for households through the HACK Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. Also known as Section 8, eligible participants, including very low-income families, seniors, and disabled residents, are awarded vouchers that enable them to find housing in the private sector.

HACK contracts with landlords to subsidize the participants’ rents. Housing must meet HUD Housing Quality Standards for the Agency to enter into a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract with the property owner. The subsidy is the difference between 30 percent of tenant income and the Section 8 Payment Standard amount for Kern County or the gross City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-22
rent, whichever is lower. Currently, 75 percent of eligible applicants must have income that does not exceed 30 percent of the AMI. The remaining 25 percent may have an income limit up to 80 percent of the AMI. In 2022, the Housing Authority was able to offer 3,911 HCVs to residents of the county.19 As of 2019, a total of 3,070 households in Bakersfield were receiving HCVs.

As of March 2023, Bakersfield has 75 deed-restricted affordable housing projects across the city totaling 4,533 affordable units. Many units are served with programming that support special needs populations.

The City has also dedicated resources to a Program for Homeless Shelter Development, which offers financial assistance to nonprofit developers who wish to rehabilitate or develop single-room occupancy (SRO) units to house extremely low-income individuals. The City has committed to ongoing partnerships that encourage developers to develop housing affordable to extremely low-income individuals, and has contributed to the completion of 272 units, put 49 units to construction, and has an additional 58 units in pre-development. The gap between the number of ELI renter households experiencing at least one cost burden (8,565) and the number of affordable housing units (4,912 affordable housing units and SROs) and housing vouchers (3,070) is 1,842 households. Therefore, there are 1,842 ELI renter households in the city with an unmet housing need.

To address the range of needs, the City will employ programs to support affordable housing development and remove constraints for, and support development of housing types that may fit the needs of extremely low-income residents, such as supportive housing.

The City continues to fund or partner with local and regional organizations to provide HCVs, housing rehabilitation grants, fair housing education and counseling, legal aid, and expand affordable housing opportunities for extremely low-income households.

1.4.7 Farmworkers
Farmworkers are traditionally defined as persons whose primary incomes are earned through permanent or seasonal agricultural labor. Permanent farm laborers work in the fields, processing plants, or related activities on a generally year-round basis. When workload increases during harvest periods, the labor force is supplemented by seasonal and migrant labor, often supplied by a labor contractor. For some crops, farms may employ migrant workers, defined as those whose travel distance to work prevents them from returning to their primary residence after their work ends for the day. Migrant workers might also face language barriers or be unfamiliar with government agencies like the Census Bureau, leading to further underrepresentation. Due to the high cost of housing and lowest wages compared to all other occupational groups a substantial number of migrant farm workers have difficulty finding affordable, safe, and sanitary housing.

Determining the true size of the agricultural labor force is difficult. For instance, the government agencies that track farm labor do not consistently define farmworkers (e.g., field laborers versus workers in processing plants), length of employment (e.g., permanent or seasonal), or place of work (e.g. the location of the business or field). The University of California Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources identified 150,300 laborers with at least one farm job in Kern County in 2016, the highest number of any county in the state. 19 Bakersfield Now. April 29, 2022. Long wait list for rent voucher program. https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/long-wait-listfor-rent-voucher-program Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-23
The most common farm employment, according to the 2016 survey, was farm labor contractors and crew leaders, followed by tree nut farming and grape vineyards.20 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2017 Agricultural Census (latest available data) identified 20,469 farmworkers on 845 farms within Kern County and 50,700 farmworkers on 2,160 farms in the tri-county area. According to the report, 8,397 farmworkers in Kern County reported to be employed for fewer than 150 days of the year and 6,062 farmworkers identified as migrant workers. The 2020 ACS identified 14,175 residents in Bakersfield with occupations in farming, fishing, and forestry. The University of California Merced conducted a Farmworker Health Study and determined that within the San Joaquin Valley, the average farmworker household size is 4.0 persons. The majority of farmworkers live in single-family homes, while four percent live in a labor camp, boarding house, or motel, and eight percent live in a recreational vehicle or car. The median salary of a farmworker in the San Joaquin Valley is $15,000 per year.
21 1.4.7.1 Resources for Farmworkers
The Farmworker Housing Program of Kern County is subsidized by USDA and was developed to provide housing for persons who derive a minimum of $5,753 of their annual income from farm labor. HACK manages nine housing complexes under the Farmworker Housing Program, one of which is located in Bakersfield. This development has 50 units, each with two to four bedrooms. In Kern County, the Housing Authority operates a total of 172 seasonal farm labor housing units in Arvin and Shafter. In addition, two affordable housing complexes are under construction which will be deed-restricted to income-qualified farmworker families. In total, these properties will add 130 units to the local inventory, increasing the farmworker housing units in the City of Bakersfield from 50 to 180.

Bakersfield’s agricultural off-season is relatively short, generally from December through February, and therefore farmworker housing is a year-round need rather than seasonal.

Due to the large number of farmworkers identified in Kern County and the low median income level of the average farmworker, it can be determined that there is a continued need for farmworker housing that surpasses the availability of available units.

Farmworkers are also subject to the problems of lower income households, such as overpayment, overcrowding and substandard living conditions. The programs included in Chapter 2, Housing Plan, are intended to increase the general availability of affordable housing that would also benefit farmworkers. The City continues to manage housing resources, specifically targeting assistance for farmworkers, and will implement Program 5 to support the development of housing for this special needs group.

1.4.8 Persons Experiencing Homelessness
State law (Section 65583(1) (6)) requires municipalities to address the special needs of persons experiencing homelessness within their jurisdictional boundaries. Factors contributing to a rise in homelessness include the lack of affordable housing available for low- and moderate-income households, increasing the number of incomes that fall below the poverty level, and reductions in public housing subsidies. Homelessness can be compounded by a lack of job training and supportive services to treat mental illness, substance abuse, or domestic violence. Many low-income residents live in a state of chronic 20 University of California. California Agriculture 73(2):73-78. May 31, 2019. https://doi.org/10.3733/ca.2019a0002 21 University of California Community and Labor Center. Farmworker Health Study Data Dashboard. https://clc.ucmerced.edu/farmworker-health-study/farmworker-health-study-data-dashboard City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-24
housing instability and are vulnerable to losing their housing due to economic, health, family, or personal crises.

Currently, the City of Bakersfield's Economic and Community Development Department works in close coordination with the County of Kern and the Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative (BKRHC) to assess and plan for community needs related to homelessness and its impact on daily life. With the passage of the Public Safety & Vital Services Measure (also known as Measure N) and substantial state and federal investments to end the nation's current homelessness epidemic, the Bakersfield City Council has made significant investments to transform the region's homeless services landscape. Collective efforts have established a Housing and Neighborhood Vitality Unit to facilitate the development of affordable housing; an Affordable Housing Strategy to outline the City’s policies, programs, tools, and partnership; and an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to help leverage public and private investments. Residents at risk of homelessness or experiencing homelessness can get connected to services by the Community Action Partnership of Kern through the Coordinated Entry System. This system connects those experiencing homelessness to services based on their needs after identification, assessment, and referrals.

The Homeless Point-in-Time Count is an annual census directed in a 24-hour period in counties throughout the U.S. The Bakersfield-Kern 2023 Point-in-Time count was conducted by the BKRHC, otherwise known as the Bakersfield/Kern County Continuum of Care (CoC).

In 2023, the Point-in-Time count identified 1,948 people experiencing homelessness countywide including both sheltered and unsheltered individuals. 22 This is a 22 percent
increase from the total 1,603 people counted in the 2022 PIT. It is important to note that in 2021, CoC modified the methodology to determine unsheltered count due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and as such, caution should be taken when making comparisons to the 2021 count.

As shown in Table B-20, the majority of persons experiencing homelessness in Kern County are unsheltered, where 931 individuals were sheltered, and 1,017 individuals were unsheltered. Adults over 25 comprise the largest age group experiencing homelessness. Of the individuals included in the count, there were a total of 1,728 households. Of these households, 199 comprised of at least one adult and one child, 1,747 adults with no children, and 2 youth with no adult present.

As shown in Figure B-6, counts of individuals experiencing homelessness declined from 2005 to 2015. In 2020, the count increased, particularly for unsheltered individuals to a total of 1,580 counted individuals. This number continued to increase to a total of 1,948 in 2023.

Based on the 2023 PIT, individuals counted were mainly located in metro Bakersfield, specifically in Downtown Bakersfield and along the Kern River. A total of 1,755 individuals were counted in metro Bakersfield, and 193 individuals were counted in smaller cities throughout the county and near Lake Isabella.

The PIT count revealed trends in characteristics of individuals experiencing homelessness.

Nearly 67 percent were male, and 87 percent were over the age of 24. Most individuals identified as white ( 77% percent), and 41 percent identified as Hispanic or Latino. Veterans accounted for 5 percent of the total count. About a quarter of those counted self-reported to be living with a mental health disorder, and 20 percent self-reported to be living with a substance use disorder. Three percent of the counted individuals reported that they are 22 Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative. 2022. Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative 2022 PIT Count Report
Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-25
survivors of domestic violence, where the majority were living in emergency shelters or transitional housing.

Table B-20 People Experiencing Homelessness (2023 Point in Time Count) Age Group Adults
Adults with
Children Children Total Count
Sheltered 751 71 109 931
Unsheltered 996 5 16 1,017
2023 Total 1,747 76 125 1,948
Source: Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative 2023 P.I.T. Count Report Data from the 2023 PIT county is displayed in Table B-21 which shows the percent of people who experienced homelessness by ethnicity and race. White residents had the largest overrepresentation in percent of people experiencing homeless respective of city population share (77.2 percent of people experiencing homelessness versus 31.4 percent share of population). Black/African American residents were the second most overrepresented residents (15.8 percent of people experiencing homelessness versus 7 percent of population share). Asian American residents were the most underrepresented for people experiencing homelessness respective of city population share (0.6 percent of people experiencing homelessness versus 7.1 percent of population share). Other racial/ethnic groups of people experiencing homelessness were represented proportionally to their respective city population shares.

Table B-21 People Experiencing Homelessness by Ethnicity/Race Relative to City Population
Ethnicity/Race
Percent of People
Experiencing
Homelessness
Percent of Bakersfield
Population Difference
Ethnicity
Hispanic/Latino 41.0% 51.1% -10.1
Non-Hispanic/Non-Latino 59.0% .0% 48.9% +10.1
Race
American Indian/Alaska Native 1.8% % 0.2% +1.6
Asian American 0.6% % 7.1% -6.5
Black/African American 15.8% % 7.0% +8.8
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific
Islander 0.6% % 0.2% +0.4
White 77.2% % 31.4% +45.8
Multiple Races 4.0% 2.6% +1.4
Source: Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative 2023 P.I.T. Count Report City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-26
Figure B-5 Rates of Homelessness Over Time
Source: Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative. 2023. Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative 2023 PIT Count Report

1.4.8.1 Resources for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness The BKRHC serves as the local CoC and is a valuable resource for outreach to the homeless community. The City’s Development Services Department requires staff representation at CoC meetings as policy to gain input form the BKRHC on the needs, priorities, and fund project performance. As homeless subgroups each have unique needs, the CoC Governing Board includes at least one representative from the Homeless or Formerly Homeless Population; one Veterans Affairs/Homeless Veterans Service Provider Representative; and one McKinney-Vento Liaison/Local Education Agency Representative/or Educational Services to Homeless Children & Youth Representative.

BKRHC also maintains a by-name list and participates in prioritizing chronically homeless individuals and families to ensure beds are utilized.

Thirty-six Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) per year are designated by the local Public Housing Authority for the most vulnerable chronically homeless. In addition, the BKRHC participates in the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Community Plan responsible for planning City of Bakersfield FY2021-22 Action Plan 47 and coordinating efforts to prevent and end homelessness among veterans. BKRHC helps low-income persons and families avoid becoming homeless, especially extremely low-income individuals by engaging a county wide task force involving political leaders, governmental agencies, homeless service providers, and other stakeholders.

Opened in 2020, the Brundage Lane Navigation Center (BLNC) is a 150-bed year-round emergency homeless shelter established by the City of Bakersfield and operated by nonprofit Mercy House, Inc. The Center operates under a low-barrier model, allowing pets, partners in a co-ed dorm, and the storage of possessions. The 67,000-square-foot facility includes a 7,900-square-foot service provider wing which includes three medical exam rooms, space for mental health professionals, offices for case workers, and a pet exam room. In January 2023, the BLNC completed a major expansion that will add 119 additional beds, including 20 recuperative care beds. The Bakersfield Homeless Center located at 1600 East Truxtun Avenue has 110 beds for single women and 134 beds in semi-private Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-27
rooms for families. The Mission at Kern County, located at 816 East 21st Street, has 240 beds for single men23. In total, 753 beds are available for those experiencing homelessness.

The City of Bakersfield’s Homeless Services Division administers federal, State, and local funding for homeless service providers. The division works in collaboration with the Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative to assess, meet, and report on the current needs in the City of Bakersfield. The City of Bakersfield is also dedicated to a 5-year goal of serving 3,000 persons who experience homelessness with shelter assistance and 200 households with Rapid Re-housing or Homelessness Prevention assistance. These goals are supported by the City’s Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program.

The City funds the following programs/activities to help meet the needs of the homeless community:
 Case Management
 Rapid Re-housing
 Emergency Shelter Operations
 Coordinated Entry System
 Rental Assistance
 Youth Rental Assistance
The Park 20th project is dedicated to house homeless veterans and provides a 56-unit lowincome apartment complex for veterans. The housing project aims to house homeless veterans and uses Veterans Administration housing vouchers to pay as much as 100 percent of their rent for at least 45 percent of its housing, or 25 units. This is the first facility in Kern County that will solely provide housing for veterans.

In 2019, the State of California, in response to the growing number of individuals experiencing homelessness and the impact of a lack of permanent and transitional housing to support individuals experiencing homelessness, created Project Homekey. To date, this program has housed over 8,264 individuals across the state by investing in 120 unique project sites24 .

The City of Bakersfield currently has 151 units supported through Project Homekey, including the conversion of two former hotels and an additional 166 units under construction.

Specifically, the Housing Authority of the County of Kern began construction on the CityServe Network Housing project in summer 2023 at 3201 F Street, which includes two buildings with 127 one-bedroom units. The 6th Street Apartments project, also developed through the Housing Authority of the County of Kern, was completed in March 2023 and provides 40 one-bedroom units. Project Homekey also supported two hotel conversions located at 1301 Chester Avenue and 1622 Union Avenue. The project at 1622 Union Avenue resulted in 88 studio apartments and the project at 1301 Chester Avenue provides 63 studio apartments. Overall, the proponent of these projects (Housing Authority) has identified that one bedroom or studio units represent the biggest need of the individuals seeking housing.

Once completed, these projects will add 317 units of affordable housing to support individuals transitioning out of homelessness. In summary, 753 beds, 317 affordable units, and an additional 56 low-income units for veterans provides 1,126 temporary or transitional 23 Community Action Partnership of Kern. https://www.capk.org/facts/ 24 Project Homekey https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-and-funding/homekey City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-28
housing opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness. Based on the 2023 PIT, the gap between the number of homeless individuals (1,948) and available resources (1,126) is 822 individuals in need of temporary or transitional housing. The City will continue to identify and pursue federal, state, and regional funds for homeless service providers that operate temporary, permanent, and emergency shelters in the city that assist persons experiencing homelessness and at risk of becoming homeless, as outlined in Chapter 2, Program 11.

1.4.9 College Students
Bakersfield is home to several universities and colleges, including Bakersfield College and California State University Bakersfield (CSUB). Enrollment in these institutions is approximately 50,000 full-time and part-time students. College students need a variety of housing choices, including living at home with parents, living in a dormitory, living alone, living with their children and other family, or multiple students living in one house or in an apartment. Although CSUB has on-campus housing for a portion of its student body, most students live off campus either at home or in rental housing. As college enrollment increases, students will continue to contribute to the demand in rental housing for both single and multifamily housing types. In addition, because students generally have lower incomes, students tend to compete with lower-income households for the existing affordable housing. A 2019 housing survey showed that nearly 80 percent of respondents found it difficult or very difficult to find housing in the Bakersfield area.25 A 2020 survey conducted by Bakersfield College found that 39 percent of Bakersfield College students were housing insecure, and that 19 percent were experiencing homelessness.26

1.4.9.1 Resources for College Students
BKRHC is working to gain awareness of the college homeless community. BKRHC has implemented a homeless youth working group that strategizes and builds awareness. The group works with Bakersfield College, Kern County Superintendent of Schools, and the Kern High School District to address the needs of college students. In addition, Bakersfield College was awarded State funding for the development of a 154-bed residence hall affordable to low-income students.
27 CSUB provides up to 30 days of emergency housing for students experiencing a brief, unexpected housing crisis.
28 1.5 Housing Stock Characteristics
A community’s housing stock is defined as the collection of all housing units located within the jurisdiction. The characteristics of the housing stock, including growth, type, age, condition, tenure, vacancy rates, housing costs, and affordability are important in determining the housing needs for the community. The following sections detail the housing stock characteristics of Bakersfield to determine if the current housing stock can meet the needs of current and future residents.
25 Bakersfield College Student Housing Survey and Market Analysis, Preliminary Market Analysis and Review, Brailsford and Dunlavey, 2019.
26 Bakersfield College. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Student Experience at Bakersfield College. https://do-prod-webteamdrupalfiles.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/bcedu/s3fs-public/CCCCOReports_StudentLife_ImpactofCOVIDOnStudents.pdf 27 Hubbard, Les. 2022. Three Valley Colleges will rake in millions for low-income housing. The cost to build is swinging wildly. 28 CSUB. Housing Stability. https://www.csub.edu/basicneeds/housing-stability Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-29

1.5.1 Housing Growth
Housing construction in the city boomed during the post-war era of the 1950s. During this time, housing construction increased by 240 percent. Housing development at that time was primarily suburban development. The following decade saw sustained growth. By the 1970s, residential development fueled another boom in construction, with a 72 percent increase in construction from the previous decade. Growth slowed during the recession years in the following decades. However, from 2000 to 2009, there was a sharp increase in housing construction, with a total of 28,000 units built during the decade. Following the subsequent bust in housing development and the foreclosure crisis, rates of development quickly plummeted in 2010.

Since 1980, the housing stock in Bakersfield has increased from approximately 40,000 units to over 120,000 units in 2020, a growth of approximately 200 percent. However, the rate of development has slowed down significantly during the past decade, with a growth rate of 3.7 percent from 2010 to 2020 compared to 67.1 percent from 1980 to 1990 (Figure B-6).

Figure B-6 Total Housing Units and Percent Change Over Time (1980 to 2020)

1.5.2 Housing Type and Tenure
Single-family housing units comprised approximately 74 percent of Bakersfield’s occupied units in 2020 (Table B-22). In 2020, 59.4 percent of housing units were occupied by owners (70,470 units) and 40.6 percent were occupied by renters (48,098 units). The share of single-family housing units in Bakersfield is significantly higher than the state average of

57.7 percent, although it is similar to the rate in Kern County and the tri-county area.

Multifamily units in Bakersfield comprise approximately 23.3 percent of occupied units, lower than the state level of 31.4 percent.

As shown in Table B-23, the number of single-family units increased by 31.7 percent from 2010 to 2020. At the same time, there was nearly a 9 percent decrease in units in smallersized multifamily developments, but a 17.6 percent increase in units in larger multifamily developments that contain 5 or more units. The number of mobile homes increased by 874 units during this decade.

67.10%

33.38% 36.78%

3.66%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%
0 20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Percent Change
Total Housing Units
Total Units Percent Change
City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-30
Table B-22 Housing Types by City, County, and State
City of
Bakersfield
Percent
of Total
Kern
County
Percent
of Total
TriCounty
Area
Percent
of Total California
Percent
of Total
Total 125,143 299,179 503,355 14,210,945
SingleFamily
Total
92,723 74.1% 223,934 74.9% 361,814 71.9% 9,216,109 64.9% SingleFamily:

Detached
88,831 71.0% 216,329 72.3% 16,519 3.3% 8,206,621 57.7%
SingleFamily:

Attached
3,892 3.1% 7,605 2.5% 13,186 2.6% 1,009,488 7.1%
Multifamily
Total
29,158 23.3% 52,639 17.6% 28,108 5.6% 4,463,965 31.4%
Multifamily
Housing: 2
to 4 Units
12,393 9.9% 25,297 8.5% 15,842 3.1% 1,113,840 7.8%
Multifamily
Housing:
5+ Units
16,765 13.4% 27,342 9.1% 45,279 9.0% 3,350,125 23.6%
Mobile
Home
3,229 2.6% 22,085 7.4% 37,273 7.4% 515,666 3.6%
Boat, RV,
Van,
Other
33 0.0% 521 0.2% 1,176 0.2% 15,205 0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B25024 Table B-23 Bakersfield Housing Units Over Time
2010 2020 Percent Change (2010-2020)
Total Housing Units 114,587 125,143 9.2%
Single-Family Total 84,316 92,723 9.8%
Single-Family: Detached 81,130 88,831 9.5%
Single-Family: Attached 3,186 3,892 22.2%
Multifamily Total 27,863 29,158 4.6%
Multifamily Housing: 2 to 4
Units 13,611 12,393 -8.9%
Multifamily Housing: 5+ Units 14,252 16,765 17.6%
Mobile Home 2,355 3,229 37.1%
Boat, RV, Van, etc. 53 33 -37.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2006-2010, 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B25024 Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-31
As of January 2023, the City has issued 14,613 residential permits beginning in December 2015 (during the 5th cycle Housing Element planning period). Single-family detached housing accounted for most of the new housing permitted in the city. In 2019, a total of 1,663 permits, or 99 percent of new units permitted were for single-family homes, while less than one percent were for developments with two or more housing units. In recent years Bakersfield has seen an increase in the development of multifamily housing. In 2021 alone, based on the City’s Annual Progress Report, 2,521 new residential units were permitted, with 615 of those permitted for duplex and multifamily residential dwelling units, equating to 24 percent of the total new residential units in 2021.

1.5.3 Housing Unit Size
Household size determines the need for different housing types (studios and 1-bedrooms, 2- 3 bedrooms, 4+ bedrooms). For instance, single-person households often occupy smaller apartment units or condominiums, such as studios and one-bedroom units, and multigenerational households often need additional bedrooms. As shown in Figure B-7, as of 2020, more than two-thirds of the city’s housing units contain three or more bedrooms.

While approximately 18 percent of family households had 5 or more individuals, only 3.6 percent of the housing stock in Bakersfield had 5 or more bedrooms. Since 2010, the total number of 4-bedroom units has slightly increased by one percent, whereas the total number of 1-bedroom units, 2-bedroom units, and 3-bedroom units have decreased by nearly 1 percent altogether.

Figure B-7 Share of Housing Units by Number of Bedrooms, 2020 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2006-2010, 2011-2015, 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B25041

1.5.4 Age of Housing Stock
Housing age is an important indicator of a community’s housing condition. Like any other tangible asset, housing is subject to gradual physical or technological deterioration over time. If not properly and regularly maintained, housing can deteriorate and discourage reinvestment, depress neighboring property values, and eventually impact the quality of life in a neighborhood. Many federal and State programs use the age of housing as one factor in determining housing rehabilitation needs. Typically, housing over 30 years of age is more likely to have rehabilitation needs that may include new plumbing, roof repairs, foundation No Bedroom (BR)
3% 1 BR
6%
2 BR
22%
3 BR
43%
4 BR
22%
5+ BR
4%
No Bedroom (BR) 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR 4 BR 5+ BR
City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-32
work, and other repairs. Just over half of the city’s current housing stock is greater than 30 years old.

As shown in Figure B-8, most of the current housing stock of housing in Bakersfield is evenly distributed across the 1970’s through the 1990’s. A spike in homebuilding in the 2000s provided 28,381 homes, greater than any other decade. The spike drastically plummeted in 2010s, where only 3,724 homes were built. However, housing construction has since increased in the last decade to to rates more typical of construction during 1970 to 2000, with 16,561 housing units built during that time.

Figure B-8 Total Occupied Housing Units by Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2006-2010, 2011-2015, 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B25036

1.5.5 Substandard Housing
Housing units are considered substandard if they lack complete plumbing or kitchen facilities. Table B-24 shows rates of substandard housing by issue and tenure for the city, county, tri-county area, and state. There are a total of 1,699 substandard housing units in Bakersfield, approximately one percent of total housing units. The most prevalent housing issue in the city was rental units lacking compete kitchen facilities, with a total of 1,143 units, or one percent of rental units without complete kitchen facilities. Renter occupied units have higher rates of units lacking complete facilities when compared to owner occupied rates.

Based on 2016-2020 ACS data, Bakersfield’s substandard housing rates are consistent with those of Kern County and the state.
16,561
3,724
28,381
18,528 19,296 17,946
10,424
8,310
2,447
3,908
0 5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
2014 Or
Later
2010 To
2013
2000 To
2009
1990 To
1999
1980 To
1989
1970 To
1979
1960 To
1969
1950 To
1959
1940 To
1949
1939 Or
Earlier
Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-33
Table B-24 Substandard Housing Units
City of
Bakersfield Percent
Kern
County Percent
TriCounty
Area Percent California Percent
Total 118,568 273,556 456,204 13,103,114
Owner
Occupied
70,470 59% 161,113 59% 263,834 57.8% 7,241,318 55.0%
Lacking
Plumbing
Facilities
127 0.1% 344 0.1% 516 0.1% 17,434 0.1%
Lacking
Kitchen
Facilities
158 0.1% 501 0.2% 827 0.2% 23,476 0.2%
Renter
Occupied
48,098 41% 112,443 41% 192,370 42.2% 5,861,796 45.0%
Lacking
Plumbing
Facilities
271 0.2% 815 0.3% 1,180 0.3% 36,908 0.3%
Lacking
Kitchen
Facilities
1,143 1.0% 1,187 0.7% 2,683 0.6% 128,184 1.0%
Total
Substanda
rd Units
1,699 1.4% 2,847 1.0% 5,206 1.1% 206,002 1.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B25049 and B25053 Improving housing is an important goal of the City. HUD considers housing units to be “standard units” if they are in compliance with local building codes. Bakersfield’s Building Code Enforcement Division estimates that approximately 3.7 percent of the city’s occupied units (4,387 units) are currently undergoing code enforcement. The Division estimates that

0.06 percent of the housing stock (71 units) needs rehabilitation, and less than 0.04 percent (47 units) needs demolition. Old Town Kern, 34th Street Corridor and Southeast are the neighborhoods with the greatest need of rehabilitation.

As described in Chapter 2, Program 1, the City will continue to provide housing rehabilitation assistance for owner-occupied households through the Home Accessibility Grant Program with a focus on vulnerable and low-income households, including seniors on a fixed income and persons with disabilities. The City will also make funds available to community-based organizations to acquire and rehabilitate units which may have been abandoned or otherwise lost from the City’s housing stock, and sell them to very low and low-income firsttime homebuyers. To support the rehabilitation of rental housing, the City will seek funding to assist local property owners/managers operating multifamily rental housing in need of rehabilitation. The City will also provide annual financial support for minor home repairs for owner-occupied mobile homes through the City’s CDGB funding for income-qualifying mobile home residents through HOME entitlement funds.

In response to the negative public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City assisted homeowners through a Home Repair and Weatherization Program. The program provided grants, up to $15,000 per household, to homeowners disproportionately impacted by the pandemic that needed improvements to preserve the health and safety of their homes. The program was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-34
funds have since been exhausted. In a continued dedication to these efforts, the City continuously partners with Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) to provide emergency and supportive services for residents. CAPK’s energy programs provide approximately 1,000 eligible households per year in the county with free weatherization services, including households in Bakersfield. CAPK’s Home Repair and Weatherization Program targets approximately 150-200 in Bakersfield per year. Services include caulking doors and windows, adding weatherstripping and insulation, refrigerator replacement, installing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, checking gas appliance safety, and minor home repairs. Although the City does not directly fund this program, the City’s support of other CAPK programs and initiatives allows CAPK to provide this program at no charge.

The City additionally partners with the Golden Empire Habitat for Humanity (HfH). HfH has an Aging in Place program that provides critical home repairs to our aging population. The City does not directly fund this program; however, through its CDBG grant, the City supports other HfH programs, including a construction trade workforce development program that provides hands on experience through HfH resources such as the Aging in Place program.

The City’s support to HfH programs allows HfH to provide the Aging in Place program.

As described in Chapter 2, Program 2, the City will amend the Municipal Code to comply with Section 17970.5 of the California Health and Safety Code requiring that upon a rental tenant complaint, the respective landlord conducts a mandatory inspection and specifies specific actions that can be taken to mitigate any hazards present. The City will also provide annual trainings to improve capacity of building and code enforcement staff to work with diverse communities, in a culturally competent manner with a focus on problem solving and with connections to social and economic support services.

1.5.6 Vacancy Rates
Vacancy rates are important because they indicate the degree of choice available. Too high a vacancy rate can make it difficult for owners trying to sell or rent. Low vacancy rates usually indicate high demand and/or low supply conditions in the housing market. A vacancy rate that is too low can force prices up, making it more difficult for lower and moderateincome households to find housing. Vacancy rates between 2 and 3 percent for singlefamily housing and between 5 and 6 percent for multifamily housing are usually considered optimal for a healthy housing market. According to the California Department of Finance, Bakersfield had an overall vacancy rate of 6.1 percent as of January 2021, compared to a

6.7 percent vacancy rate statewide. According to ACS estimates, the homeowner vacancy rate in Bakersfield in 2021 was 0.8 percent and the rental vacancy rent was 3.6 percent.

This is a decrease in vacancy rates from 2016, when the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2 percent, and the rental vacancy rent was 4.8 percent.

Vacant units by type are shown in Table B-25. In 2020, an estimated total of 6,575 units remained vacant, compared to 8,939 in 2010. A large percentage of vacant units are categorized as “other vacant,” which are units that are vacant for reasons that do not fit into any of the above categories. In 2020, approximately 11 percent of vacant units were categorized as for sale only, representing an increase of approximately 5 percent since 2010.

Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-35
Table B-25 Vacancy Status by Type
Vacancy Status 2010
Percent of Total
(2010) 2020
Percent of Total
(2020)
Total: 8,939 6,575
For Rent 2,889 32.3% 1,770 26.9%
Rented, Not Occupied 438 4.9% 452 6.9%
For Sale Only 2,031 22.7% 698 10.6%
Sold, Not Occupied 413 4.6% 365 5.6%
For Seasonal,
Recreational, Or
Occasional Use
455 5.1% 878 13.4%
For Migrant Workers 8 0.1% 14 0.2%
Other Vacant 2,705 30.3% 2,398 36.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2006-2010 (5-year Estimates), 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B25004

1.6 Housing Costs
Housing costs are indicative of housing accessibility for all economic segments of the community. Typically, if housing supply exceeds housing demand, housing costs will fall. On the contrary, if housing demand exceeds the housing supply, housing costs will rise.

1.6.1 Median Home Sale Price
The median home sale price in Bakersfield, as of July 2023, is $410,000, nine percent higher than the average home sale price in Kern County. From 2018 to 2023, the median home sale price in Bakersfield increased by 53 percent, as seen in Table B-26. On average, homes in Bakersfield sell after 19 days on the market in 2023, compared to 21 days in 2021.

There were 366 homes sold in July 2023. Home prices climbed from 2018 to 2022, but began to level off in May 2022, and remain steady as of July 2023.29 The Bakersfield housing market is listed as “very competitive,” according to Redfin.com.

As shown in Figure B-9, housing prices increased between 1980 and 2010, particularly between 2000 and 2010, where prices increased by 137 percent. Between 2010 and 2020, housing prices still increased, but at a slower pace than in the previous decade.

Table B-26 Changes in Median Home Sale Prices and Values (2018-2023) Race/Ethnicity Median Home Sale Price 2018 Median Home Sale Price 2023 Change (2018-2023) Bakersfield $237,750 $410,000 53%
Kern County $217,000 $375,000 53%
Tri-County Area $214,176 $371,289 56%
Source: Redfin, 2023, Bakersfield Housing Market; Zillow, 2023, Kern County, Kings County, Tulare County Home Values 29 Redfin, 2023, Bakersfield Housing Market, 2022
City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-36
Figure B-9 Median Housing Value and Percent Change Over Time (1980-2020) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 1980(ORG STF1), 1990(STF3), 2000(SF3); 2006-2010 and 2016-2020 ACS (5-year Estimates)

1.6.2 Median Rental Prices
Figure B-10 shows the market rate rentals for the major cities in San Joaquin Valley from 2014 to 2021. In July 2023, the monthly market rate rent in Bakersfield was $1,914.

Bakersfield has consistently had lower median rental prices than the cities of Fresno and Stockton. The median rental rate in Bakersfield increased 62 percent from 2015 to 2023.

Table B-27 shows the distribution of contract rents for renter-occupied units in Bakersfield, Kern County, the tri-county area, Fresno, and Stockton. The U.S. Census Bureau defines contract rent as the monthly rent agreed upon regardless of any furnishings, utilities, or services that may be included. According to the 2016-2020 ACS, most (56.7 percent) of Bakersfield renters were paying a monthly contract rent of $1,000 or less, while 43.3 percent paid $1,000 or more. Less than 2 percent of renters paid over $2,000 per month. Bakersfield renters are more likely to pay more in rent than other areas of Kern County. Renters in Bakersfield are more likely to pay rents higher than $1,000 per month than in Fresno, but less likely than in Stockton.
$65,100
$90,900
$103,500
$245,100 $258,700

39.6%

13.9%
136.8%

5.5%
-50%
-30%
-10%
10%
30%
50%
70%
90%
110%
130%
150%
$-
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
$250,000
$300,000
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Percent Change
Median Housing Value (Dollars)*
Median Value (Dollars) of Owner Occupied Homes Percent Change Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-37
Figure B-10 Market Rate Rent Trends for Bakersfield, Fresno, and Stockton (2014 to 2021) Source: Zillow Data. https://www.zillow.com/research/data/ Table B-27 Contract Rents for Renter-Occupied Units in 2020 Jurisdiction
Rent
Less than
$499
Rent
$500-
$999
Rent
$1000-
$1,499
Rent
$1500-
$2000
Rent
$2000-
$2,499
Rent
$2500-
$2,999
Rent
$3000 or
More
Bakersfield 6.1% 50.6% 31.4% 9.6% 1.0% 0.6% 0.7%
Kern County 11% 57.4% 23.3% 6.0% 1.2% 0.3% 0.4%
Tri-County Area 12.7% 58.0% 22.5% 5.0% 1.2% 0.3% 0.3%
Fresno 10.8% 54.6% 25.6% 6.9% 1.1% 0.3% 0.7%
Stockton 7.0% 45.1% 33.1% 10.6% 1.6% 0.7% 0.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), B25056

1.6.3 Housing Affordability
Housing affordability can be inferred by comparing the cost of renting or owning a home in the city with housing affordability for different income levels. This information indicates the number of households likely to experience displacement, overcrowding, and overpayment.

Housing affordability levels are determined by HUD, which conducts annual nationwide household income surveys to determine household eligibility for federal housing assistance.

Based on survey results, State HCD determined annual income limits for monthly housing City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-38
costs, including housing payments (rent or mortgage), utilities, and taxes (if housing owner).

These income limits are further broken down by household size. These income limits are further broken down by household size. Table B-28 shows the maximum amount that a household can pay for housing each month without incurring a cost burden (overpayment).

Since 2013, approximately 59 percent of permits issued for housing development in the city were appropriate for above-moderate income affordability (above 120 percent AMI), 36 percent for moderate-income (80 to 120 percent AMI), and four percent for low and very low-income households (0-80 percent AMI).

Table B-28 Housing Affordability Matrix – Kern County 2022 Annual
Income
Limits
Affordable
Monthly
Housing
Costs
Utility
Allowance
(Rental and
Ownership)
(2021)
Taxes,
Insurance,
Homeowners
Association
Fees
(Ownership)
Affordable
Rent
Affordable
Home
Price
Extremely Low Income (0-30% AMI)
1-Person (studio) $16,350 $409 $126 $143 $283 $36,814
2-Person (1 BR) $18,700 $468 $119 $164 $349 $48,723
3-Person (2 BR) $23,030 $576 $131 $202 $445 $64,104
4-Person (3 BR) $27,750 $694 $166 $243 $528 $75,093
5-Person (4 BR) $32,470 $812 $185 $284 $627 $90,300
Very Low Income (30-50% AMI)
1-Person $27,300 $683 $126 $239 $557 $83,708
2-Person $31,200 $780 $119 $273 $661 $102,255
3-Person $35,100 $878 $131 $307 $747 $115,795
4-Person $38,950 $974 $166 $341 $808 $123,058
5-Person $42,100 $1,053 $185 $368 $868 $131,541
Low Income (50-80% AMI)
1-Person $43,650 $1,091 $126 $382 $965 $153,728
2-Person $49,850 $1,246 $119 $436 $1,127 $182,125
3-Person $56,100 $1,403 $131 $491 $1,272 $205,729
4-Person $62,300 $1,558 $166 $545 $1,392 $223,057
5-Person $67,300 $1,683 $185 $589 $1,498 $239,462
Median Income (80-100% AMI)
1-Person $56,200 $1,405 $126 $492 $1,279 $207,475
2-Person $64,250 $1,606 $119 $562 $1,487 $243,794
3-Person $72,250 $1,806 $131 $632 $1,675 $274,893
4-Person $80,300 $2,008 $166 $703 $1,842 $300,143
5-Person $86,700 $2,168 $185 $759 $1,983 $322,545
Moderate Income (100-120% AMI)
1-Person $67,450 $1,686 $126 $590 $1,560 $255,654
2-Person $77,100 $1,928 $119 $675 $1,809 $298,826
Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-39
Annual
Income
Limits
Affordable
Monthly
Housing
Costs
Utility
Allowance
(Rental and
Ownership)
(2021)
Taxes,
Insurance,
Homeowners
Association
Fees
(Ownership)
Affordable
Rent
Affordable
Home
Price
3-Person $86,700 $2,168 $131 $759 $2,037 $336,776
4-Person $96,350 $2,409 $166 $843 $2,243 $368,879
5-Person $104,050 $2,601 $185 $910 $2,416 $396,847
Sources: 2022 HCD Income Limits; Kern County Housing Authority Utility Allowance Schedule, 2021; Veronica Tam & Associates, 2022.

Assumptions: Income limits are the 2022 HCD limits for Kern County.

Affordable housing costs are 30 percent of gross household income.

Utility costs are based on Kern County Housing Authority Utility Allowance Schedule for 2021.

Taxes, insurance, private mortgage insurance, and homeowners association dues are calculated at 35 percent of monthly affordable cost.

Affordable home prices assume a 30-year fixed mortgage with a 3 percent interest rate and 10 percent down payment.

Taxes and insurance costs apply to owners only.

Extremely Low-income Households
Extremely low-income households earn 30 percent or less of the County AMI. According to 2022 HCD estimates, extremely low-income households have an annual income of $16,350 or below for a one-person household and $32,470 for a five-person household. Affordable rent is $283 per month and an affordable home price is $36,814.

Extremely low-income households cannot afford market-rate rental or ownership housing in Bakersfield.

Very-Low-income Households
Very low-income households earn between 31 and 50 percent of the County AMI – up to $27,300 for a one-person household and up to $42,100 for a five-person household in 2022.

A very low-income household can generally afford homes offered at prices between $83,708 and $131,541, adjusting for household size. After deductions for utilities and taxes, a very low-income household can afford to pay approximately $557 to $868 in monthly rent, depending on household size. Given the cost of housing in Bakersfield, very low-income households cannot afford to purchase a home or market rent for an adequately sized unit in the city.

Low-income Households
Low-income households earn between 51 and 80 percent of the County AMI – up to $43,650 for a one-person household and up to $67,300 for a five-person household in 2022.

A low-income household can generally afford homes offered at prices between $153,728 and $239,462, adjusting for household size. After deductions for utilities, a low-income household can afford to pay approximately $965 to $1,498 in monthly rent, depending on household size. Finding appropriately sized market-rate rental housing can be challenging to households in this income group, as nearly 82 percent of renter-occupied units hold contract rents between $500 and $1,500. Homeownership is out of reach for this income group, as median home sale price in 2022 was $377,000.

City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-40
Median-income Households
Median-income households earn between 80 and 100 percent of the County’s AMI – up to $56,200 for a one-person household and up to $86,700 for a five-person household in 2022.

The affordable home price for a moderate-income household ranges from $207,475 to $322,545. After deductions for utilities, a one-person median-income household could afford to pay up to $1,279 in rent per month and a five-person median-income household could afford to pay up to $1,983. Finding appropriately sized market-rate rental housing can be challenging to households in this income group. Owning a home is challenging for this income group, as the median home sale price in 2022 was $377,000.

Moderate-income Households
Moderate-income households earn between 100 and 120 percent of the County’s AMI – up to $104,050 for a five-person household size in 2022. The maximum affordable home price for a moderate-income household is $255,654 for a one-person household and $396,847 for a five-person family. Moderate-income households in Bakersfield could afford to purchase the median priced home in the city; however, finding an affordable adequately sized home could present a challenge for households earning incomes at the lower end of the middle/upper category. In addition, affordability for 1- to 3- person households may also present a challenge for affordability. The maximum affordable rent payment for moderateincome households is between $1,560 and $2,416 per month. The monthly market rate rent in Bakersfield is $1,421. Appropriately sized market-rate rental housing is generally affordable to households in this income group.

1.6.4 Median Monthly Housing Costs
Based on the latest ACS data and as shown in Figure B-11, median monthly housing costs have increased since 2010 in the city, county, tri-county area, and state. Monthly housing costs are higher in Bakersfield compared to the county; however, they are below the state median. Table B-29 shows the median monthly housing costs as a percentage of household income. The cost of median monthly housing costs as a percentage of household income is

35.6 percent in Bakersfield, suggesting renters in the city experience housing cost burden, and have a greater housing cost burden than in the county and the state. Residents who own their home in the city are generally not experiencing housing cost burden, even with a mortgage.

Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-41
Figure B-11 Median Monthly Housing Costs Over Time (2010 to 2020) Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS16-20 (5-year Estimates), Table B25105.

Table B-29 Median Monthly Housing Costs by Tenure as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months
City of
Bakersfield Kern County
Tri-County
Area California
Median Gross Rent 35.6% 34.6% 30.5% 33.1%
Median Monthly Costs: Owner Total 20.5% 19.9% 19.3% 21.4% Median Monthly Costs: Owner - Units
with a Mortgage

23.3% 23.6% 23.3% 25.0%
Median Monthly Costs: Owner- Units
without a Mortgage

11.6% 11.6% 11.6% 10.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B25071 and B25092

1.6.5 Workforce Housing
Typically, workforce housing is defined as housing that is affordable to households earning incomes within the range of 60 to 120 percent of the AMI (in Bakersfield, that range is $64,241 to $96,360 for a household of four). A broader definition of workforce housing is housing that is affordable to people who work in the city.

As noted in Section 1.3 Economic Characteristics, the median income for Bakersfield residents is $65,687. At this median income level, a household of one would be considered moderate-income; if there were two similar wage earners in one household with two children, then that household would be considered above moderate-income. Housing costs for median income earners highly depend on the number of householders within a household, as single-income median households may find it more challenging than a household with two income earners.
$1,202 $1,153
$1,293
$985 $988
$1,096
$954 $965
$1,079
$1,409 $1,419
$1,688
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
2010 2015 2020
Total Costs and Income
City of Bakersfield Kern County Tri-County Area California City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-42

1.6.6 Cost Burden
Housing cost burden means households spend 30 percent or more of their monthly income on housing-related costs. According to 2020 ACS data, approximately 33 percent of owner households and 49 percent of renter households are cost burdened. Renter-occupied households are more likely to have a housing cost burden. Housing cost burden trends in Bakersfield have not shown significant change when comparing 2010-2015 and 2016-2020 estimates. For owners, cost burden has slightly decreased, while renter occupied households have seen a constant percentage of those that are cost burdened when comparing 2010-2015 and 2016-2020 time periods, as shown in Table B-30.

Table B-30 Median Monthly Housing Costs by Tenure as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months
2010-2015 2016-2020
Tenure
Households
Not
Housing
Burdened
Households
Paying
30%-50% of
Income on
Housing
Households
Paying
50+% of
Income on
Housing
Households
Not
Housing
Burdened
Households
Paying
30%-50% of
Income on
Housing
Households
Paying
50+% of
Income on
Housing
Owner
Occupied with
a Mortgage1
27,578
(53%)
14,558
(28%)
9,874
(19%)
34,675
(66%)
11,234
(21%)
6,158
(12%)
Renter
Occupied1
18,311
(43%)
10,537
(25%)
11,285
(26%)
21,613
(45%)
12,329
(25%)
11,602
(24%)
Total 45,889
(47%)
25,095
(26%)
21,159
(22%)
56,288
(56%)
23,563
(23%)
17,760
(18%)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2016-2020 (5-year Estimates), Table B25070 and B25091 Notes: 1
Percentages for owner- and renter-occupied categories may not add up exactly to totals due to rounding. Owner occupied is reflective of only those with a mortgage.

Cost burden disproportionately impacts households depending on income level, as shown in Table B-31. Nearly 63 percent of ELI households overpay in housing costs, compared to 20 percent of households that earn an income of 31-50 percent of the AMI and 16 percent of households that earn more than 50 percent of the AMI. Approximately 75 percent of all lower-income households are cost burdened. Among low-income households, cost burden is more prevalent among renters. Sixty-eight percent of low-income owner households are cost burdened and 79 percent of low-income renter households are cost burdened.

Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-43
Table B-31 Housing Cost Burden by Income Level
Cost
Burdened
Owner
Total Owner
Households
Cost
Burdened
Renter
Total Renter
Households
Total Cost
Burdened
Lower-Income (0-
80% AMI)
10,165
(67.9%)
3,470 19,770
(78.8%)
8,845 29,935
(74.7%)
0-30% AMI 2,705
(14.7%)
4,360 7,145
(30.3%)
6,850 9,850
(23.5%)
31-50% AMI 3,145
(17.1%)
7,145 6,075
(25.8%)
9,385 9,220
(22.0%)
51-80% AMI 4,315
(23.5%)
5,355 6,550
(27.8%)
5,205 10,865
(25.9%)
80-100% AMI 2,225
(12.1%)
48,300 1,985
(8.4%)
17,935 4,210
(10.0%)
Greater than
100% AMI
5,990
(32.6%)
68,630 1,820
(7.7%)
48,225 7,810
(18.6%)
Total 18,380 4,360 23,575 6,850 41,955
Source: CHAS data 2014-2018 estimates

1.7 Assisted Housing Units
Assisted housing units are those that are restricted for use by occupants with limited household incomes. These units are assisted under federal, State, and/or local programs, including HUD programs, state and local bond programs, former redevelopment agency (RDA) programs, density bonus, or direct assistance programs. There are 4,533 assisted housing units in the city as listed in Table B-32.

City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-44
Table B-32 Deed Restricted Affordable Housing Developments in Bakersfield Housing Complex Location Very Low Low Senior Moderate
Expiration
Date
Funding
Source
Summerfield Place Apartments 6300 Summerfield Drive 18 18 2023 HUD South Real Gardens Apartments 2701 South Real Road 20 20 2024 HUD Pinewood Glen 2221 South Real Road 99 98 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 5303 Plute Pass Street 1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 5611 Cascade Ridge
Street
1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 5315 Kettle Dome Street 1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 904 Scorpio Court 1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 5313 San Mateo Drive 1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 3600 O Street #13 1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 5203 Gorham Way 1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 603 Broken Arrow
Avenue
1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 811 Broken Arrow
Avenue
1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 701 Broken Arrow
Avenue
1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 4901 Belle Terrace #2 1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 605 Cinder Cone Avenue 1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 5208 Coxwold Abbey
Court
1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 5012 Coxwold Abbey
Court
1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 5507 Grant Grove Street 1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 612 Isla Bonita Street 1 1 2025 NSP
NSP Rehab 4425 Parkwood 1 1 2025 NSP
Wilson Tower 3015 Wilson Road 199 198 2025 HUD
Joshua Tree Apartments 4948 Buckley Way 20 19 2034 HUD
Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-45
Housing Complex Location Very Low Low Senior Moderate
Expiration
Date
Funding
Source
CitySide Apartments 1836 Orange Street 4 4 2040 HOME
CitySide Apartments 1332 K Street 4 4 2040 HOME
Decatur Hotel 2029 19th Street 27 26 2042 PSVS
Lowell Place 500 R Street 80 79 2043 HUD
Tegeler Hotel 1908 H Street 53 53 2047 LIHTC;
HCD
Pineview 4301 Fruitvale Avenue 110 109 2049 LIHTC
Canyon Hills Senior Housing 6701 Auburn Street 74 72 2052 LIHTC Madison Place 1885 Madison Street 56 55 2052 LIHTC
Emerald Glen Apartments 1201 40th Street 240 239 2053 LIHTC Park Place Apartments 2250 R Street 80 79 2053 LIHTC
Bakersfield Family Apartments 710 Brundage Lane 78 77 2057 LIHTC California Avenue Senior Housing 1125 California Avenue 180 178 2059 LIHTC P Street Family Apartments 22 P Street 21 20 2059 LIHTC Casa Loma Family Apartments 1525 Lotus Lane 113 112 2060 LIHTC Coventry Place Apartments 3101 Coventry Drive 88 87 2061 LIHTC Greenfield Homes 403 Boomerang Drive 35 35 2061 LIHTC;
USDA;
HCD
St. John Manor 900 4th Street 79 78 2061 LIHTC;
HUD
King Square Family Apartments 1601 Lotus Lane 73 72 2062 LIHTC Panorama Park Apartments 401 West Columbus
Avenue
66 65 2062 LIHTC;
HUD
Village Park Senior Apartments 2300 R Street 60 59 2063 LIHTC Nina Place Apartments 1816 Lotus Lane 65 64 2065 LIHTC
Santa Fe Apartments 701 Union Avenue 56 55 2065 LIHTC
South Mill Creek Apartments 1401 S. Street 70 69 2065 LIHTC Auburn Heights Apartments 7000 Auburn Street 160 158 2067 LIHTC City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-46
Housing Complex Location Very Low Low Senior Moderate
Expiration
Date
Funding
Source
The Residences at West Columbus 500 West Columbus
Street
56 55 2067 LIHTC;
CalHFA
Mill Creek Courtyard 1303 S. Street 62 61 2068 LIHTC
Residences at Old Town Kern 1006 Baker Street 50 49 2068 LIHTC Sunnylane Village 2601 Sunny Lane 40 39 2068 LIHTC;
HUD
Green Gardens 2300 S. Union Avenue 103 102 2069 LIHTC;
HCD
Mill Creek Village 508 18th Street 112 110 2069 LIHTC;
HCD
Sycamore Walk Apartments 380 Pacheco Road 112 110 2069 LIHTC Baker Street Village 1001 Baker Steet 37 26 2070 HUD
22nd Street Lofts 811 22nd Street 20 19 2074 LIHTC
Brentwood Crossings 7350 Willis Avenue 58 58 2075 LIHTC Milestone 1301 Chester Avenue 149 149 2075 HCD
Sagewood Apartments 7246 Stine Road 72 71 2075 LIHTC
The Residences at East Hills 3345 Bernard Street 81 80 2077 LIHTC; HOME
Milestone Housing 1622 Union Avenue 88 87 2077 Homekey
The Grove Bakersfield 4801 Fruitvale Avenue 140 28 2033 CalHFA Bakersfield Family Apartments 1629 Lotus Lane 80 79 2064 LIHTC; USDA;
HCD
Park 20th 400 20th Street 56 55 2071 LIHTC;
HCD
Affordable Housing Infill Program 119 L Street 12 12 2042 PSVS Affordable Housing Infill Program 102 L Street 8 8 2042 PSVS Affordable Housing Infill Program 2673 & 2675 Sunny Lane 8 8 2042 PSVS Westchester Senior Housing 2027 19th Street 27 26 2042 PSVS 1612 Lofts 1612 Eye Street 9 9 2065 RDA
Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-47
Housing Complex Location Very Low Low Senior Moderate
Expiration
Date
Funding
Source
Friese Inn 721 8th Street 18 18 2065 RDA/HOME
The Village at Lakeside 1718 Panama Lane 136 135 2028 LIHTC Haven Cottages MHSA 68 E. White Lane 24 23 2030 CalHFA
Park Real Apartments 414 Real Road 16 16 2031 HCD
Villa San Dimas Apartments 601 36th Street 20 20 2031 HCD Haven House 231 Quantico Avenue 24 23 2031 HOME
Sundance Apartments 6000 White Lane 60 60 2027 HUD
Total 4,533 3,719 814
City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-48

1.7.1 Funding Sources for Assisted Housing
Table B-33 identifies the funding source for the 4,533 assisted housing units in the city. The following local, State, and federal programs provide financing for assisted housing units:

HUD Section 8 Program
Under the HUD Section 8 program, which is administered by HACA, participating building owners are entitled to receive HUD Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for units with Section 8 contracts. For Section 8 units, HUD makes up the difference between 30 percent of a household’s monthly income and the FMRs. Additionally, if HACA chooses to do so, they may convert unused Section 8 vouchers into PBS8 vouchers. HACA periodically releases a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) that historically has awarded PBS8 vouchers to 100 percent deed restricted affordable housing by non-profit residential developers.

Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)
Created in 1986 by the federal government, the LIHTC program offers tax incentives to encourage the development of affordable housing. The LIHTC is jointly administered by the IRS and State Housing Credit Agencies (HCA) and have funded over eight billion annually tax credit units nationwide. California’s HCA is the State Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC).

California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA)
CalHFA uses approved private lenders and purchases loans that meet CalHFA standards to support very low, low, and moderate income assisted units. CalHFA partners with jurisdictions, developers, and other organizations to provide a variety of resources including loan assistance programs for homebuyers and renters aimed at increasing housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.

Public Safety and Vital Services (PSVS)
In 2018, the citizens of Bakersfield passed Measure N, known as the Public Safety and Vital Services measure. The measure created a one percent sales tax on all taxable goods sold within the City of Bakersfield. Funds generated by the tax are allocated to the City of Bakersfield and used for enhanced services and programs. Annually, revenues generated are allocated through a budget process involving a citizen’s oversight committee and public hearings before City Council adoption. While discretionary, past precedent has been to allocate approximately $4-$5 million dollars annually to provide additional gap financing to support affordable housing development. Program requirements are generally flexible, however the majority of funds that have been dispensed have supported the development of very-low, low-, and moderate- income rental housing. Further, PSVS funds qualify as a match under the Local Housing Trust Fund administered by the State of California, thus providing an ongoing revenue source for the City to potentially double its investment in affordable housing.

California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Gap financing is critical to the success of affordable housing construction. Often, multiple sources of funding from separate entities (private financing, bank loans, federal, state, and local funding) are required to leverage each other to complete a complex. In recent years, HCD has significantly raised the availability of gap financing to support affordable housing.

Combined with the City’s local funding mechanism through PSVS, these funds are critical to Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-49
leveraging investments and creating a larger pool of funding to support affordable housing production. In addition, programs such as the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) and Local Housing Trust Fund (LHTF) program provide opportunities for local governments to administer State funds as local entitlement sources, which in turn provides more resources to develop projects. Other common sources seen in local programs include Multifamily Housing Program (MHP), California Housing Accelerator, Joe Serna Farmworker Housing, Project Homekey, Regional Early Action Planning (REAP), Community Development Block Grant CARES (CDBG-CV), and more.

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA)
To assist State and local governments in responding to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress signed H.R. 1319 on March 17, 2021. Within the legislation, two sources of one-time funding were allocated to the City of Bakersfield to support local housing needs, particularly among extremely-low and low-income households: State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) and HOME – American Rescue Plan Act (HOME ARP).

1.7.2 At-Risk Housing Units
The California Housing Partnership maintains an affordable housing database to monitor changes in affordable housing and to identify units or housing developments that are at risk of converting to market-rate uses. Assisted units in the preservation data base are classified by the following risk categories:
 Low Risk: affordable housing units that are at-risk of converting to market rate in 10+ years and/or are owned by a large/stable non-profit, mission-driven developer.  Moderate Risk: affordable housing units that are at-risk of converting to market rate in the next 5-10 years that do not have a known overlapping subsidy that would extend affordability and are not owned by a large/stable non-profit, mission-driven developer.  High Risk: affordable housing units that are at-risk of converting to market rate in the next 1-5 years that do not have a known overlapping subsidy that would extend affordability and are not owned by a large/stable non-profit, mission-driven developer.

California housing element law requires all jurisdictions to include a study of all low-income multifamily housing units which may at some future time be lost to the affordable inventory by the expiration of some type of affordability restrictions. The planning period for this at-risk housing analysis extends from 2023 through 2033. The underlying income use restrictions of the assisted housing developments listed in Table B-33 were reviewed for potential conversion to market rate during this planning period.

During the 2023-2033 period, 395 units residential units at multiple properties across the city are considered “high risk or very-high risk” of being lost to the supply of the affordable housing in the City of Bakersfield. A summary of properties with deed restrictions that are set to expire in the next ten years is as follows:

City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-50
Table B-33 Deed Restricted Affordable Housing Developments At Risk for Market Conversion
Housing
Complex Location
Total
Units
Expiration
Date
Risk
Level
Funding
Source Status
Sundance
Apartments
6000 White
Lane
60 April 30, 2027 High Housing and
Urban
Development
(HUD)
The existing HUD
restriction has been
extended to 2027
Summerfield
Place
Apartments
6300
Summerfield
Drive
18 December 31,
2023
Low Housing and
Urban
Development
(HUD)
Property owner
intends to extend
the covenant, likely
to 2043*
South Real
Garden
Apartments
2701 South
Real Road
20 May 31, 2024 High Housing and
Urban
Development
(HUD)
Owner does not
intend to extend the
affordability
covenant at this
time.

Pinewood
Glen
2221 South
Real Road
99 2025
High Neighborhood
Stabilization
Project (NSP)
Owner does not
have any current
plans to extend the
deed-restriction
after the covenants
expiration, however
consistent with the
owner mission, the
property will
continue to operate
at affordable rents
Wilson Tower 3015 Wilson
Avenue
198 2025 High Housing and
Urban
Development
(HUD)
Owner does not
have any current
plans to extend the
deed-restriction
after the covenants
expiration, however
the owner is open
to selling the
property to a
qualified affordable
housing developer
to continue the
properties operation
as affordable
housing
Total 395 –
*Confirmed via communications with property manager on December 1, 2022.

Prior to the expiration date of these deed restricted units, the City will work with the property owner to confirm that the tenants are properly notified of their rights under AB 1521 (2017, Bloom). Further, the City will engage property owners with expiring covenants three years prior to their expiration to inform them about local, state, and federal funding sources to support the properties continued operation as affordable housing. Those with expired covenants that continue to operate at affordable rents will be asked to submit annual Housing Needs Assessment
Draft Housing Element B-51
information to verify rent levels are affordable to ensure the city does not lose those units as affordable housing.

Different options may be used to preserve or replace the units though they may be infeasible given that the units are located in a larger non-regulated property.

Preservation (Acquisition/Rehabilitation)
If a property is 100 percent deed restricted affordable housing with an expiring regulatory agreement, transferring ownership of the at-risk project to another entity whose mission is to provide affordable housing, such as a non-profit housing provider, the local housing authority, or a private developer who intends to develop affordable housing, is one of the least costly ways to ensure that the at-risk units remain affordable for the long term. By transferring property ownership one of the above-mentioned organizations, low-income restrictions can be secured, and the project would become potentially eligible for additional financing sources to continue the properties operation as deed-restricted affordable housing. Another option to preserve the affordability of this at-risk project is to support a Joint Power Authorities purchase of the property. If this option is exercised, it would require deed restrictions for 100 percent of the residential units but also allows for bond financing that would allow the owner to maintain the project as affordable housing.

A recent example of rehabilitation is the Decatur Hotel, a 2020 27-unit rehabilitation project that the City and the Housing Authority of the County of Kern worked on together. Total cost for the project is estimated at $1.9M, equal to $70,300 per unit. Based on this information, the cost for preservation of the 395 at-risk units would be approximately $27.8 million.

Construction of Replacement Units
To understand the significance if these at-risk units are lost from the supply of city affordable housing, the City has prepared a hypothetical analysis that identifies the cost of construction of new regulated housing to replace these at-risk units if they are converted to market-rate units. The cost of developing housing depends upon a variety of factors, including density, size of the units (i.e., square footage and number of bedrooms), location, land costs, and type of construction, as discussed in the Non-governmental Constraints section of Appendix C, Housing Constraints. In evaluation of the City of Bakersfield’s recent housing productivity, the average cost to build is approximately $237,595 per unit. This accounts for the 156 units of affordable housing the City of Bakersfield completed within the past 18 months.

Cumulatively, these projects cost approximately $37.06 million to construct, with the City contributing a total of $7.02 million to the projects. The cost to replace the 395 at-risk units would be approximately $93.8 million.

Cost Comparison
The cost for new construction ($93.8 million) is considerably higher than cost per unit for rehabilitation ($27.8 million). Based on the above analysis, rehabilitation of at-risk units would be less costly than construction of new affordable housing units. Under AB 1521 noted above, there are proscribed steps for owners of deed restricted properties to take prior to the expiration of those affordability requirements. This law requires that the owner consider an offer to purchase the deed-restricted units. Staff will ensure that property owners comply with this regulation.

City of Bakersfield
2024-2032 Housing Element
B-52
The City will support the preservation of affordable housing units that could potentially convert to market-rate during the planning period. The City will monitor all regulated affordable units and assist property owners in maintaining the affordability of these units and assist tenants if preservation is unsuccessful, as described in Program 3 in Chapter 2, Housing Plan.

Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-1
Constraints
Constraints to the provision of adequate and affordable housing can be posed by market, governmental, infrastructure, and environmental factors. These constraints may result in housing that is not affordable to all residents or may render residential construction physically or economically infeasible for developers. Constraints to housing production significantly impact households with lower incomes and special needs.

According to Government Code 65583, local governments are required to analyze governmental and non-governmental constraints to the production, maintenance, and improvement of housing for persons of all income levels and those with special needs and, where appropriate and legally possible, remove governmental constraints to the maintenance, improvement, and development of housing as part of Housing Element updates. Where constraints to housing production are identified, appropriate policies and actions to mitigate these constraints are included in the Housing Element.

1.1 Governmental Constraints
City policies and regulations can impact the price and availability of housing. Policies and regulatory actions such as land use controls, site improvement requirements, building codes, fees, and the overall provision of affordable housing can impact the price and availability of housing. The following section describes these governmental constraints.

1.1.1 Land Use Controls
Cities regulate the type, location, density, and scale of residential development primarily through their General Plan, Zoning Code, and Specific Plans. The General Plan sets forth the vision, goals and policies for the city’s urban form and land use patterns, including residential development. The Land Use Element includes land use categories that define the use and building intensity throughout the city. The City’s Zoning Code is the mechanism by which the vision, goals, and policies of the General Plan are implemented. The Zoning Code regulates the type, location, density, and scale of residential development through height limits, setbacks, Floor Area Ratio (FAR), parking requirements, and other standards.

Specific Plans are detailed plans for specific areas, focusing on issues pertinent to that area and supplementing the policies of the General Plan.

General Plan
The City of Bakersfield adopted its current General Plan in 2002. In 2021, the City kicked off a comprehensive update to the General Plan. This update will modernize the City’s vision and priorities to ensure the city continues to grow and develop according to current community needs.

The 2002 Bakersfield General Plan Land Use Element sets forth policies for guiding future development and establishes categories of land that are available for various uses. The Land Use Element includes seven residential land use designations and a mixed-use designation as described in Table C-1. Within each designation, additional development controls are established for allowable uses, lot size, and densities. Residential densities in Bakersfield promote the development of the various housing types which include singlefamily dwellings, duplexes, triplexes, apartments, townhomes, condominiums, mobile homes, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-2
Table C-1 Land Use Designations
General Plan
Designation
Residential Uses
Allowed Minimum Lot Size Dwelling Units per Acre
Rural (RR) Rural Single Family
Housing

2.5 acres Minimum 2.5 gross
acres/unit
Estate (ER) Estate Single Family
Housing
10,000 square feet Minimum of 1 net
acre/unit
Suburban (SR) Generally, single-family
detached units with no
public sewage service
24,000 square feet - 10
acres
Up to 4 dwelling units/net
acre
Low-Density (LR) Single Family Housing 4,500 - 6,000 square feet 7.26 dwelling units/net acre
Low Medium Density
(LMR)
Attached, single-family
town homes, duplexes,
zero lot line
developments, triplexes,
mobile home parks
6,000 square feet Between 4.0 and less
than 10 dwelling units/
net acre
High Medium density
(HMR)
Attached, single-family
town homes, duplexes,
zero lot line
developments, triplexes,
6,000 square feet Between 7.26 and 17.42
dwelling units/ net acre
High Density (HR) Apartments, apartment
hotels, condominiums
6,000 square feet Between 17.42 and 72.6
dwelling units/net acre
Mixed Use (MUC) Commercial centers,
Apartments, apartment
hotels, condominiums

N/A N/A
Source: Bakersfield Municipal Code Accessed April 2022 https://bakersfield.municipal.codes/Code/17 City of Bakersfield General 2002 Accessed April 2022
https://docs.bakersfieldcity.us/weblink/Browse.aspx?startid=602140&dbid=0&cr=1 Lower density residential land use categories are generally located throughout the city.

Higher density residential land use categories are located in the central downtown portion of the city, northeast of the intersection of the Interstate 99 (I-99) and 58 (I-58) freeways, in the Central Bakersfield neighborhood. Low-density residential land uses account for approximately 55,980 acres, or 23.6 percent of the city’s land area. Medium and highdensity residential land uses account for approximately 18,370 acres, or 7.7 percent of the city’s land. Medium and high-density residential land uses comprise approximately 24.6 percent of total residential land use area. Commercial, industrial, and resource (agriculture, minerals, and petroleum) land use categories account for 3.6 percent, 6.4 percent, and 43.8 percent respectively.

Agricultural land comprises a large percentage of land in Bakersfield compared to other major cities in California and is a major part of the city’s economy. However, conversion of farmland to urban development, including residential use, is common in Kern County.1 Further, the majority of agriculturally zoned lands within the city limits are spreading fields associated with the operation of the City’s wastewater treatment facility. 1 California Department of Conservation. 2012-2014 and 2014-2016 Farmland Conversion Report. https://www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/fmmp/Pages/2012-2014_Farmland_Conversion_Report.aspx and https://www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/fmmp/Pages/2014-2016_Farmland_Conversion_Report.aspx Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-3
The 2020-2021 City of Bakersfield Annual Action Plan for its U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)2 states that the city has a higher ratio of single-family to multi-family dwellings compared to other jurisdictions in California and the state as a whole.

The high percentage of land designated for low-density residential uses limits the housing types that are typically constructed in the city, which disproportionally impacts the affordable housing options for moderate- and lower-income households. To address this constraint, the City updated in spring 2024 to accommodate a greater mix of housing types and support the development of multifamily housing. The City will update the land use designations of its General Plan to be consistent with changes made to the Zoning Code.

Zoning Code
The City’s Zoning Code regulates the type, location, density, and scale of residential development for land not contained in a specific plan. In the Zoning Code, a zoning district is assigned to every parcel in the city. Compatible uses and other development standards are also identified. The City’s Zoning Code identifies nine residential and mixed-use districts, as well as an agricultural district, residential holding district, two commercial districts, and a mobile home district that allow residential uses, as described below.  R-S (Residential Suburban): provides land areas for the use and occupancy of singleunit detached dwellings and accessory dwelling units. It is the intent of this zone to promote a range of single-unit products types on larger parcels, as well as the allowance of animal keeping under specific guidelines and operating standards. The residential density range for this zone is 0 to 2 dwelling units per net acre.  R-1 (Single-Unit Dwelling): provides land areas for the use and occupancy of singleunit detached dwellings and accessory dwelling units. It is the intent of this zone to protect and preserve existing neighborhoods and promote the future development of lower-density residential single-unit neighborhoods that provide a livable, walkable and sustainable residential environment. The residential density range for this zone is 2.1 to 6 dwelling units per net acre.
 R-2 (Small Lot Single-Unit Dwelling): provides land areas for the use and occupancy of single-unit dwellings and accessory dwelling units and two-unit duplex dwellings. It is the intent of this zone to promote and encourage single-unit and two-unit neighborhoods that provide a livable, walkable and sustainable residential environment. The residential density range for this zone is 6.1 to 13 dwelling units per net acre.  R-3 (Medium-Density Multi-Unit Dwelling): provides land areas for the use and occupancy of accessory dwelling units, two-unit dwellings, medium-density single-unit dwellings and medium-density multi-unit dwellings. It is the intent of this zone to provide a livable, walkable and sustainable residential environment similar to that found in smalllot single-unit neighborhoods at densities that promotes medium-density duplexes, condominiums, townhomes and apartments. The residential density range for this zone is 13.1 to 20 dwelling units per net acre.
 R-4 (High-Density Multi-Unit Dwelling): provides land areas for the use and occupancy of multi-story, multi-unit dwellings (e.g., rowhouses, flats, condominiums, townhouses and apartments) at higher densities that include on-site recreational amenities. It is the intent of this zone to provide a livable, walkable, and sustainable residential environment that ensures compatibility with surrounding lower-density singleunit and multi-unit dwellings and neighborhood commerce. The residential density range for this zone is 20.1 to 30 dwelling units per net acre. 2 City of Bakersfield. 2020-21 Annual Action Plan. May 15, 2020 City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-4
 R-5 (Very-High Density Multi-Unit Dwelling): provides land areas for the use and occupancy of multi-unit dwellings (e.g., condominiums, townhouses, and apartments) at very-high densities in proximity to neighborhood commercial centers. It is the intent of this zone to provide a livable, walkable, and sustainable residential environment that encourages development types that use innovative site planning. The residential density range for this zone is 30.1 to 50 dwelling units per net acre.  R-6 (Urban Core): provides land areas for the use and occupancy of multi-unit dwellings (e.g., condominiums, mid-rise, and high-rise apartments). It is the intent of the R-6 Zone to encourage high-intensity and centralized urban development along major corridors, interchanges, transit hubs, and throughout downtown Bakersfield. Development within this Zone should initiate a transition to a more dense, highly urban, walkable, and transitoriented environment that serves as the link between residential development and adjacent employment centers. Projects in this Zone should incorporate development standards to increase street activation, provide a variety of onsite recreational amenities for residents, and have direct access to employment centers. The minimum residential density for this zone is 50.1. There is no maximum residential density for the R-6 Zone.  MX-1 (Mixed-Use Neighborhood): provides areas within the city for pedestrian oriented developments that focus on neighborhood-serving commercial uses (e.g., coffee shops, grocery stores, retail establishments). This zone also allows mixed-use development comprised of medium-density multi-unit developments (i.e., cottage court apartments, low-rise apartments, and condominiums), It is the intent of the MX-1 Zone to encourage a mix of residential and commercial uses, with residential on the upper floors and commercial on the lower floors (vertical mixed-use format), as well as stand-alone uses in certain circumstances (horizontal mixed-use format). The residential density range for this zone is 20-30 dwelling units per acre.
 MX-2 (Mixed-Use Transit): provides for transit- and pedestrian-oriented mixed-use development comprised of high-density multi-unit developments (i.e., low-rise, mid-rise apartments, and condominiums). The focus of such development will be on centralized urban development along major corridors, interchanges, transit hubs, and throughout downtown Bakersfield, in conjunction with existing and planned transit facilities to support and maximize transit use. This zone is intended to encourage high quality integrated development consisting of residential and commercial uses in a horizontal and or vertical arrangement to maximize open space of active and passive use and provide opportunities for place making. The residential density range for this zone is

30.1 to 100 dwelling units per acre.
 Agricultural (A): provides for agricultural commercial and domestic uses and related activities. This includes farm buildings and housing for agricultural workers. This zone also permits any residential use that is permitted in the Single-Unit Dwelling Zone (R-1).

The agricultural zone only permits one dwelling unit per lot.  R-H (Residential Holding): retains large undeveloped land areas for future urban development. This zone allows for agricultural and resource uses in addition to any residential use that is permitted in the Single-Unit Dwelling Zone (R-1).  Central Business (C-B): allows for commercial uses in addition to residential uses that are in the second story or above. The C-B zone does not establish a dwelling unit density requirement in the Zoning Code.
 Commercial Center (C-C): allows for commercial uses in addition to residential uses such as multi-family dwellings and single-family dwellings provided that it is attached to and accessory to a commercial use. The C-C zone requires a minimum lot area of 600 square feet per dwelling unit for buildings used exclusively for dwelling purposes. Mobile Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-5
Home (M-H): provides for mobile home parks and subdivisions. Mobile home zones are located along the Interstate 99 (I-99) between the Southwest and Southeast neighborhoods.

During community outreach events held to inform the Affordable Housing Strategy Housing Element Update, and Zoning Code Update (see Appendix A, Public Participation), the City received the following comments regarding land use, zoning, and allowable densities:
 Housing is currently not diverse enough to meet the needs of the population (too many single-family homes), and housing types should be more varied.  There is a consumer demand for higher density housing and more affordable product types.
 The City’s Zoning Code could be amended to allow more diverse types of housing, including multifamily properties on lots zoned for commercial use.  There is a lack of transit-oriented development and connectivity, making it expensive for low-income households to commute long distances.
 Zoning Code is missing “mixed-use” zoning designations.  Consolidate zones and allow more variety of uses within zones.

In response to these comments, Bakersfield amended residential zoning districts in spring 2024 to support higher-density and mixed-use development and has begun a comprehensive Zoning Code update to evaluate the development standards for all districts and overlay zones. The residential Zoning Code update enables denser residential development to accommodate the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), create objective multifamily design standards, support a broader variety of housing typologies, and ensure internal consistency and compliance with state laws.

Allowable Density
Density is the number of developed units in a specific area of land, typically stated in dwelling units per acre. Bakersfield’s residential zoning districts have a range of density standards as mentioned above.

Recently passed legislation, such as Senate Bill (SB) 9, allows an increase in the allowable density for certain zoning districts. Low density residential districts must allow two units per lot and allow a lot split if the resulting parcel is a minimum of 1,200 square feet. Because two units are allowed on each parcel, a lot split could permit up to four units on the original parcel. One ADU could also be permitted on each of the two new lots.

Government Code section 65583.2(c)(3) allows jurisdictions to use higher density as a proxy for lower income affordability, as long as certain statutory requirements are met.

Parcels must be zoned to allow sufficient density to accommodate the economies of scale needed to produce affordable housing. To make this determination, the statute allows the jurisdiction to either demonstrate that the zoning allows a specific density as set forth in the statute (default density), or to provide an analysis demonstrating the appropriateness of the zoned densities of the site identified to accommodate the lower-income RHNA.

There are nine zoning districts that allow for multi-family residential development: R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6, MX-1, MX-2, C-B, and C-C zoning districts. Of these zoning districts, seven of them (R-4, R-5, R-6, MX-1, MX-2, C-B, and C-C) meet the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) requirements for a site to be viable for lower income housing. HCD requires that jurisdictions that are considered “metropolitan City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-6
jurisdictions” allow a density of at least 30 dwelling units per acre on sites to accommodate housing development appropriate for low- and very low-income households (Bakersfield is considered a metropolitan jurisdiction since the population is over 100,000). 3 “At least 30
dwellings units per acre” means that the density range allowed on the parcel by the zone must include the default density.

Allowable densities have not been sufficient for the development of higher density residential uses in areas that could be beneficial to such housing options, such as major corridors with access to public transit and near commercial centers. Input received during public engagement efforts for the Housing Element indicated a desire for more diverse housing types, particularly smaller units, since single-family housing has become unaffordable to rent or own for many households. The recently adopted residential Zoning Code updates now provides T new high-density and mixed-use zones to promote the development of new small unit rental and for-sale housing development in strategic areas.

The City understands the need to provide more flexibility and opportunity for higher-density and small unit development. The City has removed single-family residential use as an allowable use in higher-density multifamily zones, and has established minimum densities for all zoning districts.

Overlay and Combining Zones
In addition to zoning districts, the Zoning Code includes overlay and combining zones. An overlay zone is a zoning district applied over one or more previously established zoning districts, establishing additional or more flexible standards and criteria for covered properties in addition to those of the underlying zoning district. A combining district is a designation applied to a property indicating that special requirements apply in addition to the underlying zoning district requirements. Below are descriptions of overlay and combining zones in Bakersfield that impact residential development. Generally, the overlay and combining zones have not posed a constraint to development, but the City will review the effectiveness of these zones and revise as needed with the General Plan and Zoning Code update.

Flood Plain Primary Zone
The Flood Plain Primary zone, located around the edge of the Kern River, limits allowable uses to flood proofing improvements, flood control, open space uses, and public utility facilities. Residential uses are not permitted. This overlay zone covers 3,987 acres in the city.

Flood Plain Secondary Zone
The Flood Plain Secondary (FP-S) zone is located directly south of the outer edge of the Kern River and provides an additional buffer between the Kern River and the surrounding developed portions of the city. The FP-S zone covers 3,391 acres. The FP-S zone allows the development of single-family dwellings with the following conditions to reduce hazards associated with flooding:
 The finish floor grade of any such building will be above the intermediate regional flood level, or
3 Department of Housing and Community Development. Default Density Standard Option-2020 Densus Update. March 21, 2022. https://www.hcd.ca.gov/community-development/housing-element/housing-elementmemos/docs/defaultdensity2020censusupdate.pdf. Accessed November 1,2022.

Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-7
 All permanent buildings will be protected from flooding by dikes, levees or other flood protection works whose design is approved by the city engineer, and  Individual sewage systems shall be maintained outside the limits of the FP-S zone, unless protected by flood-control devices approved by the city engineer and shall not be located closer than one hundred feet to any surface water source (domestic, agricultural wells, etc.)
The FP-S zone overlays low-density residential zones such as the R-S and R-1 zone. The FP-S zone regulations protect residents and developments from potential flooding. (Environmental constraints are discussed further in Section 1.3.6. New developments must be built with additional flood control construction methods as a safety measure. The extra precautions can be costly to the developer which may constrain the number of units that can be built. However, regulations required in the FP-S zone are necessary for public safety.

Hillside Development Combining Zone
The Hillside Development Overlay zone applies to areas with average natural slopes of eight percent or more. The intent of this zone is to preserve and maintain the hillsides as a scenic resource and to protect the public from the threat of wildfire, hillside instability, and landslides. This Hillside Development Combining zone covers 8,123 acres. This overlay zone contains additional “viewshed” regulations to ensure that hillside homes blend in with the hillside surroundings and protect hillside visual resources. The Hillside Development zone structural requirements are health and safety requirements to protect residents and the public from hazards such as landslides and earthquakes. Primary viewshed locations are locations that are adjacent to freeways, expressways, or arterial roadways with a visual resource area. Structures are not permitted to be visible within one-half mile of the primary viewshed. Secondary viewshed locations require that not more than 50 percent of the height of a structure be visible within one mile of the viewshed. Section 17.66 of the Zoning Code provides illustrations depicting these requirements. The viewshed requirements are objective and are intended to protect the hillside visual resources.

An area may contain multiple overlay zones. For example, an area in Northeast Bakersfield that is south of the Alfred Harrell Highway is zoned R-1 and is also designated an FP-S and Hillside Development overlay zone area. Currently, there are no existing residential developments in this area, but future construction will need to account for the additional measures described above to ensure the safety of the future residents of the development.

Planned Unit Development (PUD) Combining Zone
The PUD Zone provides flexible design standards for buildings, structures, lot sizes, and open space while ensuring compliance with the general plan and the intent of the municipal code. Land may be classified as being solely within a PUD zone (exclusive zone), or the PUD zone may be used as a combining zone in a R-1, R-2, R-3, or R-4 zone to assign a base zone, which defines allowable uses. PUD zones that are combined with residential zones such as R-1 or R-2 allow the same land uses as the base residential zone but may have more flexible development standards if proposed by the developer and approved by the Planning Commission or City Council. Since the PUD zone provides more flexibility for development, it is generally not considered a constraint. However, as part of the residential zoning update, the City is reviewing the exclusive PUD zone and the PUD combining zone regarding the effectiveness of each. If found to be a constraint to housing development, the City will enact changes as part of the comprehensive zoning code update.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-8
Petroleum Extraction Combining District
The Petroleum Extraction (PE) Combining District consists of lands containing productive or potentially productive petroleum resources. This district is applied to areas zoned as Residential Suburban (RS), Professional and Administrative Office (CO), Neighborhood Commercial (C-1), or Regional Commercial (C-2). The PE Combining district covers 472 acres. Permitted uses and regulations are established by the PE District in addition to the base district. The PE Combining District does not limit residential uses and development standards are the same as the base zone; therefore, this district is not a constraint to housing. Environmental health and safety regulations related to petroleum extraction, including SB 1137, are discussed under Environment Constraints.

Airport Approach (AA) Zone
The Airport Approach (AA) zone establishes standards and regulations for the area surrounding airports. The land use compatibility factors that can affect residential development in the AA are safety, noise, and airspace protection (building and structure height). It also establishes six subzones which include: Landing Subzone (L), Final Approach subzone (FA), Landing Transition subzone (LT), Approach Transition subzone (AT), Horizontal subzone (H), Conical subzone (C). The AA zone covers 518 acres. The subzones limit the height of development of surrounding airport uses to ensure compatibility with flight paths in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations. The AA zone was established to regulate development on and around the Bakersfield Municipal Airport. Aside from the airport itself, the AA zone encompasses commercial and industrial land uses and does not encompass residential developments. The AA zone is adjacent to the RS zone which is not on the flight path and therefore not impacted by safety or noise concerns. The AA zone is not a constraint to surrounding residential development.

Specific Plans
The purpose of a specific plan is to implement the goals and policies of the General Plan Land Use Element in a focused manner for a particular geographic area, and set forth land use regulations, development and design standards and implementation programs for these areas. The City of Bakersfield has three adopted specific plans: West Ming, McAllister Ranch, and Riverlakes Ranch.

McAllister Ranch Specific Plan
The McAllister Ranch Specific Plan was approved in 1993 for residential and commercial development. The 2,070-acre McAllister Ranch Specific Plan area is encompassed by the Southern Pacific Railroad to the north, South Allen Road to the east, and Panama Lane to the south. The plan originally proposed a maximum of 9,000 residential units that include apartments, single family houses, condominiums, and mixed-use commercial/residential projects.

Construction began on the McAllister Ranch Specific Plan area in 2006 with mass grading and installation of some infrastructure. However, due to the economic recession of 2008 and downturn in the real estate market, development was discontinued in 2008. The property was jointly purchased in 2011 by the Buena Vista Water Storage District (BVWSD) and Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage (RRBWSD). In 2019, BVWSD submitted an application to the Development Services Department for a General Plan Amendment, Zone Change, and Specific Plan Amendment for the design, construction, and operation of a water banking facility on the property. An Environmental Impact Report was prepared and circulated for public review in July of 2022; however, the project remains in process with Development Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-9
Services. It should be anticipated that the McAllister Ranch Specific Plan area will not be developed consistent with its associated specific plan land uses, but instead will be developed as a groundwater recharge facility. The change in development plans from housing to a water banking facility is not a constraint to development as the Housing Element Sites Inventory does not include housing in this area.

Riverlakes Ranch Specific Plan
The Riverlakes Ranch Specific Plan was adopted in 1990 and revised in 2002. The Riverlakes Ranch Specific Plan area is in the northwest portion of the city and is bounded by Rosedale Highway (Route 58) to the south, Norris Road to the north, Coffee Road to the east, and Calloway Drive to the west. The Riverlakes Ranch Specific Plan area covers approximately 1,900 acres with residential, commercial, public facility, light industrial, and open space land use designations, allowing for a maximum of 4,430 dwelling units. The Riverlakes Ranch Specific Plan allows developers to transfer at most 10 percent of their overall design standards (density, design, and development standards) of one area to another development area within the specific plan, if it is consistent with the overall design objectives. Developments may also transfer densities within individual development areas as long as the overall maximum 4,430 dwelling units is maintained. For example, if one area has a lower density than what is allowed, the developer is able to “transfer the density” to another area so that the second area may have a higher density. Table C-2 lists the residential land uses and the corresponding dwelling type, density, and lot size in the Riverlakes Ranch Specific Plan. Overall, the Riverlakes Ranch Specific Plan area is completely built out to the allotted density with 4,430 dwelling units.

Table C-2 Riverlakes Ranch Residential Land Use Designations Residential Land Use
Designation
Zoning
District
Maximum Dwelling
Units/Acre (du/acre) Permitted Uses
Suburban Residential R-1 4 du/acre Single family detached housing Low-Density R-1 7.26 du/acre Single family detached and attached housing
Low Medium Density R-2 10 du/acre Single family detached and attached housing, zero lot line developments
High Medium Density R-3 17.42 du/acre Attached residential- such as townhouses, apartments and stacked
flats
High Density R-3 29 du/acre Multi-family housing-such as apartments and condominiums
Source: City of Bakersfield Planning Services Adopted Planning Documents Accessed April 2022 https://docs.bakersfieldcity.us/weblink/Browse.aspx?startid=602140&dbid=0 Definitions:

R-1= One-Family Dwelling Zone
R-2= Limited Multiple-Family Dwelling Zone
R-3= Multiple-Family Dwelling Zone
West Ming Specific Plan
The West Ming Specific Plan covers a 2,182-acre area in the southwestern portion of the City of Bakersfield west of Buena Vista Road. It plans for a maximum of 7,450 residential units, 478,800 square feet of commercial (Including office, service, and retail), 331,200 square feet of town center commercial and mixed use, 1,135,000 square feet of special uses, four elementary schools and a junior high school, and 56 acres of public parks. The West Ming Specific Plan is currently developed with six residential villages that surround the City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-10
Village Center District. The villages allow a variety of allowable residential densities. The West Ming Mixed Use Area also provides for high-density residential. Table C-3 lists the residential land uses and the corresponding dwelling type, density, and lot size.

Table C-3 West Ming Residential Land Use Designations
Land Use Designation Zoning District Dwelling Units/ Acre Permitted Uses WM-LR: West Ming LowDensity ResidentialWM-R1 At least 7.25 dwelling units/net acre
Single family detached and attached
housing including townhomes
WM-LMR: West Ming
Low Medium Density
Residential
WM-R2 At least 10.0 dwelling
units/new acre
Single family detached and attached
housing, townhomes, duplexes,
zero lot line developments, and
small multi-family structures such as
triplexes
WM- HMR: High Medium
Density Residential
WM-R3 At least 17.42 dwelling
units/net acre
Single family detached and attached
housing, townhomes, duplexes,
zero lot line developments, small to
large multi-family structures
WM-HR: High Density
Residential
N/A* At least 72.6 dwelling
units/net acre)
Single family detached and attached
housing, townhomes, duplexes,
zero lot line developments, small to
large multi-family- mostly large such
as apartment, apartment hotels,
condominiums, parks, churches
WM-MU: Mixed Use WM-TC Maximum 3.0 FAR Medium to high density residential uses in conjunction with commercial
Source: City of Bakersfield Planning Services Adopted Planning Documents Accessed April 2022 https://docs.bakersfieldcity.us/weblink/Browse.aspx?startid=602140&dbid=0 * No Associated Zoning with Land Use Designation
WM-R1= West Ming one family dwelling zone
WM-R2= West Ming limited multiple family dwelling zone
WM-R3= West Ming limited multiple family dwelling zone
WM-TC= West Ming Town Center Zone
To date, there have been 1,499 units built within the boundaries of the specific plan, including 1,275 single-family residential units and 224 multi-family residential units. Since the plan’s adoption in 2007, approximately 20 percent of the allotted 7,450 residential units have been constructed. Over 17 percent of the residential building permits issued for this area have been within the last five years, between 2017 and 2022. Additionally, the developer for the West Ming Specific Plan area plans to start new community phases in 2024. It is anticipated that 1,000 to 1,200 single-family units and 520 to 650 multifamily units will be developed in the specific plan area in the next eight years.

The lower ratio of multi-family units in the West Ming Specific Plan area may be a constraint to providing housing opportunities to lower- and moderate-income households. The City of Bakersfield spoke with the developer of the West Wing Specific Plan, Bolthouse Properties, regarding the maximum number of units planned for the area. There are no current plans to amend the density ranges or maximum number of units allowed in the Specific Plan.

Following the completion of the General Plan Update and certification of the associated environmental documentation (anticipated to occur by 2024), Bolthouse is willing to revisit the topic provided there are tiering options available for the environmental review.

Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-11
Residential Development Standards
The City regulates the location, density, and scale of development through development standards in the City’s Zoning Code. Bakersfield’s residential development standards are shown in Table C-4. This table includes the setbacks, height, and minimum lot area of each residential zone in the city. The Zoning Code does not establish lot coverage for the zoning districts. Instead, lot coverage is established through setback and parking requirements.

Residential development standards do not regulate open space, aside from yard setbacks and building separation. The residential zones do not regulate floor area ratio (FAR) and the C-C and C-B zones were revised in 2023 to remove the FAR requirements.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-12
Table C-4 City of Bakersfield Residential Development Standards Zone
Development Feature
(minimum unless otherwise specified)
Parcel Area (min
square feet or
acres)
Parcel Area per
Dwelling (min
square feet)
Height
(max. ft.)
Distance between Structures (min. ft.)
Setbacks (min. ft.)
(to garage/living space/porch)
Between
Dwelling
Units
Between
Dwelling/
Accessory
Units
Between
Accessory
Units Front (ft.)
Side
(ft.)
SideCorner
(ft.)
Rear
(ft.)
R-S 15,000 sf 15,000 35 10 3 3 25 garage
20 living
15 porch
5 10 25
R-1 4,500 4,500 sf 35 8 3 3 20 garage
15 living
12 porch
4 10 5
R-2 Single-Unit:
2,000 sf
Single-Unit:
2,000
35 8 3 3 20 garage
12 living
9 porch
4 10 5
Multi-Unit: 6,000 sf Multi-Unit: 2,000 sf 10 15 4/10 10 10/15 R-3 Single-Unit
2,000 sf
Single-Unit
2,000
45 8 3 3 20 garage
9 living
6 porch
4 10 5
Multi-Unit
6,000 sf
Multi-Unit
2,000 sf
10 15 4/10 10 10/15
R-4 10,000 sf N/A 65 8 3 3
10 living
5 porch
4 10 10/15
R-5 10,000 sf N/A 80 8 3 3
10 living
5 porch
4 10 10/15
R-6 10,000 sf N/A 120 8 3 3 5 living
0 Porch
0 0 0
R-H* 20 ac N/A 35 100 3 3 110 5 10 25
MX-1 N/A N/A 75 10 3 3 0 5/10** 5/10** 10/15**
MX-2 N/A N/A 120 N/A N/A N/A 0 5/10** 0/10** 5/15**
*R-H (Residential Holding) Zone. The purpose of the R-H Zone is to retain large undeveloped land areas for future urban development. Once development is proposed, a General Plan Amendment and change of zoning will be required for consistency with the proposed development. This will ensure that development progresses in an orderly and logical manner consistent with the city’s growth policies. The R-H zone is considered agricultural in nature as it will allow both agricultural and petroleum resource uses to continue their operations until such time urbanization takes place.
** Adjacent to: Commercial Zone / Non-Commercial Zone
Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-13
Multi-Unit Objective Standards Applicable to the R-2 and R-3 Zones A. Connectivity.

1. Vehicular Circulation.
a. Parking areas shall be internally connected and shall use shared driveways within the development. This standard applies only within the development. Developments are not required to share driveways with neighboring properties. b. Parking areas shall not be located in the front setback area. c. Side and rear parking areas visible from a street shall include a minimum two-foot landscape buffer including a planting strip; a screening feature, such as a hedge, that is three feet high; and trees planted every 30 lineal feet. Trees, hedges, and shrubs shall be classified as Very Low (0-0.1) or Low (0.1-0.3) in the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species Classification System (WUCOLS) and shall be of evergreen variety to provide screening throughout the year. d. Parking Lot Shade.
i. One shade tree shall be planted for every six parking spaces. ii. A minimum of 50 percent of the trees shall be deciduous, as they provide shade in the summer and sun in the winter.
iii. Covered parking areas with solar capture technology are exempt from this requirement.

2. Pedestrian/Bicycle Circulation.
a. All structures, facilities, parking areas, amenities, and common areas shall be internally connected by pedestrian pathways.
b. Pedestrian pathways shall be separated from parking areas by landscaping, curbs, or other edge treatments.
c. Pedestrian pathways shall be directly connected to adjacent public sidewalks on each street frontage.

3. Fences and Walls.
a. The following materials are prohibited for all fences and walls:
i. Electrified fencing;
ii. Barb wire/razor wire;
iii. Fencing using other sharp objects such as spires and glass; iv. Cyclone fencing;
v. Vinyl; and
vi. Chain link.
vii. Materials not originally intended as fencing materials, such as pallets, corrugated metal or fiberglass, plywood or particle board sheeting, plastic tarps, sailcloth etc.

4. Glazing.
a. Structures shall incorporate the use of energy efficient glazing on windows and glass doors to reduce heat loss and gain.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-14

5. Multi-Unit Dwellings Trash and Recycling Enclosures. a. Trash and recycling enclosures shall include the following:
i. Constructed with masonry walls with finished metal doors. Masonry walls and metal doors shall be painted in accordance with the approved color palette for the project.
ii. Both a vehicle access gate and pedestrian access gate. iii. Downward lighting for safety and security.

6. Multi-Unit Dwelling Storage Spaces.
a. A minimum of 10 square feet (80 cubic feet) of outdoor storage space accessible from each unit’s ground floor patio or upper floor balcony shall be provided for all units.
b. Outdoor storage areas shall be covered and able to be locked.

7. Outdoor Lighting.
a. Pedestrian-oriented lighting shall be provided in active pedestrian areas (i.e., paseos, sidewalks, pathways, etc.)
b. Lighting for upper floor unit entries and exposed stairways shall be completely directed at the structure so that the illuminated bulb is not visible from neighboring residential properties at ground level.
c. Pedestrian pathway lighting features shall not exceed eight feet in height. d. Lighting in parking areas shall not exceed 16 feet in height. e. Active pedestrian areas shall incorporate free-standing lighting separate from structures.
f. Bicycle parking areas shall be illuminated.
g. Pedestrian pathways shall have illumination levels of 0.5 foot-candles as a maintained minimum at the walking surface to identify any level changes or changes in walking conditions.
h. Overhead sports court lighting shall illuminate only the intended area. i. Light tresspass onto neighboring lots is prohibited. j. Outdoor lighting shall use energy efficient lighting technology and shall be shielded downward to reduce glare and light pollution.
k. Gateway entry signs, directional signs, and unit and structure identifiers shall be externally illuminated for visibility at night.
l. Exposed bulbs are prohibited.
m. Colored bulbs and lenses are prohibited.

B. Primary Structure Entrances.
a. Entry Lighting.
i. All primary structure entrances shall include dusk to dawn lighting for safety and security.
b. Interior-Facing Structures.
i. The primary entrance of each interior-facing structure shall be oriented to paseos, courtyards, pathways, and active landscape areas.

Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-15
ii. For safety, units not facing the street shall be oriented to provide visual access to entryways, pedestrian pathways, recreation areas, and common facilities from private dwelling units.
c. Street-Facing Structures.
i. Structures at the street shall have a front entry oriented to the street.

1. Property Access.
a. If parking facilities are provided, there shall be vehicular access from a dedicated and improved street, easement, or alley to off-street parking facilities.

2. Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED). a. To provide "eyes on the street" surveillance, the largest window or group of windows of a minimum of one of the following rooms shall view the street: living room, dining room, family room, or kitchen.
b. Units not facing the street shall be oriented to provide visual access to structure entries, pedestrian pathways, recreation areas, and common facilities from dwelling units.
c. Drainpipes, parapets, and ledges shall not be located within three feet of windows, corridors, and balconies. If such placement is not feasible, they shall face parking lots, public spaces, and roads.

3. Signs.
a. Entryways, structure addresses, amenities, and individual units shall be identified with signage.
b. Developments with more than one structure containing dwelling units shall also include directory signs in parking areas and along pedestrian pathways. c. All signs shall comply with Chapter 17.60 of the Zoning Code.

4. Structure Orientation.
a. Structures shall incorporate parcel design measures that reduce heating and cooling needs by orienting structures (both common facilities and private dwelling units) on the parcel to reduce heat loss and gain depending on the time of day and season of the year.

Multi-Unit Objective Standards Applicable to the R-4, R-5, M-6, MX-1, and MX-2 Zones A. Connectivity.

1. Vehicular Circulation. If parking is proposed for the multi-unit residential development, the following vehicular standards shall be implemented:
a. Parking areas shall be internally connected and shall use shared driveways within the development. This standard applies only within the development.

Developments are not required to share driveways with neighboring properties. b. Parking areas shall not be located in the front setback area. c. Side and rear parking areas visible from a street shall include a minimum twofoot landscaped buffer including a planting strip; a screening feature, such as a hedge, that is three feet high; and trees planted every 30 lineal feet. Trees, hedges, and shrubs shall be classified as Very Low (0-0.1) or Low (0.1-0.3) in the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species Classification System City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-16
(WUCOLS) and shall be of evergreen variety to provide screening throughout the year.
d. Parking Lot Shade.
i. One shade tree shall be planted for every six parking spaces. A minimum of 50 percent of the trees shall be deciduous, as they provide shade in the summer and sun in the winter.
ii. Covered parking areas with solar capture technology are exempt from this requirement.

2. Pedestrian circulation.
a. All structures, facilities, parking areas, amenities, and common areas shall be internally connected by pedestrian pathways.
b. Pedestrian pathways shall be separated from parking areas by landscaping, curbs, or other edge treatments.
c. Pedestrian pathways shall be directly connected to adjacent public sidewalks on each street frontage.

3. Glazing.
a. Structures shall incorporate the use of energy efficient glazing on windows and glass doors to reduce heat loss and gain.

4. Ground Floor Commercial Spaces.
a. Mixed-used structures with nonresidential ground floor uses shall design the ground floor with minimum 15-foot ceiling height to accommodate a variety of uses.

5. Fences and Walls.
a. The following materials are prohibited for all fences and walls:
i. Electrified fencing;
ii. Barb wire/razor wire;
iii. Fencing using other sharp objects such as spires and glass; iv. Cyclone fencing;
v. Vinyl; and
vi. Chain link.
vii. Materials not originally intended as fencing materials, such as pallets, corrugated metal or fiberglass, plywood or particle board sheeting, plastic tarps, sailcloth etc.

6. Outdoor Lighting.
a. Pedestrian-oriented lighting shall be provided in active pedestrian areas (i.e., paseos, sidewalks, pathways, etc.)
b. Lighting for upper floor unit entries and exposed stairways shall be completely directed at the structure so that the illuminated bulb is not visible from neighboring residential properties at ground level.
c. Pedestrian pathway lighting features shall not exceed eight feet in height. d. Lighting in parking areas shall not exceed 16 feet in height.

Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-17
e. Active pedestrian areas shall incorporate free-standing lighting separate from structures.
f. Bicycle parking areas shall be illuminated.
g. Pedestrian pathways shall have illumination levels of 0.5 foot-candles as a maintained minimum at the walking surface to identify any level changes or changes in walking conditions.
h. Overhead sports court lighting shall illuminate only the intended area. Light trespass onto neighboring lots is prohibited.
i. Outdoor lighting shall use energy efficient lighting technology and shall be shielded downward to reduce glare and light pollution.
j. Gateway entry signs, directional signs, and unit and structure identifiers shall be externally illuminated for visibility at night.
k. Exposed bulbs are prohibited.
l. Colored bulbs and lenses are prohibited.

7. Multi-Unit Dwelling Storage Spaces.
a. A minimum of 10 square feet (80 cubic feet) of outdoor storage space accessible from each unit’s ground floor patio or upper floor balcony shall be provided for all units.
b. Outdoor storage areas shall be covered and able to be locked.

8. Parking Structures.
a. If parking structures are proposed as part of the multi-unit residential development, the parking structure openings on each level shall be screened with decorative paneling or vertical vegetation (e.g., vines).

9. Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED). a. To provide "eyes on the street" surveillance, the largest window or group of windows of a minimum of one of the following rooms shall view the street: living room, dining room, family room, or kitchen.
b. Units not facing the street shall be oriented to provide visual access to structure entries, pedestrian pathways, recreation areas, and common facilities from dwelling units.
c. Drainpipes, parapets, and ledges shall not be located within three feet of windows, corridors, and balconies. If such placement is not feasible, they shall face parking lots, public spaces, and roads.

10. Screening.
a. All screening of ground-mounted and roof-mounted equipment shall be painted in accordance with the approved color palette for the project.

11. Signs.
a. Entryways, structure addresses, amenities, and individual units shall be identified with signage. Developments with more than one structure containing dwelling units shall also include directory signs in parking areas and along pedestrian pathways.
b. All signs shall comply with Chapter 17.60 of the Zoning Code.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-18

12. Street-facing façade transparency.
a. Mixed-use structures with ground floor commercial uses shall have windows that make up a minimum of 60 percent of the ground floor frontage.

13. Structure Entry.
a. All structures located adjacent to a street shall have at least one primary entry door facing the sidewalk.
b. All ground floor entrances shall include a direct connection to the sidewalk. c. Exterior stairways/stairwells that are not enclosed shall not be visible from the public right-of-way.

14. Trash and Recycling Enclosures.
a. All trash and recycling enclosures shall include the following:
i. Constructed with masonry walls with finished metal doors. Masonry walls and metal doors shall be painted in accordance with the color palette submitted for the project.
ii. Both a vehicle access gate and pedestrian access gate. iii. Downward lighting for safety and security.
iv. Separated from adjacent parking stalls by a minimum 3-foot-wide planter with low growing native plants.

Required Amenities for Multi-Unit Projects
All multi-unit dwelling projects must include a mixture of amenities and open space (private/public) components based on a points system. Projects shall select amenities out of the list provided in the Zoning Code based on the required points for the size of the proposed development. Swimming pools are required for multi-unit residential developments with 51 or more dwelling units, in addition to the required amenities and points associated with each amenity listed in the Zoning Code.

Development standards for multifamily developments are objective and do not pose a constraint to development.

Residential Development Standards Comparison
Bakersfield’s development standards are similar to those for the cities of Stockton and Fresno, the latter of which was selected for this analysis due to similarity as a major city in the Central Valley. Table C-5 compares residential development standards between the City of Bakersfield, City of Stockton and City of Fresno. Bakersfield allows for a similar or greater maximum density and height in all residential districts.

Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-19
Table C-5 Residential Development Standards Comparison
Residential
District
Development
Standard City of Bakersfield City of Stockton City of Fresno Rural/Estate
Residential
Maximum
Density
1 dwelling unit/min 15,000
square feet
1 dwelling
unit/acre
1 dwelling unit/lot
Front Setback 25 feet garage
20 feet living
15 feet porch
30 feet 35 feet
Maximum Height 35 feet 35 feet 35 feet
Low-Density
Residential
Maximum
Density
13 dwelling units /net acre 8.7 dwelling units
/acre
1 dwelling unit/ lot
Front Setback 20 feet garage
12 feet living
9 feet porch
(15 feet for multifamily)
20 feet 35 feet
Maximum Height 35 feet 35 feet 35 feet
Medium Density
Residential
Maximum
Density
20 dwelling units/net acre 8.8 to 17.4
dwelling units/acre
16 dwelling units /
acre
Front Setback 20 feet garage
9 feet living
6 feet porch
(15 feet for multifamily)
15 feet 10 feet
Maximum Height 45 feet 35 feet 40 feet
High Density
Residential
Maximum
Density
30-no maximum dwelling
units /net acre

17.5-136 dwelling
units/ acre
45 dwelling units
per acre
Front Setback R-4 and R-5 zones: 10 feet
living
5 feet porch
R-6 zone: 5 feet living
0 feet porch
15 feet 10 feet
Maximum Height 65-120 feet 35 feet 60 feet
Source: City of Bakersfield Zoning Code (2024), City of Stockton Zoning Code, City of Fresno Zoning Code Density Bonus
Bakersfield’s Municipal Code Chapter 15.79, Density Bonuses, was adopted in accordance with Section 65915 of the California Government Code. It established a density increase and incentive program for owner-occupied and rental housing development to encourage the development of housing affordable to moderate, low, and very low-income households.

Additionally, the City provides cost reductions and flexibilities in development standards through the Density Bonus Ordinance. The City’s Code refers to the State Density Bonus Law (California Government Code Section 65915) for qualifications and density increases and other incentives. A developer is entitled to receive a density bonus and other benefits if the development meets the requirements of State law and provides one of the following:
 At least 5 percent of the housing units are restricted to very low-income residents.  At least 10 percent of the housing units are restricted to lower income residents.  At least 10 percent of the housing units in a for-sale common interest development are restricted to moderate income residents.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-20
 100 percent of the housing units (other than manager’s units) are restricted to very low-, low- and moderate-income residents (with a maximum of 20% moderate).  At least 10 percent of the housing units are for transitional foster youth, disabled veterans or homeless persons, with rents restricted at the very low-income level.  At least 20 percent of the housing units are for low-income college students in housing dedicated for full-time students at accredited colleges.  The project donates at least one acre of land to the city or county for very low-income units, and the land has the appropriate general plan designation, zoning, permits and approvals, and access to public facilities needed for such housing.  The project is a senior citizen housing development (no affordable units required).  The project is a mobilehome park age-restricted to senior citizens (no affordable units required).

Developments that meet the criteria may receive a 5 to 50 percent density bonus depending on the percentage of qualifying units provided. The applicant for a density bonus must submit their application to the planning division along with any concurrent entitlements or projects. The applicant must provide sufficient information to evaluate their request which includes the following requirements:
 A brief description of the proposed housing development  The total number of housing unit, size and bedrooms, the total number of proposed units with the density increase
 The total number of affordable units to be made affordable  A list of requested concessions or incentives
 Any other information requested by the planning director necessary for the processing and evaluation of the proposal in accordance to California Government Code Section 65915.

Recently passed State legislation includes new updates for density bonuses. Assembly Bill (AB) 571 prohibits local governments from charging affordable housing impact fees, including inclusionary zoning fees, public benefit fees, and in-lieu fees on deed-restricted affordable units that are part of a project eligible for a density bonus under Density Bonus Law. Assembly Bill (AB) 491 requires common entrances to amenities for affordable housing units and market-rate housing units in mixed income multi-family structures.

California Assembly Bill 1287, signed into law on June 21, 2023, requires that a jurisdiction grant an additional density bonus. Additional density bonuses are to be administered when housing development conforms to specified requirements and provides 24 percent of the total units to lower income households, conforms to specified requirements and provides 15 percent of the total units to very low households, or conforms to specified requirements and provides 44 percent of the total units to moderate-income units.

Parking Standards
According to the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley, parking can cost $25,000 to $75,000 per space to construct.4 Requiring less parking not only reduces the project budget of residential developments but can allow more space to build housing units. 4 Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkley, 2016. Available at: http://ternercenter2.berkeley.edu/proforma/ Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-21
The parking requirements vary depending on the type of residential dwelling unit. In April 2024, the City adopted an update to residential parking standards which eliminated minimum parking standards for single-family residential, deed-restricted affordable housing, all residential development in the Central District and Old Town Kern, and multifamily development with 19 or fewer dwelling units. The update also reduced requirements for multifamily development with 20 or greater dwelling units.

Table C-6 shows the parking requirement per housing type. Each parking space must be a minimum of nine feet wide by 18 feet deep. Compact spaces are not permitted and tandem parking is not counted toward the parking requirement. Parking spaces do not have to be provided under a covered space such as in a garage or carport.

Generally, the City of Bakersfield’s parking standards are less restrictive than similar cities in California. Table C-7 compares the City of Bakersfield’s parking regulations to the City of Stockton and City of Fresno. The City of Fresno and City of Stockton have more restrictive parking requirements.

Table C-6 Bakersfield Parking Standards
Housing Type Parking Requirement Additional Requirements One family dwelling No minimum parking standards
Accessory dwelling unit No minimum parking standards
Multifamily dwelling with 19 or
fewer units
No minimum parking standards
Multifamily dwelling with 20 or
more units

0.25 spaces/ dwelling unit
Option to reduce or eliminate parking
through a request to the Planning
Commission, which can be appealed to
City Council.

Deed-restricted affordable
housing
No minimum parking standards
All residential development in
the Central District and Old
Town Kern
No minimum parking standards
Source: City of Bakersfield Zoning Code 2024
City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-22
Table C-7 Parking Standard Comparison
Housing Type
City of Bakersfield Parking
Requirement
City of Stockton Parking
Requirement
City of Fresno Parking
Requirement
One family
dwelling
No minimum parking
standards
2 spaces per dwelling unit
(within garage)
1 space per dwelling unit
(within garage)
Accessory
dwelling unit
No minimum parking
standards
No requirement 1 space per dwelling unit
(with exceptions)
Multiple dwelling
unit
No minimum parking
standards for developments
with 19 or fewer units, 0.25
spaces per dwelling unit for
developments with 20 dwelling
units or greater. No minimum
parking standards in the
Central District or Old Town
Kern.
1 space per dwelling unit

0.5 space per dwelling
unit in downtown
1 space per dwelling unit,

1.5 spaces per unit (for 3
or more bedrooms)
Deed-restricted
affordable
housing
No minimum parking
standards

0.5 space per unit plus 1
space guest parking per 8
units

0.5 space per studio units,

0.75 spaces per one or
two-bedroom units; 1
space for three or more
bedrooms; and guest
parking shall be provided
per the underlying district
Senior housing Same standards as multiple
dwelling unit development

0.5 space per 2 dwelling
units

0.5 spaces per unit if
affordable senior housing
development
Supportive/Trans
itional Housing
Same standards as singlefamily or multiple dwelling
residential development
1 space per 5 beds. Guest
parking: 1 space per 10
beds
1 space for the ownermanager plus 1 space per
5 beds and 1 per each
non-resident employee
Residential Care
Homes (6
residents or
fewer)
No minimum parking
standards
1 space per 2 beds 1 space per dwelling unit
(within garage)
Source: City of Bakersfield Zoning Code, https://bakersfield.municipal.codes/Code/17.58 City of Stockton Zoning Code, https://library.qcode.us/lib/stockton_ca/pub/municipal_code/item/title_16-division_3- chapter_16_64?view=all#title_16-division_3-chapter_16_64-16_64_040 City of Fresno Zoning Code
https://library.municode.com/ca/fresno/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=MUCOFR_CH15CIDECOINRE_PTIIIREAPSOA LDI_ART24PALO
The City conducted a massing constraints analysis in 2022 which developed parcel specific housing prototypes for seven existing parcels and compared the results of different development approaches. The massing analysis reviewed the potential for maximum development density with the existing development standards for the site, including the height, setback, landscape, and off-street parking requirements. The analysis found that certain parking strategies that require less space, such as “tuck-under” parking (an open ground floor which is used for parking), can support higher density development. However, some of these parking strategies may not be financially feasible. The case study analysis for the recently constructed 22nd Street Loft Apartments found that cost of construction could have been lower if flexible parking regulations, such as shared parking arrangements and dedicated on street parking, were available to the developer (see Affordable Housing Strategy in Appendix G).

Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-23
The City eliminated and reduced residential parking minimums to make housing developments more financially feasible, particularly for multifamily and affordable housing development.

Height Requirements
Bakersfield’s Zoning Code establishes maximum height requirements for each zone. The R4 zone, which is designated as a medium-high-density residential land use, has a maximum height requirement among the residential zones at 65 feet (five or six stories). The highdensity R-5 and R-6 zones have maximum height requirements of 80 and 120 feet respectively providing ample height to accommodate the desired density ranges. When compared with other similar zones from comparable jurisdictions as shown on Table C-5, Bakersfield’s high-density zone has the highest maximum height requirement,. The City of Fresno permits a maximum height limit of 60 feet while the City of Stockton allows 35 feet.

The maximum height standard of up to 120 feet provides for the maximum number of units that may be allowed in these medium-high and high-density residential zones.

Two commercial zones (C-B and C-C) allow residential, commercial, and mixed-use development. The C-B zone does not have a height requirement and the C-C zone has a height limit of 180 feet (approximately 12 stories). In 2023, the City approved a Zoning Code Amendment to remove FAR requirements for the C-B and C-C zones to allow developments with higher densities.

Commercial and Mixed-Use District Residential Standards and Trends The C-B Zone and the C-C Zone are commercial zones that allow for mixed-use development. Parcels in commercial and mixed-use zones could potentially be developed with 100 percent non-residential uses as there is no minimum residential requirement. An analysis of development trends in mixed-use zones from 2012 to 2021 shows that 55 percent of development applications in these zones included residential uses and that residential projects continue to be developed in mixed use zones, as depicted in Figure C-1.

The City will implement Program 8 to promote the highest possible residential densities for residential development in mixed-use zones, particularly within 0.25-mile of public transit stops and/or commercial or employment centers.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-24
Figure C-1 Mixed-Use trends in Bakersfield
Short Term Rentals
The City of Bakersfield currently does not have a short-term rental ordinance. As of June 2022, there were 469 active VRBO and Airbnb rentals in the city. There were 284 listings that rented the entire house and 185 listings that rented a private room within a housing unit.

Short-term rentals can be found throughout the city but are mostly concentrated in the Downtown area5
. There are 70 homes listed in and around Downtown Bakersfield. The concentration of units in this area may constrain long-term rental housing availability in this neighborhood. As a result, short-term rentals may contribute to an increase in rental prices.

The City will evaluate short-term rentals and their impact on housing availability as specified in Program 6.

Inclusionary Housing
Inclusionary housing regulations may increase the availability of affordable housing stock in the city. Cities may adopt an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance that requires a share of new housing developments to be affordable for people with low to moderate incomes. These regulations may have mandatory or voluntary inclusionary housing requirements and can offer developers incentives such as fee waivers or expedited approvals to encourage developers. The City of Bakersfield does not have an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. Even in the absence of an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, the City has demonstrated consistent support for affordable housing development. By analyzing the average number of affordable units developed annually compared to similarly-sized cities, it becomes evident that the City has made noteworthy strides in addressing housing affordability concerns. The City supported the construction of 12 projects with 743 deed-restricted units in the 5th housing cycle and brought the number of total deed restricted units to 4,882. The City will soon add another 126 affordable units with the approval of the CityServe project. The City’s adoption 5 Airdna.com https://www.airdna.co/vacation-rental-data/app/us/california/bakersfield/overview 0 1
2 3
4 Year
Approved
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Mixed Use Trends
Non-Residential Residential
Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-25
of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund in 2021 leverages available federal and state funds and will streamline affordable housing development. The City’s approach thus far is characterized by strategic planning and stakeholder engagement, which underscores the City’s commitment to navigating the complexities of affordable housing without the mandate of an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.

The lack of such an ordinance is not a constraint to market-rate development but developing an ordinance may encourage the development of affordable housing. The City will develop a feasibility study for an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance through an objective, data-driven feasibility study and input from the housing development and real estate community, residents, and other stakeholders, as described in Program 10.

1.1.2 Provisions for a Variety of Housing Opportunities This section describes the allowable residential development by zone. The regulation of housing opportunities impacts the development of housing opportunities, including those for extremely low-income households and persons with special needs, such as supportive or transitional housing, emergency shelters, and group residences. On April 24, 2024, Council approved zoning changes to residential districts in support of the Bakersfield General Plan’s comprehensive update, including the Housing Element. Table C-8 summarizes the City’s zoning provisions for various types of housing, and reflects the amendments adopted in April 2024. Housing types and allowable uses are described below the table.

City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-26
Table C-8 Allowable Housing Types by Zone
Housing Type A R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 R-5 R-6 R-S RH M-H PUD C-O C-1 C-2 C-B C-C MX-1 MX-2 Single-Unit
Dwellings

P P P P - P P P P - - C - P - -
Multi-Unit Dwelling - - P P P P P - - - P - - C P P P P Mobile Home Park - - C C - - - - P - - - - - - C -
Accessory Dwelling
Unit

P P P P P P P P P P - - - - - P P
Community Care
Facility (6 or fewer
residents)

P P P P P P P P P P - - P P P P P P
Community Care
Facility (7 or more
residents)
- C C C C C C C C - - - P P P P C C
Low Barrier
Navigation Center
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - P P
Transitional
Housing

P P P P P P P P P - - - - - - - P P
Supportive Housing P P P P P P P P P - - - C C - C P P
Single Room
Occupancy
- - - P P P P - - - - - - - - P P P
Emergency
shelters
- - - - C - - - - - - - C C C C P P
Employee Housing
(six of fewer
residents)

P P P P P P P P P - - - - - P P
Employee Housing,
Agriculture

P - - - - - P - - - - - - - - -
Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-27
Single-Unit Dwellings
“Single-unit dwelling” is defined in the City of Bakersfield Zoning Code as a detached building containing only one kitchen, which is a building designed and used exclusively for occupancy by one family. Single-unit dwellings are permitted in R-S through R-3 zones.

Code
Multi-Unit Dwelling
“Multi-unit dwelling” is defined in the City of Bakersfield Zoning Code as a structure, or portion thereof, designed for or occupied by two or more families, each of which occupies a separate dwelling unit in which each family lives independently of one another. MultipleFamily dwellings are permitted by right in R-2 through R-6 zones, MX-1, and MX-2.

Manufactured Homes and Mobile Homes
Manufactured homes are permitted in the same manner as conventional structures and go through the same permit process. The City’s Zoning Code does not have a definition for manufactured homes and does not include them as a listed use in any of the zoning districts. However, the City permits and processes manufactured homes in the same manner as conventional structures. Through Program 5, the City will revise the Zoning Code to state that manufactured homes are permitted in the same manner, and in the same zones, as conventional residential structures.

Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Sections 18007 to 18008, a mobile home or manufactured home is defined as a structure which is transportable in one or more sections, is eight feet or more in body width, or 40 feet or more in body length, in the traveling mode, or, when erected onsite, is 320 or more square feet. Mobile homes are defined as being constructed prior to June 15, 1976, while a manufactured home is constructed on or after the same date. Manufactured housing and mobile homes can be an affordable housing option for low- and moderate-income households. “Mobile homes” are defined in the City’s Zoning Code as a structure transportable in one or more sections, designed and equipped to contain no more than two dwelling units, to be used with or without a foundation system.

The definition of Mobile home does not include a recreational vehicle, commercial coach, or factory-built housing, as defined in Section 19971 of the California Health and Safety Code.

Mobile home parks are listed as a by-right permitted use in the MH zone and permitted with a CUP in the R-2, R-3, and MX-1 zones.

Accessory Dwelling Units
Under State law (Government Code Section 65852.2), an ADU is a dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons. It must be located on the same parcel on which a single-family dwelling or multifamily development is located or will be built and may be attached to or converted from a portion of the primary dwelling unit or separate from the primary structure (detached). An ADU includes permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation. ADUs must be permitted ministerially in all zoning districts that allow residential uses. In Bakersfield, ADUs are permitted on any lot where there is an existing or proposed dwelling. ADUs must comply with the following regulations:
 The floor area, if attached to the existing living area, shall not exceed 50 percent of the existing floor area of the dwelling; if detached, it shall not exceed 1,200 square feet City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-28
 The ADU must comply with other development requirements of the Zoning Code  The ADU must comply with Building Code requirements
A junior ADU (JADU) is a dwelling unit limited to 500 square feet and converted from a portion of a single-family home. A JADU must contain a kitchen, but bathroom facilities may be shared with the primary dwelling unit. Owner occupancy of the primary dwelling unit is required, and no parking is required for the JADU. JADUs are ministerially permitted in zoning districts that allow single-family residences. Government Code Section 65852.22 establishes minimum standards for JADUs.

State law governing ADUs and JADUs has changed rapidly during the previous housing element planning period. State law supersedes local Codes and while some jurisdictions adopt local Codes making provisions for ADUs and JADUs, rapid changes mean that local Codes quickly become out of date. The City defines ADUs and JADUs in its Zoning Code and defers to State law in permitting ADUs and JADUs.

The City currently has a webpage and guidance document with information about the different types and sizes of ADUs that are permitted. The webpage also provides information on how to get started with the ADU design and budget and a step-by-step overview of the permit and construction process. It typically takes three months for the planning and design, three months for the application and permit process and six months for the construction. The applicant must pay for the planning application and site plan submittal, building permit, school district fees, and water connection fees. The City does not offer fee waivers or cost reductions for ADUs beyond what is provided by law. The City is currently developing pre-approved ADU plans that will streamline the ADU process and help reduce costs for applicants for engineering and architecture plans (see details in the Affordable Housing Strategy in Appendix G).

To streamline the permitting process of ADUs and support ADU development, the City will implement Program 13.

Transitional and Supportive Housing
“Transitional housing” is defined as buildings configured as rental housing operating under program requirements that require the termination of assistance and recirculation of the assisted unit to another eligible program recipient at some predetermined future point in time, which shall be no less than six months from the beginning of the assistance. Per SB 745, transitional housing units are residential uses that must be subject only to those requirements and restrictions that apply to other residential uses of the same type in the same zone. Transitional housing is permitted by-right in all residential zones and the MX-1 and MX-2 zones.
“Supportive housing” is defined as housing with no limit on length of stay that is occupied by the target population and that is linked to on-site or off-site services that assist the supportive housing resident in retaining permanent housing, health services, and employment, as needed. Per SB 745, supportive housing units are residential uses subject only to those requirements and restrictions that apply to other residential uses of the same type in the same zone. Supportive housing is permitted by-right in all residential zones and the MX-1 and MX-2 zones. Since multi-family residential development is permitted in the CC zone without a CUP, this is a constraint to the development of supportive housing. As specified in Program 5, the City will update its zoning code to permit supportive housing development in the CC zone by-right, same as multi-family development.

Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-29
AB 2162 requires cities to allow certain supportive housing meeting specific criteria to be permitted by right in all zones where multifamily housing is also permitted (including nonresidential zones). For such supportive housing locating within half-mile from transit, no minimum parking can be required. As Bakersfield’s Zoning Code has not been updated to be consistent with these requirements, this is considered a constraint to housing for individuals in need of support and the Housing Element update will revise supportive housing provisions in the Zoning Code, consistent with AB 2162. The City will revise the Zoning Code consistent with AB 2162, as specified in Program 11.

Single Room Occupancy
Single-room occupancy (SRO) units are not defined in State law, but under Housing Element law, cities must facilitate SROs as a form of housing for special needs populations (Government Code Section 65583(c)(1)). SROs are usually 200 to 350 square feet and consist of one habitable room in a structure of other SRO units. An SRO facility is also known as a residential hotel. Residents typically share bathrooms and/or kitchens while some SRO units include private kitchenettes, bathrooms, or half-bathrooms. Because they use shared facilities and can be built more cheaply than individual units, or converted from existing types of buildings, SROs and boarding homes may be more affordable for developers to build. SROs are an important source of affordable private housing for lowerincome individuals, seniors, persons with disabilities, and formerly homeless residents. The City defines “Single-Room Occupancy Unit” as any residential structure containing more than five units intended or designed to be used, rented, or hired out to be occupied for sleeping purposes, generally for one person per unit. Individual units typically share communal features, (e.g., kitchen, bathroom, entertainment area). SROs are listed as a permitted use in the R-3 through R-6 residential zones, the MX-1 and MX-2 zones, and the C-C zone. The City permits SROs in the same manner as multifamily development in those zones and with the same objective standards.

Emergency Shelters and Low Barrier Navigation Centers
An emergency shelter or “homeless shelter” is defined by State law (Health and Safety Code Section 50801) as housing with minimal supportive services for homeless persons that is limited to occupancy of six months or less. AB 139, which went into effect on January 1, 2020, mandates that emergency shelters may only be subject to those standards which apply to residential and commercial development within the same zone, except that a city can apply standards regulating the number of beds, parking for staff provided that the standards do not require more parking for emergency shelters than other residential or commercial uses within the same zone, length of stay, and other minor standards. The City will amend the Zoning Code to be consistent with AB 139, as directed through Program 5. “Emergency Shelter” as defined the City’s Zoning Code means housing with minimal supportive services for homeless persons that is limited to an occupancy of six months or less as defined in California Government Code Section 65582(d) and Health and Safety Code Section 50801(e). Emergency shelters are permitted by right in the MX-1 and MX-2 zones and are permitted through a CUP in the R-4, R-5, R-6, C-1, C-2, C-B, and C-C zones.

Code
In 2019, AB 101 was passed requiring that a Low Barrier Navigation Center development be a use by-right in mixed-use zones and all nonresidential zones permitting multi-family housing. A Low Barrier Navigation Center is a low barrier, temporary, service-enriched shelter that helps homeless individuals and families obtain permanent housing. The April 2024 amendents to the Zoning Code established the MX-1 and MX-2 zones, which explicitly City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-30
allow low barrier navigation centers by right. The C-B and C-C zones currently permit multifamily housing but do not permit low barrier navigation centers. The City will amend its Zoning Code to explicitly allow the development of Low-Barrier Navigation Centers, without a discretionary permit, in mixed-use zones and all nonresidential zones permitting multifamily housing, as directed through Program 5.

AB 2339, which went into effect in 2023, requires jurisdictions to have at least one zoning designation identified that allows emergency shelters as a permitted use without a discretionary permit must also allow residential uses. AB 2339 requires that jurisdictions identify zoning designations where emergency shelters are allowed to include sites that meet at least one of the following:
 Vacant and zoned for residential use
 Vacant and zoned for nonresidential use and located near amenities and services for homeless individuals
 Nonvacant and is suitable for use as a shelter in the current planning period The MX-1 and MX-2 zones, which permit emergency shelters by right and permit residential uses, satisfy the zoning requirement of AB 2339. A land use analysis found that these zoning districts and the C-B and C-C zones are the most feasible districts for emergency shelters given the proximity of sites (within 0.5-mile) to transit and amenities such as grocery stores, medical centers, commercial shopping centers; general location; and status of available land. Most of the properties in these existing and proposed districts are located in Downtown Bakersfield and along transportation corridors such as Chester Avenue.

A land use analysis of these zoning districts found that there are 142 vacant sites in C-B, CC, MX-1, and MX-2 zoning districts, with lot sizes ranging from 0.1 acres to 10 acres. The average lot size of sites in these zones is 0.18-acre, 0.19 acre, and 1.78 acres, respectively.

All sites have water and sewer connections in place.

The 2023 Point-in-Time Count6 found 1,948 people experiencing homelessness in City of Bakersfield. AB 2339 requires a minimum of 200 square feet per person in the latest count.

To meet this requirement, at least 389,600 square feet (8.94 acres) of vacant parcels are required for the number of people experiencing homelessness. Vacant sites in the C-B, C-C, and MX-1 and MX-2 zoning districts total 169.4 acres, which shows that the city has sufficient capacity for emergency shelters to meet the requirements of AB 2339.

As directed in Chapter 2, Program 5, the City will amend the Zoning Code to permit emergency shelters by-right in the C-C and C-2 zones.

Housing for Agriculture Workers
“Housing for agricultural workers” can be defined as housing accommodation for and/or provided to farmworkers and shall consist of any living quarters, dwelling, boarding house, tent, barracks, bunkhouse, manufactured home, or other housing accommodation maintained in one or more buildings and one or more sites. Housing for agricultural workers consists of either a dwelling unit or a housing complex. Under California Health and Safety Code 17021.5, any employee housing providing accommodation for six or fewer employees must be considered a single-family structure within a residential land use designation.

Pursuant to Cal Health & Safety Code Section 17021.6, any employee housing consisting of no more than 36 beds in a group quarters or 12 units or spaces designed for use by a 6 Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative 2023 PIT Count Report. http://bkrhc.org/wpcontent/uploads/2023/04/2023-PIT-Count-Report-Kern-County-final.pdf Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-31
single-family or household shall be deemed an agricultural land use designation. No conditional use permit, zoning variance, or other zoning clearance shall be required of this employee housing that is not required of any other agricultural activity in the same zone.

Code The City’s Zoning Code provides a definition for housing for agriculture workers:
“Employee Housing, Agriculture” means housing provided for farmworkers. Housing consists of any living quarters or dwelling, boarding house, barracks, bunkhouse, mobile home, manufactured home, travel trailer, or other accommodations maintained in one or more structures. Employee housing, agriculture, shall be in compliance with the California Health and Safety Code 17021.5, 17021.6 and 17021.8.

The Agricultural (A) zone and Residential Holding (RH) zones both permit, by-right, housing for agricultural workers and permit any use permitted in the R-1 zone such as single-family dwellings. Additionally, the City permits and processes farmworker housing the same manner as other by-right residential uses
Farmworker housing projects only require ministerial approval and are often processed on an expedited timeline if requested by the applicant due to funding timelines.

The City will also assess and monitor, on an annual basis and as data is available, the need for farmworker housing in the city and region. Appendix B, Housing Needs Assessment, indicates that there are 20,469 farmworkers in Kern County and 14,175 are residents in Bakersfield. The current Farmworker Housing Program provides resources for farmworkers and operates a 50-unit development in Bakersfield. Agriculture and farming comprise a large component of Bakersfield’s and Kern County’s economy, creating a need for farmworker housing. Due to the very short agricultural off-season, there is a year-round need for housing rather than seasonally. With this in mind, planning for farmworker housing is similar to planning for other types of affordable housing for low-income households, given the similar financial and market-based constraints. The City will implement Program 5 to provide technical and/or financial assistance for support farmworker housing. The City will also develop a Community Land Trust for affordable housing options and will prioritize housing for special housing needs populations, including farmworkers (Program 20).

Employee Housing
The Employee Housing Act (Health and Safety Code, Section 17000) requires employee housing for six or fewer employees to be treated as a single-family structure and permitted in the same manner as other dwellings of the same type in the same zone. The City’s Zoning Code includes the following definition and provision for Employee Housing:
“Employee Housing” means housing provided for six or fewer employees and shall be deemed a single-unit dwelling. Residents of the employee housing must be employed by the owner of the home.

The Zoning Code complies with the Employee Housing Act.

Residential Care Homes
A “residential facility” is defined as any group care or similar facility, licensed by the State of California, for twenty-four-hour nonmedical care of persons in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual as provided in Section 1502 of the California Health and Safety Code. Bakersfield's Zoning Code refers to residential care homes as “community care facilities.” Community care facilities for six or fewer residents are permitted by right in all City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-32
residential zones and in the MX-1 and M-2 zones and nearly every commercial zone except the C-O zone.

Community care facilities for seven or more residents are permitted with a CUP in all residential zones and the MX-1 and MX-2 zones which are subject to the CUP findings listed in the Conditional Use Permits and Findings section below. The C-1, C-2, C-B, and CC zones permit community care facilities for seven or more residents by right. The City will implement Program 5 to allow for large community care facilities in all zones allowing residential uses similar to other residential uses of the same type in the same zone, and Program 12 to review and revise CUP findings to ensure that findings are objective and provide certainty.

Definition of Family
The Federal Fair Housing Act requires that local jurisdictions do not discriminate against persons based on familial status. Familial status is defined as one or more individuals under the age of 18 living with a parent/legal guardian, or the designee of such parent.

Local jurisdictions may restrict access to housing for households that do not meet the jurisdiction’s respective definition for “family.” A restrictive definition of “family” that limits the number of individuals living together may illegally limit the development and siting of group homes for persons with disabilities, but not for housing families that are similarly sized or situated.

The Bakersfield Municipal Code defines “family” as “an individual or group of individuals, related or unrelated, living together as a single housekeeping unit, including necessary servants. A family does not include institutional group living situations such as a residential facility, rest home, dormitory, or similar use, nor does it include such commercial group living arrangements such as a motel, hotel, or similar use.” The definition of “family” should be updated to be less restrictive. Program 5 directs the City to update the definition of "family.”

1.1.3 Housing for Special Needs Populations
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)
Assembly Bill (AB) 686 requires that all housing elements due on or after January 1, 2021, must contain an Assessment of Fair Housing consistent with the federal Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Final Rule of July 16, 2015. Under State law, AFFH means “taking meaningful actions, in addition to combatting discrimination, that overcome patterns of segregation and foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict access to opportunity based on protected characteristics.” A detailed analysis of the fair housing issues related to special needs populations is included in Appendix D and Chapter 2 which contains programs to facilitate housing for special needs populations.

Reasonable Accommodation
The Federal Fair Housing Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act require that cities and counties provide reasonable accommodation where such accommodation may be necessary to afford individuals with disabilities equal housing opportunities. Cities and counties must also consider requests for accommodations related to housing for people with disabilities and provide the accommodation when it is determined to be “reasonable” based on fair housing laws and the case law interpreting the statutes. The City facilitates the development of housing for persons with disabilities and special needs.

Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-33
Reasonable accommodation is one of the tools intended to further housing opportunities for people with disabilities. These accommodations can mean local jurisdictions making modifications or exceptions in their zoning laws and other land-use regulations when such accommodations may be necessary to afford disabled persons an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. For example, it may be a reasonable accommodation to waive a setback requirement so that a paved path of travel can be provided to residents with mobility impairments.

Reasonable accommodation enables developers and providers of housing for people with disabilities a means of requesting from the local government flexibility in the application of land use and zoning regulations or, in some instances, even a waiver of certain restrictions or requirements because it is necessary to achieve equal access to housing.

On February 3, 2021, the City of Bakersfield added Zoning Code section 17.73 which outlines Reasonable Accommodations Procedures in compliance with State law. A request for reasonable accommodation is reviewed by the development services director. When a request for reasonable accommodation is submitted for concurrent review with another discretionary land use application, the application is reviewed by the decision-making body.

Review and approval of the reasonable accommodation request is not contingent upon the findings of other discretionary decisions (for example, review of a director’s review and approval permit, CUP, etc.,). The approval findings are listed below:

1. Whether the housing in the request will be used by a person with a disability under the Acts.

2. Whether the request for reasonable accommodation is necessary to make specific housing available to a person with a disability under the Acts.

3. Whether the requested reasonable accommodation would impose an undue financial administrative or enforcement burden on the City.

4. Whether the requested reasonable accommodation would require a fundamental alteration in the nature of a city program or law, including but not limited to, land use and zoning.

5. Potential impact on surrounding uses.

6. Physical attributes of the property and structures; and

7. Other reasonable accommodations that may provide an equivalent level of benefit.

The development services director or their designee, or other body in whom decision making responsibility is vested, may impose any conditions of approval deemed reasonable and necessary. The conditions also state the accommodation granted shall be removed if the person for whom the accommodation was requested no longer resides on the site.

The decision to grant or deny a reasonable accommodation request must be consistent with the Federal Fair Housing Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. Any person dissatisfied with the decision may appeal the development services director’s decision to the planning commission within ten days of written notice, and the planning commission’s decision to the city council within 10 days of written notice. A public hearing is held after an appeal is filed and the decision body may make any order it deems just and equitable. Additionally, the City has an ADA Title II coordinator available to assist anyone that has questions or comments regarding ADA needs or accommodations. The contact information for the ADA coordinator is located on the City’s website under the section for Americans with Disabilities in the City Managers’ webpage. This webpage also contains the form for the Grievance Procedure request. The City will review the City’s adopted City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-34
reasonable accommodation policy and grievance procedure, revise findings to be based on objective standards rather than impacts on surrounding uses and provide a link to its Reasonable Accommodations policy on the Housing page of the City website, as described in Program 5.

Building Codes and Enforcement
Bakersfield adopted the California Building Code, 2022 Edition, which regulates the access and adaptability of buildings to accommodate persons with disabilities. California Building Standards Code and Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is assessed and enforced by the Building Division of the Development Services Department as part of the plan check and building permit issuance process. The City’s Code Enforcement Division enforces the local laws of the Bakersfield Municipal Code (BMC) and investigates violations related to property maintenance, housing, zoning, junk, and abandoned vehicles. Most of the code enforcement violations are resolved through an administrative process; others may be resolved through civil or criminal processes. Bakersfield enforces Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, which regulates the access and adaptability of buildings to accommodate persons with disabilities. No unique restrictions are in place that would constrain the development of housing for persons with disabilities. Compliance with provisions of the Code of Regulations, including the California Building Standards Code, is reviewed, and enforced by the Building Division of the Development Services Department as a part of the building permit submittal.

The City of Bakersfield also has a Handicapped Access Appeals Board which considers written appeals regarding action taken by the Building Department in enforcement of the requirements of Part 5.5 of Division 13 of the California Health and Safety Code. The Building Division actively enforces the California Building Code provisions that regulate the access and adaptability of buildings to accommodate persons with disabilities. Government Code Section 12955.1 requires that 10 percent of the total dwelling units in multi-family buildings without elevators consisting of three or more rental units or four or more condominium units is subject to the following building standards:
 The primary entry to the dwelling unit shall be on an accessible route unless exempted by site impracticality tests.
 At least one bathroom shall be located on the primary entry level served by an accessible route.
 All rooms or spaces located on the primary entry level shall be served by an accessible route.
 Rooms and spaces located on the primary entry level and subject to this chapter may include but are not limited to kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, bedrooms, or hallways  Common use areas shall be accessible; and
 If common tenant parking is provided, accessible parking spaces are required Bakersfield’s Building Codes and enforcement policies are similar to other jurisdictions in the region and set minimum standards for safe and accessible housing. Therefore, the City’s policies are not considered a constraint to residential development.

1.1.4 Permit Processing
Certainty and consistency in permit processing procedures and reasonable processing times is important to ensure that the development review/approval process does not discourage developers of housing or add excessive costs (including carrying costs on Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-35
property) that would make the project economically infeasible. Processing and permit procedures can pose a considerable constraint to the production and improvement of housing. The lengthy processing time, unclear permitting procedures, layered reviews, multiple discretionary review requirements, and costly conditions of approval can contribute to the high cost of housing.7
Processing times depend on the magnitude and complexity of the proposed development project. The City is committed to maintaining reasonable processing times. The City recently launched an online permit and plan check system that accepts permit applications online and provide applicants status updates.8 The new online permitting system creates a more transparent and streamlined permit and plan check review process.

Table C-9 provides a description of the permit procedures and processing timeframes for different types of planning permits and Table C-10 shows the permit procedures required for three common types of housing developments. Single-family and multi-family developments have equal processing times (60-90 days). Multi-family developments with a subdivision have the longest estimated processing timeframe (90 to 120 days).

The average number of days from entitlement approval to building permit issuance is 35 days, based on a review of projects from the past 12 months. This number is low in comparison to Kern County, and similar to the average number of days for building permits for single-family homes in the City of Fresno (30 days). The time between approval of entitlement permits for a housing development and building permit issuance does not constrain housing development and density.

During interviews with market rate and affordable housing developers (noted in Appendix A), the City received the following feedback concerning the development review process:

The City has made improvements to streamline development review, but development review is still costly and time consuming, particularly for affordable housing development.

There are too many departments to navigate.

City should communicate more with developers on how regulation updates impact their projects.
7 California Department of Housing and Community Development. 2021. Building Blocks. https://www.hcd.ca.gov/communitydevelopment/building-blocks/constraints/processing-permitting-procedures.shtml. 8 https://www.bakersfieldcity.us/1075/Electronic-Planning-Application City of Bakersfield
2023-2031 Housing Element
C-36
To continue improving permit procedures and processing the City will continue to improve efficiency of the development review process. As described in Program 12 of Chapter 2, Housing Plan, the City will identify efficiencies to streamline the development process. The City will also coordinate with developers to ensure a timely application and review process.

Table C-9 Permit Procedure and Processing Timeframe
Action Processing Time Approval Body
General Plan Amendment 4-6 months Planning Commission then City Council for final action
Zone Change 90-120 days Planning Commission then City Council for final action
Parcel Map 90-120 days Planning Commission
Tentative Tract Map 90-120 days Planning Commission
Planned Development Review 60-90 days Planning Commission Administrative Review 45-60 days Planning Commission
Director Review and approval
Permit
45-60 days Planning Director
Zoning Modification 45-60 days Planning Director or Planning Commission Conditional Use Permit 60-90 days Planning Commission
Site Plan Review 60-90 days Site Plan Review Committee then to Development Services Director for final action
Source: City of Bakersfield Planning Division
Table C-10 Permit Procedures by Housing Type
Single Family
Development
Multi-family
Development
Multi-family Development with
Subdivision
Permits Required Building Permit Site Plan Review Site Plan Review/Tentative Tract Map
Reviewing Body Staff Site Plan Review
Committee and
Development Services
Director
Site Plan Review Committee and
Planning Commission
Public Hearing Required Not required Not required Required Appeal Body Not applicable Planning Commission City Council Estimated Total
Processing Time
60-90 days 60-90 days 90-120 days
Source: City of Bakersfield Planning Division
Site Plan Review
Site Plan Review is required for new construction, upgrades, and/or remodeling that requires a building permit. Site Plan Review is not required for uses permitted in the lowdensity residential zoning districts9 . The requirements for the Site Plan Review process are described in the City’s Zoning Code. Site plans typically go through a 60-day review period, including a 30-day review period for completeness, and follow the following procedure:

1. Application submittal and payment of fees
9 Uses allowed as a permitted use in the R-1, E, R-S, R-S-1A, R-S-2.5A, R-S-5A, R-S-10A, RH, A, A-20A, FP-P and FPS zones are exempt from the Site Plan Review Process.

Table of Contents
Bakersfield General Plan C-37

2. Review by Site Plan Review Committee who provide corrections if any. a. If not CEQA exempt, applicant must provide any required special studies and go through applicable CEQA review process

3. Proposed project is reviewed by Development Services Director

4. If approved, the applicant will receive plans with a Planning Approval stamp and may proceed to obtain a building permit.

The Site Plan Review Committee consists of the planning director, building director, fire chief, and public works director or their designated representative. The Site Plan Review Committee reviews the application and plans to ensure the project complies with City codes, standards, policies, and CEQA (if applicable). The development services director may impose time limits for the installation of improvements which ensure that proper improvements are in place for construction. The site plan may only be denied if the project does not comply with City codes, standards, policies, or CEQA requirements. The Site Plan Review process follows objective approval standards and is not considered a constraint to development.

Conditional Use Permits and Findings
The CUP review process includes a 30-day review period for completeness, a 45-day processing time for environmental documents, and a public hearing before the Planning Commission. The CUP is approved if the Planning Commission or the City Council finds that: