Does Bakersfield, CA have its own adu rules ordinance?

No. Bakersfield, CA does not appear to have a local adu rules ordinance, California state law applies instead. The rules summarized on this page come from CA Gov Code 65852.2 (ADUs).

Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Light Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

ADU rules in Bakersfield, CA, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.

Key Facts

Where allowed: Any residential or mixed-use zone
Review type: Permitted use, not discretionary
Parking minimum: None required
ADU types recognized: Attached, detached, converted
Governing standard: Cal. Gov. Code §66310 et seq.

ADU Eligibility Quick-Check

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a smaller, independent living unit on the same lot as a single-family home: converted garages, detached cottages, basement or attic conversions, and attached additions all qualify. Most states have streamlined ADU permitting since 2020, but local rules still control size, height, and setback.

Is your lot zoned single-family or multi-family residential?
Does your lot have at least 1,200 sq ft of buildable space?
Is your existing home owner-occupied (in most states this is not required, but some require it for ADU permits)?
Will the ADU stay under your state's size cap (commonly 850-1,200 sq ft for detached)?
Can you provide one off-street parking space (waived in many states within 0.5 mi of transit)?

If you answered 'yes' to most of these, you likely qualify in California under recent ADU streamlining laws. The Bakersfield, CA rules below cover local size, height, and setback requirements.

Summary

Bakersfield allows an accessory dwelling unit or junior ADU as a permitted use on any parcel zoned for residential use, including mixed-use districts that combine housing with commercial uses. ADUs need no minimum off-street parking under the city's parking table, and applications are processed under state ADU law, Government Code §66310 et seq.

A complete application for an accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit shall be processed and approved in compliance with California Government Code Section 66310 et seq. Except as otherwise provided by this title, accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units shall be a permitted use in any zone which allows for residential uses. This includes mixed-use zoning districts which allow residential and nonresidential land uses.

Source: CA Gov Code 65852.2 (ADUs)View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 5221, passed July 15, 2026).

Full Breakdown

65 of the Bakersfield Municipal Code governs accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs). 030 states that 'accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units shall be a permitted use in any zone which allows for residential uses. ': the city defers the numeric development standards (size, height, setback) to the state ADU statute rather than layering its own caps on top. 170, separately recognizes three ADU types: 'attached' (built onto the primary home through a shared wall, floor or roofline), 'detached' (free-standing, including an existing stand-alone garage converted into an ADU), and 'converted' (built entirely inside the existing home or an accessory structure such as a garage, storage area, studio or pool house). 65)' as requiring 'No minimum required' parking spaces. '

Violations & Fines

Because ADUs are a permitted use, no discretionary hearing is required, but construction still needs a building permit reviewed under Title 15; building without one is enforced the same as any zoning violation under §17.72.010: code enforcement, fire or police can act, and the city attorney may seek abatement or an injunction. Citywide, an uncorrected violation is punishable as an infraction ($50 first offense, up to $250 for repeats) or a misdemeanor with up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail (§1.40.010).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build an ADU on any residential lot in Bakersfield?

Yes. Bakersfield Municipal Code §17.65.030 makes ADUs and JADUs 'a permitted use in any zone which allows for residential uses,' including mixed-use zoning districts that combine housing with commercial uses, so no rezoning or conditional use permit is needed to add one.

Does my ADU need extra parking?

No. The city's off-street parking table at Bakersfield Municipal Code §17.58.110(E) lists 'Accessory dwelling unit (per Chapter 17.65)' as needing 'No minimum required' parking spaces: the same standard the table applies to a one-family dwelling on the same lot, so adding an ADU doesn't force you to add a driveway or carport.

What size and setback rules apply to my ADU?

Bakersfield's own Chapter 17.65 doesn't set separate size or setback numbers; §17.65.030 instead routes ADU applications through 'California Government Code Section 66310 et seq.,' so the state ADU statute, not a locally adopted table, controls unit size, height and setback standards for your project.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bakersfield

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All Bakersfield rules

How Bakersfield compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·California rules heatmap·Compare Bakersfield to another location·View the California accessory structures overview

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