SB 237 & Kern County Oil & Gas Permitting be Ready for January 1, 2026
Envirotech helps Kern County operators navigate SB 237, the revised 2025 Kern County oil & gas ordinance, and CEQA requirements so you can keep projects moving without missing a step.
Understand SB 237 in Plain Language
Kern County has now adopted a revised 2025 ordinance and certified a Second
Supplemental Recirculated Environmental Impact Report (SSREIR, SCH #2013081079)
Effective January 1, 2026, SB 237:
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The Kern County SSREIR will be deemed complete and the ordinance sufficient for CEQA compliance (within scope).
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Kern County will be the CEQA lead agency for most oil & gas projects.
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Oil and Gas operators must obtain a job card (permit) from Kern County to drill, re- work, or abandon a well within Kern County (except for Health Protection zones) CalGEM will issue a maximum of 2,000 new drill NOIs (permits) a year
Comprehensive permitting assistance
EnviroTech Team helps with:
- Professional project management from permit application development to permit issuance
-Sequencing drilling programs under the cap
-Multi-year Permitting strategy development
-Alignment of mitigation measures with operational flexibility
Frequently Asked Questions:
When do I need a Kern County job card for my NOI?
Every new or resubmitted NOI in unincorporated Kern County (within SSREIR area) must include a valid job card and all mitigation measures starting January 1, 2026.
What if my project is in a Health Protection Zone?
CalGEM is the CEQA lead agency, and they will issue plugging and abandonment permits. Other permitting within an HPZ will require further justification and will be issued on a case-by-case basis.
Does the 2,000-NOI cap stop drilling once reached?
The cap limits CalGEM's issuance of new drill permits once the annual 2,000 new drill NOI quota has been met for a given year.
Will reworks require a job card permit from Kern County and are they capped?
Reworks require a job card permit, however, they are not capped at 2,000 permits like new drill permits.
What if I already have a job card from Kern County from before the passage of AB 237?
Kern county will need an updated application to address the revised regulatory requirements.