Taft department reports: building permits, business licenses rising; police and Kern County Fire give monthly stats

City planning and building staff told the Taft City Council on March 4 that permit and business-license activity has shown growth in recent years, and staff highlighted several local commercial and residential projects currently underway.

Planning Director Mark Staples reported the building department issued 258 permits in 2024 with a total valuation of about $6.4 million; 93 of those permits were for residential solar installations. He said 2023 saw 255 permits with a higher total valuation, roughly $6.7 million, and a record 108 solar permits in that year. "Some of those projects of the last 2 years ... include the tractor supply store that opened last summer, Apple Market, the grocery store that is next to it, should be opening in the next couple weeks," Staples said, referring to recent commercial activity.

Staples said residential activity includes new single-family homes, accessory dwelling units and projects in plan check such as a duplex on Lucard. He said Habitat for Humanity is building at 233 Calvin and that one rebuilt house will include an ADU. He emphasized outreach to the Home Builders Association to attract builders to finish larger tracts such as Sandy Creek Estates and Parkview-area parcels.

On business licensing, Staples said the city issued 56 new business licenses in 2023 (33 outside-city-address contractors, 23 inside) and 99 new licenses in 2024 (58 outside, 41 inside).

The city's police chief reported February 2025 statistics: total incidents for the month were 71, calls for service 370, officer-initiated contacts 701 year-to-date, total cases written 41, and total arrests (misdemeanor and felony) 64 (47 misdemeanor, 17 felony). The chief presented the monthly figures as part of the department report.

Carrie Wright of the Kern County Fire Department reported county fire activity (January numbers submitted): 189 incidents, 911 calls and 23 fires for the period she referenced, and described large mutual-aid deployments earlier in the year to fires in other areas. Wright said county fire sent substantial resources to two major fires, including engines, hand crews and dozers, and that no Taft-area fire stations were shut down during those mutual-aid operations.

Councilmembers asked follow-up questions about the permitting process, ADA and building-code requirements, and the potential downside for business owners who sign property leases before checking code compliance. Staples and staff advised prospective business owners to consult planning and building early to avoid permit or ADA-related complications that could affect operations and leases. Staples described the city's role enforcing the California Building Code (derived from the International Building Code) and ADA accessibility requirements.

The reports provided council with a snapshot of local economic development, commercial openings and ongoing residential projects; staff urged prospective business owners to consult city planning early in the lease or site-selection process.