Parking Rules in Bakersfield, CA (2026)
9 verified parking rules for Bakersfield, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Bakersfield Nuisance Rule for Yard-Parked RVs, Boats
Some RestrictionsBakersfield Municipal Code § 8.27.010(J)
It is unlawful and is declared a public nuisance for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge or possession of any property in the city to maintain such property in such manner that any of the following conditions exist thereon, except as may be allowed by Title 17 of this code: ... J. Any motor vehicle, trailer, camper, boat or other mobile equipment parked on any unpaved area in...
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.
Bakersfield Requires Paved Surfaces for Yard Parking
Some RestrictionsBakersfield Municipal Code § 10.32.160
A. No person shall park any motor vehicle, trailer, camper, boat or other mobile equipment on any unpaved area in any front yard (as defined in Section 17.04.670 of this code), any rear yard (as defined in Section 17.04.680 of this code) which rear yard is open to public view from any public right-of-way, any side yard (as defined in Section 17.04.690 of this code), or on any other unpaved publ...
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.
Bakersfield Heavy Commercial Vehicle Parking Ban
Significant RestrictionsBakersfield Municipal Code § 10.32.140
A. It is unlawful, except as provided in subsection B of this section, for any person to park or to leave standing in a residential district, including its streets, any commercial vehicle having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of more than fifteen thousand pounds. B. The prohibition set forth in subsection A of this section shall not apply to any authorized emergency vehicle, as de...
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.
Bakersfield Street Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Vehicle Code Sec. 22651(b),(d) (Removal of Vehicles Obstructing Traffic or Driveways)
22651. A peace officer ... or a regularly employed and salaried employee who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations of a city, county, or jurisdiction of a state agency in which a vehicle is located may remove a vehicle located within the territorial limits in which the officer or employee may act, under the following circumstances: (a) If a vehicle is left un...
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.
Bakersfield Overnight Parking Rules
Significant RestrictionsCalifornia Vehicle Code Sec. 22651 (Conditions Authorizing Removal of Parked Vehicles)
22651. A peace officer ... or a regularly employed and salaried employee who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations of a city, county, or jurisdiction of a state agency in which a vehicle is located may remove a vehicle located within the territorial limits in which the officer or employee may act, under the following circumstances: (a) If a vehicle is left un...
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.
Bakersfield Electric Vehicle Charging Rules
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Government Code Sec. 65850.7 (added by AB 1236, 2015 - Streamlined EV Charging Station Permitting)
65850.7. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) The implementation of consistent statewide standards to achieve the timely and cost-effective installation of electric vehicle charging stations is not a municipal affair, as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution, but is instead a matter of statewide concern. (2) It is the intent of t...
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.
Bakersfield Abandoned Vehicle Rules
Light RestrictionsCalifornia Vehicle Code Sec. 22651 (Authority to Remove Parked/Abandoned Vehicles)
22651. A peace officer ... or a regularly employed and salaried employee who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations of a city, county, or jurisdiction of a state agency in which a vehicle is located may remove a vehicle located within the territorial limits in which the officer or employee may act, under the following circumstances: (a) If a vehicle is left un...
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.
Bakersfield Curb Color Meanings and Time Limits
Some RestrictionsBakersfield Municipal Code § 10.32.020
1. Red means no stopping, standing or parking at any time; except that a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signed as a bus zone, and police vehicles may stop in red zones marked or signed "Police Zone." 2. Yellow means no stopping, standing or parking at any time between seven a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sunday for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers or material...
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.
Bakersfield Loading Zone Curb Allocation Rules
Some RestrictionsBakersfield Municipal Code § 10.36.010
A. The traffic authority is authorized to determine and to mark loading zones and passenger loading zones as follows: 1. At any place in the central traffic district or any business district; 2. Elsewhere in front of the entrance to any place of business or in front of any hall or place used for the purpose of public assembly; B. In no event shall more than one-half of the total curb length in ...
Looking for Kern County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bakersfield city rules.
Parking Rules in Kern County →