Housing in Kern County
Of roughly 307,000 housing units counted by the American Community Survey, about 43 percent were built before 1980. The county has added a lot since then: about 28 percent date from 2000 or later.
Newer homes rarely raise lead paint questions, but a house from the 1970s or earlier may still have asbestos in ceiling texture, flooring or duct wrap. EPA advises having materials sampled before a remodel disturbs them.
A very dry climate
NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the Bakersfield airport show only about 6 inches of rain a year and an average July high around 98°F.
With so little rain, mold problems in Kern County usually come from inside the house: a slow plumbing leak, a failed water heater or an evaporative cooler that drips. Moisture mapping can find how far the water spread.
Smoke and fire testing
If smoke or ash reached a home in Kern County, you can request smoke and fire testing. A partner can sample soot and ash on surfaces and have their lab analyze it.
Kern's two air districts
Kern is one of the counties CARB splits between districts: the San Joaquin Valley APCD covers portions of it, and the Eastern Kern APCD covers the east. Which one handles asbestos notices for demolition or renovation depends on the site.
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Questions
Which air district covers my Kern County address?
It depends on location within the county. Your contractor can look up whether the valley district or the eastern Kern district applies before work starts.
Can you help with testing at a desert property?
Send the address and what you need. We look for a partner who travels to that area, and if none is active there, we'll let you know.