Accessory Structures in Bakersfield, CA

If you live in Bakersfield or are thinking about moving there, accessory structures are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Bakersfield has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of accessory structures, and some of them might surprise you.

Garage Conversions

Bakersfield lets homeowners convert an existing garage into living space by classifying it as a 'detached' or 'converted' accessory dwelling unit under §17.04.170, so long as the resulting unit still meets Chapter 17.65's ADU standards and goes through a building permit review.

Key details: Detached garage conversion: Qualifies as 'detached' ADU. Attached garage conversion: Qualifies as 'converted' ADU. Zoning review: Permitted use, no CUP (§17.65.030). Parking backfill: Not required. ADU parking minimum is zero. JADU option: In-home conversion, single-unit zones only.

Converting a garage without permits, or occupying it as a dwelling before final inspection, is enforced as a Title 17 and Title 15 violation under §17.72.010: code enforcement, fire or police may act, and an unpermitted conversion is a public nuisance the city attorney can order abated or restored to a legal garage. Citywide penalties apply under §1.40.010: an infraction starting at $50, or a misdemeanor up to $1,000 and six months in county jail, with each day of the violation a separate offense.

ADU Rules

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.

Key details: 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..

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).

The rules around adu rules in Bakersfield lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Shed & Carport Rules

In Bakersfield's residential zones, a shed or accessory building stays exempt from side/rear setbacks only if it is 7 feet or shorter and 120 square feet or smaller; anything bigger must sit at least 5 feet off the interior side or rear line, and none may go in a front or street-side yard.

Key details: Exempt size: 7 ft tall and 120 sq ft or less. Larger structure setback: 5 ft from side/rear property line. Front/street-side yard: accessory buildings prohibited. Water feature/art exemption: up to 6 ft, front yard OK. Commercial/industrial zones: full zone development standards apply.

A shed built in violation is a zoning code violation handled by the Bakersfield Development Services building/code enforcement division, not the police. Enforcement typically starts with a notice to correct, moving or resizing the structure to meet the 5-foot setback or removing it from a front/street-side yard, and can escalate to a citation or a public-nuisance abatement action if the owner does not comply, since an unpermitted or nonconforming accessory structure can also block issuance of building permits until it's brought into compliance.

The Bottom Line

Bakersfield's accessory structures rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Bakersfield is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Bakersfield can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.