Bakersfield, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-S/R-1/R-2/R-H max height
- 35 feet
- R-3 max height
- 45 feet
- R-4 max height
- 65 feet
- R-5 max height
- 80 feet
- R-6 max height
- 120 feet
- Roof-equipment exception
- Up to 30 ft above limit
Summary
Bakersfield caps residential building height by zone under Table 17.10-2: 35 feet in the R-S, R-1, R-2 and R-H zones, rising to 45 feet in R-3, 65 feet in R-4, 80 feet in R-5 and 120 feet in R-6. Roof equipment and chimneys may add up to 30 feet more.
17.10.030 Residential zone development standards. The intent of Table 17.10-2 is to clearly and precisely establish the basic site and structure regulations that apply to all developments in each of the residential zones. Table 17.10-2, Height (max. ft.): R-S — 35; R-1 — 35; R-2 — 35; R-3 — 45; R-4 — 65; R-5 — 80; R-6 — 120; R-H — 35.
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
10-2, which lists a maximum building height, in feet, for every residential zone. The R-S (Residential Suburban), R-1 (Single-Unit Dwelling) and R-2 (Small Lot Single-Unit Dwelling) zones, along with the R-H (Residential Hillside) zone, all cap height at 35 feet. The R-3 (Medium Density Multi-Unit Dwelling) zone allows 45 feet, R-4 allows 65 feet, R-5 allows 80 feet, and R-6, the city's highest-density residential zone, allows 120 feet. 110 layers on a narrow exception: penthouses, elevator housings, towers and similar roof structures may not exceed the height limit, but 'flagpoles, public utility poles and lines, chimneys and smokestacks may extend not more than thirty feet above the height limit,' subject to safe-erection findings. 59.
Violations & Fines
Height limits are zoning standards enforced under §17.72.010: code enforcement, fire and police administer Title 17, and building inspectors with Penal Code §836.5 authority may cite or arrest for violations they witness. An over-height structure is declared a public nuisance the city attorney must abate or enjoin. Citywide, violations are punished as an infraction (from $50) or a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 and six months in jail), each day counting separately (§1.40.010).
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a house in an R-1 zone in Bakersfield?
Which residential zone allows the tallest buildings in Bakersfield?
Can a chimney or antenna exceed my zone's height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bakersfield
California rules heatmap·Compare Bakersfield to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kern County handle structure height limits.