Parking Rules in Bakersfield, CA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Bakersfield or are thinking about moving there, parking rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Bakersfield has 9 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of parking rules, and some of them might surprise you.

RV & Boat Parking

Bakersfield's Property Maintenance chapter declares it a public nuisance to park a vehicle, trailer, camper or boat on unpaved ground in a front or street-facing side yard, per Municipal Code Section 8.27.010.J, enforced by the building director through citation or nuisance abatement.

Key details: Nuisance-listed items: Motor vehicle, trailer, camper, boat. Where prohibited: Unpaved front yard or street-facing side yard. Enforcing official: Building director. Alternative remedy: Direct nuisance abatement under Ch. 8.80. Per-day violation: Each day is a separate offense.

A violation of Section 8.27.010 is punished under the general penalty in Section 1.40.010, with the building director enforcing per Section 8.27.020: each day of continued violation is a separate offense. Instead of, or in addition to, that penalty track, Section 8.27.030 authorizes the building director to abate the nuisance directly under Chapter 8.80, which can mean the city removes or orders removal of the vehicle and bills the cost to the property owner.

Abandoned Vehicles

Bakersfield enforces abandoned vehicle removal through its participation in the Kern Abandoned Vehicle Abatement program under California Vehicle Code §22669 and §22710. Vehicles left inoperable, wrecked, or stored for over 72 hours on public or private property can be tagged, towed, and disposed of by the city.

Key details: Wrecked Vehicles: CVC §22669 immediate removal. Private Property: CVC §22660, BMC Chapter 8.80. Expiration Trigger: Over 6 months common. Fees: Tow, storage, admin lien. Enforcement: BPD Abandoned Vehicle unit.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Bakersfield gives residents more flexibility on abandoned vehicles.

Curb Color Rules

Bakersfield's traffic authority marks curbs in five colors under Municipal Code Section 10.32.020, each with a specific legal meaning: red bans stopping outright, yellow and white restrict loading windows, green caps parking at 36 minutes, and blue reserves disabled parking.

Key details: Red curb: No stopping/standing/parking at any time. Yellow curb: Loading only, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. except Sunday. White curb: Passenger loading, 3-minute max. Green curb: Parking capped at 36 minutes. Blue curb: Disabled placard/plate parking only.

Section 10.32.020.C makes each excess time period a separate violation, but only one violation is charged per continuous over-limit period. Citations are enforced under the citywide general penalty in Section 1.40.010: up to $50 for a first infraction, up to $100 for a second within a year, up to $250 for further violations, or a misdemeanor charge carrying up to $1,000 and/or six months in county jail.

Street Parking Limits

Bakersfield does not generally ban overnight street parking, but BMC 10.40.010 makes it unlawful for any vehicle (operable or not) to remain parked on a public street or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours. Posted time-limit signs (set under BMC 10.72.070) and the city's Residential Permit Parking Program also restrict parking in specific zones.

Key details: Code Section: BMC 10.40.010 (72-hour rule); BMC 10.72.070 (posted time limits). 72-Hour Limit: Applies to all vehicles on any public street/alley. RV Limit on Streets: 72 hours (BMC 10.40.010). Permit-Parking Authority: CVC 22507; near Bakersfield College.

Violation of the 72-hour rule may result in citation and tow under BMC 10.40.010: vehicles may be removed and stored under police direction. Standard parking citations in Bakersfield generally start around $50–$75 for posted time-zone overstays; tow and storage charges are paid separately to the towing operator and the city impound. Residential Permit Parking Program violations are issued as parking citations.

Overnight Parking

Bakersfield does not impose a blanket overnight street-parking ban, but vehicles cannot remain in the same public-street spot for more than 72 hours under California Vehicle Code §22651(k) and BMC 10.64. Oversized and commercial vehicles face additional 2 AM – 6 AM restrictions on posted streets, and RVs cannot be used for habitation on the street.

Key details: Overnight Ban: No citywide ban on passenger vehicles. Parking Limit: 72-hour max same spot (CVC §22651(k)). Posted Hours: 2 AM–6 AM restricts oversized/commercial. Vehicle Habitation: Sleeping/living in vehicle banned. Street Sweeping: Violations ticketed on posted days.

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

EV Charging

Bakersfield follows the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) requirements for EV charging infrastructure in new single-family, multi-family, and commercial construction, and California Government Code §65850.7 limits HOA and city restrictions on residential EV charger installation. Permits are issued through the Bakersfield Building Department.

Key details: New Homes: Must include Level 2 EV-ready circuit (CALGreen). Expedited Permit: Required for residential chargers (Gov Code §65850.7). HOA Restriction: Cannot prohibit (Civil Code §4745). Non-EV Parking: Public property can be cited. Installation Permit: Hardwired chargers need building permit.

Loading Zones

Bakersfield's traffic authority designates and marks loading zones and bus zones under Municipal Code Chapter 10.36, capping loading-zone curb space at half of any block's total curb length and dictating exact paint colors and stenciled wording for each zone type.

Key details: Loading-zone curb cap: Max 1/2 of block's total curb length. Loading zone marking: Yellow line, black "LOADING ONLY" stencil. Passenger zone marking: White line, "PASSENGER LOADING ONLY" stencil. Bus zone marking: Red curb paint or signage. Narrow-roadway rule: No stopping except loading under 25 ft width.

Bakersfield has no separate fine schedule for Chapter 10.36, so the citywide general penalty in Section 1.40.010 applies: infractions carry escalating fines of $50, $100, then $250 within a year, or the city can pursue a misdemeanor charge carrying up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail, with each day of violation a separate offense.

Driveway Rules

Bakersfield prohibits parking any vehicle, trailer, camper, boat or mobile equipment on unpaved ground in a front, rear or side yard under Municipal Code Section 10.32.160, effectively requiring residents to park on a paved driveway rather than dirt, gravel or lawn.

Key details: Ban applies to: Motor vehicles, trailers, campers, boats. Where banned: Unpaved front, side, and visible rear yards. Warning required: 24-hour notice before first citation. Warning bypass: Posted signs skip the 24-hour notice. First infraction fine: Up to $50 under § 1.40.010.

There is no separate fine schedule in Section 10.32.160 itself; after the required 24-hour warning (or posted-sign notice), a citation is enforced under the citywide general penalty in Section 1.40.010: an infraction fine of up to $50 for a first offense, up to $100 for a second within a year, and up to $250 for further violations, or prosecution as a misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail.

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles

Bakersfield bars parking or leaving standing any commercial vehicle rated over 15,000 pounds gross vehicle weight in a residential district or on its streets, under Municipal Code Section 10.32.140, with narrow exceptions for emergency vehicles and active delivery or construction work.

Key details: Weight threshold: Over 15,000 lbs GVWR. Zones covered: R-1, R-S, R-2, R-3, R-4, E, P.U.D.. Exempt tow trucks: 25,000 lbs GVWR or less. Exception: Active delivery or permitted construction work. First infraction fine: Up to $50.

Section 10.32.140 carries no standalone fine schedule, so the citywide general penalty in Section 1.40.010 controls: a first infraction up to $50, a second within a year up to $100, a third up to $250, or prosecution as a misdemeanor up to $1,000 and/or six months in county jail, with each day a violation continues treated as a separate offense.

Compared to other cities, Bakersfield takes a harder line on commercial & oversized vehicles. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Bakersfield is tougher than many cities when it comes to parking rules. Out of the 9 rules covered here, 2 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.

These rules come from Bakersfield's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.