Eviction Help in Bakersfield and Kern County, California

Kern County is big, with Bakersfield at its center, farm towns across the valley floor, and desert and mountain communities to the east. If you rent anywhere in the county and just received an eviction notice or court papers, this page explains how eviction help in Bakersfield and Kern County works: where your case is heard, the deadlines you're up against, and how to get your documents reviewed without a trip across town.

Eviction Defender is not a law firm. We provide tenant guidance and document preparation, and every case starts with a free review.

The Kern County court and courthouses for evictions

Evictions (unlawful detainers) are filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Kern. For Bakersfield and most of metro Kern, eviction cases go through the Metropolitan Division at 1415 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, which is the address on the court's own unlawful detainer forms. Don't confuse it with the Justice Building down the street at 1215 Truxtun, which handles other case types.

The court also runs outlying branches, and some of them, such as Lamont, Mojave and Ridgecrest, handle eviction cases for nearby areas. Your Summons (SUM-130) and complaint will name the exact courthouse where your Answer belongs.

Kern also has a court Landlord-Tenant Assistance Center on the 3rd floor at 1415 Truxtun Avenue, which can help explain court forms.

Kern County communities we serve

We help tenants in Bakersfield and its neighborhoods, including East Bakersfield, Oildale, Rosedale and the Southwest, as well as Delano, Wasco, Shafter, McFarland, Arvin, Lamont, Taft, Tehachapi, California City, Mojave, Ridgecrest, Lake Isabella and Frazier Park.

What rules protect Kern County renters?

In Bakersfield and the rest of Kern County, renters rely mainly on state law. The most important protections are:

• The Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482). After 12 months in a covered unit, your landlord generally needs a legal "just cause" to end the tenancy. For a no-fault reason, such as the owner moving in, you're generally owed relocation help equal to one month's rent. Covered units also have a yearly cap on rent increases.
• Notice periods for month-to-month tenancies. Generally 30 days if every tenant has lived there under a year, and 60 days if a year or more.
• Longer notice for subsidized tenancies. Section 8 and certain other government-subsidized tenancies generally need 90 days' notice to end.

Many Kern County renters live in single-family homes, and those can be exempt from AB 1482 if the landlord gave the required written notice. Farmworker and employer-provided housing can follow different rules too. We sort this out in your free review.

Common eviction situations in Kern County

• 3-day notice to pay rent or quit. The three days don't include Saturdays, Sundays or court holidays. See our guide to the 3-day notice to pay rent or quit.
• Seasonal and oilfield income swings that make it hard to keep up with rent in some months. Paying the full rent owed within the notice period generally ends that notice, so check that the amount is right.
• Notices from a new owner after a house is sold or foreclosed on. Tenants in a foreclosed property generally get at least 90 days. Read about the 90-day notice after foreclosure.
• Housing tied to a job, where losing the job leads to a notice to move out.

Once you've been personally served with a Summons and Complaint, you generally have 10 court days to file a written Answer (form UD-105). Missing it lets the landlord ask for a default judgment, and the sheriff can then post a 5-day Notice to Vacate.

Getting eviction help in Bakersfield remotely: how drop-off works

We're about a two-hour drive from Bakersfield, but you'll never need to make that trip. Everything is handled remotely.

1. Call (818) 307-1308 or contact us online, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
2. Send your papers. Email clear photos of every page to info@evictiondefenseca.org, or mail copies to 19360 Rinaldi Street #673, Porter Ranch, CA 91326.
3. Free review. We confirm your deadline, the branch on your papers, and whether AB 1482 covers your home.
4. Documents prepared. If you'd like our help, we prepare your response for you to review and sign, and explain how to file it with the right Kern County courthouse.

Find more resources at our eviction notice help center. If you own your home and are behind on payments, visit our Bakersfield and Kern County foreclosure page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I file my Answer to a Bakersfield eviction?

For most Bakersfield cases, at the Kern County Superior Court Metropolitan Division, 1415 Truxtun Avenue. Check your Summons, because some cases are handled at outlying branches.

Does Bakersfield have rent control?

Bakersfield renters rely mainly on state law. The Tenant Protection Act caps yearly rent increases and requires just cause for evictions in covered units.

Is there free help at the Kern County courthouse?

The court runs a Landlord-Tenant Assistance Center at 1415 Truxtun Avenue, 3rd floor, which can help explain forms. Court staff cannot give legal advice.

How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in Kern County?

Generally 10 court days after personal service, not counting weekends and court holidays.

I live in Delano or Ridgecrest. Can you still help?

Yes. We help tenants throughout Kern County by phone, email and mail.

Eviction Defender is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page is general information about California law and Kern County as of 2026.