Business Licensing & Operations, Bakersfield

Bakersfield maintains 163 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with business licensing & operations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Bakersfield falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Adult Entertainment

Bakersfield requires a business permit from the city manager before operating an adult entertainment business, under Municipal Code Section 5.06.020, and separately regulates hours, arcade configuration, and patron-performer separation under Chapter 5.06, with businesses barred from operating between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Key details: Permit issuer: City manager or designee. Operating hours ban: 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.. Minimum applicant age: 18 years old. Stage separation (live acts): 6 feet from patrons. Permit term: Expires December 31 each year.

Operating without a permit, or violating any regulation in Chapter 5.06, is unlawful, and an adult entertainment business run contrary to the chapter or state or federal law is declared a public nuisance the city attorney may abate through civil action under Section 5.06.070, separate from any criminal prosecution under Section 1.40.010. The city manager must revoke a permit for material misrepresentation on the application (Section 5.06.080), effective 10 days after mailed notice, and a denied or revoked applicant has 10 days to appeal in writing to the city council under Section 5.06.090.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Bakersfield actively enforces its adult entertainment requirements.

Auto Repair on Residential Property

Bakersfield will not issue a home occupation permit for vehicle repair work of any kind. Bakersfield Municipal Code § 17.63.020(E)(10) lists 'vehicle repair, including, but not limited to, engine tuneups, body and fender work, and painting' among the activities categorically barred from residential properties citywide.

Key details: Home auto repair: Permit categorically barred. Governing section: BMC § 17.63.020(E)(10). Also barred: Power-equipment vehicle washing/detailing, (E)(11). Approval path: None: no discretionary exception exists. Enforcement: Code enforcement, fire, police, § 17.72.010.

Operating a vehicle-repair business from a Bakersfield residence has no legal path under § 17.63.020(E)(10): the planning director cannot issue a permit for it, so any such operation is automatically unpermitted. Bakersfield Municipal Code § 17.72.010 authorizes the code enforcement division, fire department, and police department to enforce Title 17 against the unpermitted use, treating it as a public nuisance subject to city attorney abatement or a Superior Court injunction.

Compared to other cities, Bakersfield takes a harder line on auto repair on residential property. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Tobacco Retail License

Selling tobacco products in Bakersfield requires a valid tobacco retailer's permit. Municipal Code Chapter 8.59 adopts Kern County's tobacco retailer's permit code by reference, and under a mutual agreement the county, not the city, issues, collects fees for, renews and revokes these permits inside Bakersfield city limits.

Key details: Permit required: Tobacco retailer's permit, county-issued. Governing chapter: BMC Ch. 8.59, adopted 2023 (Ord. 5128). Source code adopted: Kern Code Title 8, Ch. 8.60. Issuing/enforcing agency: County of Kern (by mutual consent). Legal basis for adoption: Government Code § 50022.1 et seq..

Chapter 8.59 does not set its own fine schedule, so selling tobacco without the required permit falls under the code's general penalty, Section 1.40.010: an infraction punishable by a $50 fine for a first offense, $100 for a second within a year, and $250 for each additional violation within a year, or prosecution as a misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 and/or six months in county jail. Each day of unpermitted sales is a separate offense, and the county can independently revoke the underlying permit.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Bakersfield actively enforces its tobacco retail license requirements.

Tattoo & Body Modification

A tattoo or body-piercing studio can't open in Bakersfield's C-O professional/office zone as a matter of right, § 17.20.040(A)(2) requires a conditional use permit approved through the Chapter 17.64 hearing process before the business can operate there.

Key details: Permit type: conditional use permit (Chapter 17.64). Zone: C-O professional and administrative office. Review body: planning commission public hearing. Screening: 6-ft masonry wall if adjacent to residential. Also needs: citywide business tax certificate (Title 5).

Operating a body art establishment in a C-O zone without an approved CUP is a zoning violation enforceable under the citywide penalty in § 1.40.010, an infraction starting at $50, rising to $250 for repeat violations within a year, or an administrative citation from $100 to $1,000 under § 1.40.030, with each day of unpermitted operation treated as a separate offense.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Bakersfield actively enforces its tattoo & body modification requirements.

Massage Establishments

Every massage establishment in Bakersfield must hold a city permit from the police department under Municipal Code Section 5.32.030, valid two years, while individual massage professionals must carry state CAMTC certification instead of a city practitioner permit, and services may only be provided between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Key details: Permit issuer: Bakersfield police department. Permit term: 2 years from issuance. Operating hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Practitioner requirement: Current CAMTC certification. Minimum employee age: 18 years old.

Operating a massage establishment contrary to Chapter 5.32 is declared a public nuisance the city attorney may pursue criminally, civilly, or through administrative remedies under Section 5.32.100, with each day of violation charged as a separate offense. The chief of police may deny, revoke, or refuse to renew a permit for a chapter violation, fraud or material misrepresentation in the application, or conduct endangering public health or safety (Section 5.32.070), and a denied or revoked applicant may appeal to the city manager within 15 calendar days of the mailed notice.

Compared to other cities, Bakersfield takes a harder line on massage establishments. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Bakersfield is tougher than many cities when it comes to business licensing & operations. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 5 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Bakersfield, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Bakersfield's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.