Images are stored as Group 4 TIF files (VERY compressed).

Many but not all image viewers can load these images. Here are some of the viewers that we know will load these images:

AutoCAD R14 and above

AutoCAD Map

AutoDesk View

AutoManager View by Cyco Software

Corel Photopaint (version 6 & higher)

Adobe Photoshop (version 5.5 & higher)

Paintshop Pro by Jasc Software

ForReview by Allegria Software

Thumbs Plus by Cerious Software

VuePrint Pro by Hamrick Software

Windows Imaging (comes with Windows)

Case Maps

A Color Case Map shows subdivisions (Tracts, Parcel Maps, etc.), Streets & Highways dedicated to public use, proposed highway alignments, Waterways (rivers, lakes, canals), City limit boundaries, Local Government properties, Easements dedicated to public use (access, drainage, etc.) and recording information about each document.

Filed Maps

A Filed Map shows survey activity, performed by the County Surveyor's Office or the State of California, and is on file in the County Surveyor's Office. At this time, survey activity maps done by the State of California have not been scanned, and are NOT currently available for download. Copies may be obtained from local blueprint companies.
Survey activity maps performed by the County Surveyor's Office are available for download at the link below.

Filed Maps 7-1 Kern County Surveyor's Surveys
Filed Maps 7-2 Kern County Surveyor's Surveys

Filed Map Indexes

A Filed Map Index shows where, within each township, filed maps have been prepared by the County Surveyor or the State of California. Two Indexes exist for that purpose. Index 7-1 is for surveys performed by the Kern County Surveyor and Index 7-2 is for surveys performed by the State of California.
PLEASE NOTE: NOT every township has had filed map activity. If an index sheet appears to be missing, then there are no filed maps in that township.

Filed Map Indexes 7-1 Kern County Surveyor's Surveys
Filed Map Indexes 7-2 State of California's Surveys

Parcel Maps

A Parcel Map shows the subdivision of land into Parcels for sale and is recorded in the County Recorder's Office. Parcel Maps typically contain fewer "Lots" than Tract Maps and requirements for improvements (to the property) are less extensive than for Tract Maps.

Record of Survey Index

A Record of Survey Index shows where, within each township, Records of Survey have been prepared by private surveyors within Kern County.

Record of Survey Maps

A Record of Survey Map shows survey activity, performed by private surveyors, and is recorded in the County Recorder's Office.

Tract Maps

A Tract Map shows the subdivision of land into Lots for sale and is recorded in the County Recorder's Office.

Zone Maps

A Zone Map shows zoning information for that location.

Aerial Imagery

Aerial Imagery (taken in May 2000) is available for download at: ftp://casil.ucdavis.edu/casil/kerncog.org/. These are compressed images which can be viewed with a program called ER Viewer, a (FREE) image viewer, available at www.ermapper.com. At that site, first pick the Downloads button on their top-of-page menu, and then pick ER Viewer.
The imagery consists of 3 meter (10 foot) pixels County-wide, and 1 foot pixels in the following metropolitan areas: Arvin, Bakersfield, California City, Delano, McFarland, Ridgecrest, Taft, and Wasco. Also available at this site are "World Files" ("image_name".TFW). These files will tell certain programs (AutoCAD, ArcView, etc.) how to position the imagery correctly, with the correct scale and rotation for mapping or GIS (Geographic Information Systems) purposes.

The following Adobe Acrobat files are Index Maps which show where each image is located.

ucdavis1ft_index.pdf (3.0 MB PDF File)

ucdavis3m_index.pdf (1.7 MB PDF File)

Corner Record Form

For Surveyors or Engineers that need to submit a Corner Record to the County Surveyor's Office. This TIF file can be printed and used for that purpose.

Corner Record Form 14 KB

Northwest Bakersfield Elevation Control

Surveyors or Engineers that are designing subdivisions (Tracts or Parcel Maps) in the (unincorporated) Northwest Bakersfield area are now REQUIRED to use the elevation control provided by the County Surveyor's Office. The following map shows the affected area and the KCS Field Book reference for each level loop.

NW Bk Elv Control 2003 1.4 MB PDF