The Kern County Public Works Department is responsible for the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of roads, bridges, traffic signals, sanitary landfills, recycling centers, wastewater treatment plants, public transit centers, and other publicly-owned facilities.

The Department strives to provide quality public services including road permit inspection, building permit inspection, building plan check, code compliance, engineering and surveying review of proposed land development, solid waste disposal, hazardous waste disposal, wastewater treatment, public transportation, and community outreach.