Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(6) and Bakersfield Municipal Code Chapter 17.65 prohibit renting an ADU for fewer than 30 consecutive days. Long-term rental is permitted with no city occupancy permit required. Short-term rentals (under 30 days) are separately barred citywide — Bakersfield has no operative STR ordinance and city staff confirm STRs are not currently allowed to operate in the city.
State law (Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(6)) requires any local ADU ordinance to mandate a minimum rental term of more than 30 days — meaning an ADU may not be used as a vacation rental, Airbnb-style listing, or any rental of 30 days or fewer. Bakersfield BMC Chapter 17.65 incorporates this 30-day minimum. The ADU itself cannot be sold separately from the primary residence unless Bakersfield opts in to AB 1033 (Cal. Gov. Code §65852.26) by adopting a separate condominium-conveyance ordinance — to date, Bakersfield has not done so. Citywide, STRs of fewer than 30 days are not authorized: there is no use category in BMC Title 17 for transient occupancy in single-family or multifamily residential zones, and as of late 2025, the Bakersfield Planning Commission was still drafting a first-ever STR ordinance for City Council consideration. Until that ordinance is adopted, both ADUs and any other residential unit are limited to rentals of 31+ days.
Renting an ADU for under 31 days violates BMC Ch. 17.65 and Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(6). Enforcement is through Code Enforcement under BMC Ch. 8.80 (Abatement of Public Nuisances), with administrative citations and abatement orders. Unlicensed transient lodging is also subject to Kern County Treasurer-Tax Collector TOT collection enforcement.
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