13 verified short-term rentals rules for Bakersfield, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Bakersfield has been in the process of drafting a formal STR ordinance. As of early 2026, no comprehensive STR permit ordinance is in effect; a $250 annual permit fee and $100 business license have been reported by third-party sources as requirements under a developing framework.
Short-term rentals in Bakersfield must follow the same BMC Chapter 9.22 noise standards as other residences, with quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Hosts are typically required to post a local contact and enforce a strict no-outdoor-amplification policy after 10 p.m., and repeated violations can lead to permit revocation.
Short-term rental operators in Bakersfield must obtain a business tax certificate and collect the city's Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on stays of 30 days or fewer, authorized by California Revenue & Taxation Code §7280. Bakersfield's TOT rate is 12 percent, remitted monthly or quarterly to the City Treasurer.
Bakersfield requires short-term rentals to provide the same off-street parking as a single-family home, typically two enclosed or covered spaces, and hosts may not count on-street spots to meet occupancy-based guest parking. Parking on lawns, sidewalks, or blocking driveways is prohibited under BMC Chapter 10.60.
California Vehicle Code Sec. 22651 (State Authority to Tow Vehicles - Local STR Parking Enforcement)
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...
Bakersfield applies the California Building Code and HUD's 2-per-bedroom-plus-1 guideline to short-term rentals, so a 3-bedroom home typically caps at 7 overnight guests. The city also enforces a general nuisance standard against overcrowding that causes noise, parking, or sanitation problems.
Bakersfield does not require a dedicated short-term rental insurance policy, but operators should carry commercial short-term rental coverage of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence because standard California homeowners policies exclude commercial lodging activity. Airbnb's AirCover and VRBO Host Protection are secondary and do not substitute for a primary policy.
Bakersfield does not impose an annual cap on the number of nights a short-term rental can operate, allowing year-round rental of both primary and non-primary residences. However, operators must remit TOT on every booking and comply with all zoning, fire (H&S §13113.7 smoke alarms), and noise rules regardless of rental volume.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 13113.7(a)(1), (b)
Except as otherwise provided in this section, smoke alarms, approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 13114 at the time of installation, shall be installed, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions in each dwelling intended for human occupancy. 'Dwelling units intended for human occupancy,' as used in this section, includes a one- or two-unit dwelling, lodging ...
Bakersfield treats short-term rentals as home occupations subject to the city's Transient Occupancy Tax and business tax certificate requirements. Operators must register for a business license, collect the 12% TOT, and comply with zoning limits in the Bakersfield Municipal Code Title 17.
Bakersfield does not require the property owner or host to be physically present during a short-term rental stay. Whole-home, unhosted rentals are allowed citywide subject to Chapter 10 permit and tax compliance.
Bakersfield does not restrict short-term rentals to a host's primary residence. Investors and second-home owners may operate STRs throughout permitted zones provided they obtain a Chapter 10 permit and remit transient occupancy tax.
Bakersfield short-term rental operators face permit suspension or revocation after repeated verified nuisance violations, including noise, occupancy, parking, or unpermitted-event complaints documented at the same address.
Bakersfield places primary regulatory liability on the property host. Listing platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo are not directly licensed but must be supplied with the city permit number for each listing.
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bakersfield city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Kern County →