Kern CRE
Resources
Guides, explainers and policy breakdowns for Kern County business owners, occupiers, developers and investors.
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Rentable vs. Usable Square Feet and Load Factors
The square footage in a listing is not always the space you can use. Here is how rentable area, usable area and load factors work in Bakersfield and…
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Buying Land From Bakersfield or Kern County: How the Surplus Land Act California Rules Work
Before a Kern County city, county or district sells surplus land, state law usually requires an affordable housing offer first. This guide covers the 60- and 90-day steps,…
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AB 2011 Commercial to Residential Rules in Bakersfield: How AB 2011, SB 6 and AB 2243 Work
Since July 1, 2023, California has let housing go up on many commercially zoned sites without a rezone. Here is how AB 2011, SB 6 and AB 2243…
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Right of First Refusal in a Commercial Lease: ROFR vs. ROFO and Renewal Options
A renewal option, a right of first refusal and a right of first offer each promise a tenant more term, more space or the building itself. Here is…
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SB 131 CEQA Exemption and AB 130: What the 2025 Overhaul Means for Kern County
Two budget trailer bills signed June 30, 2025 created the biggest set of CEQA exemptions in decades. Here is what qualifies, what lawmakers carved out and how a…
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AB 98 Warehouse Law Explained: Setbacks, SB 415 Changes and What They Mean in Kern County
California’s AB 98, as amended by SB 415, sets setbacks, buffers and design standards for warehouses near homes, schools and parks. Here is how the rules work, what…
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Personal Guarantee on a Commercial Lease: Deposits, Letters of Credit and What to Negotiate
A personal guarantee puts a business owner’s own assets behind a commercial lease. Learn how guarantees, security deposits and standby letters of credit differ in California, what each…
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AB 1572 Nonfunctional Turf Ban: What Kern Business Owners Must Do by 2028
Starting Jan. 1, 2028, California businesses can no longer water ornamental grass with drinking water. Here is what counts as nonfunctional turf, who enforces the ban and how…
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AB 802 Energy Benchmarking in California: What Building Owners Report in 2026
Owners of California buildings over 50,000 square feet report whole-building energy use to the state every June 1. Here is who must file, what the CEC says about…
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The Commercial Lease Letter of Intent: What Goes in an LOI
The LOI is where most of the money in a lease gets decided. Here is what an industrial letter of intent should cover in California, what to leave…