Patio Covers in Bear Valley Springs, CA
Bear Valley Springs sits 52 miles south-east of Bakersfield by road, though only about 27 in a straight line, in the Tehachapi Mountains, rising to nearly 7,000 feet at Bear Mountain at 4,121 ft. Two things make this different. Kern County applies a 30 psf ground snow load at this elevation, and the homeowners association runs architectural review, so the design has to satisfy the association as well as the county.
Structure carrying snowWhat shaped Bear Valley Springs
A gated community of around 3,700 homes sold between 1971 and 1977 as second homes and now largely full-time. The roads belong to a community services district and the lots are governed by a homeowners association.
Two things make this different. Kern County applies a 30 psf ground snow load at this elevation, and the homeowners association runs architectural review, so the design has to satisfy the association as well as the county.
Who decides here
Kern County Public Works, Building Inspection Division issues building permits here. The counter is at 2700 M Street, Suite 150 in Bakersfield, on (661) 862-8650, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Whichever department applies, the 120 square feet exemption does not cover an attached patio cover, and the openness threshold that separates a cover from an enclosure is a state rule that applies everywhere in California.
Planning ranges that apply in Bear Valley Springs
| Structure | Installed range | Unit | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lattice patio cover | $22 - $40 | per sq ft | $30 |
| Alumawood patio cover | $28 - $48 | per sq ft | $38 |
| Solid patio cover | $30 - $52 | per sq ft | $40 |
| Insulated patio cover | $38 - $68 | per sq ft | $52 |
| Louvered or motorised pergola | $75 - $150 | per sq ft | $110 |
Planning ranges for the Bakersfield market, not quotes. They cover the structure as installed and exclude the permit, which is set by the authority having jurisdiction and is not published as a fixed figure here.
Patio covers in Bear Valley Springs
Who issues a patio cover permit in Bear Valley Springs?
Kern County Public Works, Building Inspection Division issues building permits here. The counter is at 2700 M Street, Suite 150 in Bakersfield, on (661) 862-8650, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Is there a snow load to design for?
Yes. At 4,121 ft this is above the 3,500 foot threshold, so under Kern County Code of Building Regulations 17.06.140 Kern County applies a ground snow load of 30 psf. That is a structural requirement most valley patio cover systems are not supplied to meet.
What does a patio cover cost in Bear Valley Springs?
The same planning ranges apply across the county: roughly $22 to $40 per square foot for lattice, $28 to $48 for Alumawood, $30 to $52 for solid, $38 to $68 insulated and $75 to $150 for a louvered system. Distance from Bakersfield and site access can move the labour component.
Does the 120 square foot exemption apply?
No more here than anywhere else in the county. The 120 square feet exemption is for detached accessory structures, and Kern County reads that as sheds and playhouses rather than patio covers.
Does a contractor need a licence for this work?
Yes. The $1,000 minor-work exemption does not apply where a permit is required, and a patio cover requires one. Licence status is checkable free on the CSLB website.
Nearby communities
The permit path changes across Kern County more than the work does. Check the one that matches your address.