Patio Covers in Lake Isabella, CA
Lake Isabella sits 35 miles east-north-east of Bakersfield, in the Kern River Valley in the southern Sierra Nevada, where the North and South Forks meet at 2,513 ft. Below the snow threshold despite the elevation, and with a quarter of residents over 65 it is a retirement market. Cooler than the valley floor but still hot in summer.
Solid roof over lounge seatingWhat shaped Lake Isabella
A tourism economy built on the lake and the river: boating, fishing, whitewater and hiking.
Below the snow threshold despite the elevation, and with a quarter of residents over 65 it is a retirement market. Cooler than the valley floor but still hot in summer.
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 Lake Isabella
| 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 Lake Isabella
Who issues a patio cover permit in Lake Isabella?
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?
No. At 2,513 ft this sits below the 3,500 foot threshold in Kern County Code of Building Regulations 17.06.140, so the ground snow load is 0 psf. The design case here is heat, sun and wind rather than weight on the roof.
What does a patio cover cost in Lake Isabella?
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.