CALIFORNIA · KERN COUNTY

Bakersfield Wind Load Requirements

Central Valley design winds under the California Building Code, shaped by the Tehachapi pass corridor to the southeast.

85–100MPH DESIGN WIND (RISK II)
KernCOUNTY, CALIFORNIA
CBCTITLE 24 · ASCE 7-22
B / CEXPOSURE CATEGORY

CYAN · WIND & TERRAIN

Valley floor, pass-driven wind

Bakersfield sits on the flat southern San Joaquin Valley floor, but pressure gradients funneling through the Tehachapi pass southeast of the city lift design speeds above a purely sheltered inland location.

Central Valley setting

Flat valley terrain keeps topographic speed-up low across most of the urban grid.

FLAT TERRAIN

Tehachapi pass nearby

Special wind-region effects are possible near the passes and foothills east of the city.

PASS CORRIDOR

Exposure B vs C

Urban Bakersfield reads Exposure B; open agricultural and oil-field terrain reads Exposure C.

B / C SPLIT

COMPLIANCE · ASCE 7-22

What you need to comply

Four inputs decide a Bakersfield wind-load submittal under the California Building Code.

Design wind speed

85–100 mph 3-second gust for Risk Category II; higher categories read a higher-MRI map.

85–100 MPH

Exposure category

Determine B or C per ASCE 7 §26.7 from upwind surface roughness for each direction.

B OR C

Code & standard

California Building Code (Title 24) referencing ASCE 7-22 for wind load calculation.

CBC · ASCE 7-22

PE seal & review

California requires a licensed PE seal on structural calculations for most projects.

PE SEAL

Across California seismic design typically governs the main system, while wind still controls cladding, roofing, and component design. Verify the locally adopted edition with the authority having jurisdiction.

CYAN · OFFICIAL RESOURCES

Permitting & authorities

Source-of-truth links for Bakersfield and Kern County wind-load compliance.

Bakersfield Development Services

City building permits within Bakersfield limits.

CITY

Kern County Building Services

Permits in unincorporated Kern County areas.

COUNTY

CA Building Standards Commission

Statewide California Building Code (Title 24).

STATE CODE

California PE Licensing Board

Professional Engineer licensing and seals.

LICENSING

STATEWIDE · NAVIGATION

California & nearby requirements

Step up to the statewide picture or compare wind speeds across locations.

California Wind Loads

Statewide CBC and ASCE 7 wind-load overview.

STATE PAGE

All State Requirements

Adopted codes and editions by state.

ALL STATES

Wind Speed by Location

Look up design wind speeds across the map.

SPEED MAP

EMERALD · GET STARTED

Run Bakersfield loads in minutes

Enter a Bakersfield address or zip and get ASCE 7-22 MWFRS and C&C pressures, ready for a Kern County permit submittal.

Calculate Bakersfield Wind Loads California Requirements