ADU Owner Occupancy: Bakersfield vs Ridgecrest
How do adu owner occupancy rules compare between Bakersfield, CA and Ridgecrest, CA?
Bakersfield, CA
Kern County
Bakersfield does not impose an owner-occupancy requirement on ADUs permitted between January 1, 2020 and January 1, 2025, consistent with Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(8). AB 587 (2019) extended this no-owner-occupancy window to all ADUs permitted in that period. JADUs continue to require owner-occupancy under Cal. Gov. Code §65852.22(a)(2) — the owner must live in either the primary dwelling or the JADU and a deed restriction is recorded.
View full Bakersfield rules →Ridgecrest, CA
Kern County
No data available yet for Ridgecrest.
Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Bakersfield | Ridgecrest |
|---|---|---|
| ADU Owner-Occupancy | Not required (Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(8)) | - |
| JADU Owner-Occupancy | Required (Cal. Gov. Code §65852.22(a)(2)) | - |
| JADU Deed Restriction | Recorded (Cal. Gov. Code §65852.22(a)(5)) | - |
| Bakersfield Implementation | BMC Ch. 17.65 | - |
| Source of Prohibition | AB 587 (2019), AB 976 (2023) | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Bakersfield FAQ
Do I have to live in my Bakersfield property to build an ADU?
No. Under Cal. Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(8) (as amended by AB 587 and AB 976), Bakersfield cannot require owner-occupancy as a condition of issuing an ADU permit. You can rent out both the primary residence and the ADU.
Is owner-occupancy required for a JADU in Bakersfield?
Yes. Cal. Gov. Code §65852.22 requires the property owner to live in either the main house or the JADU as their principal residence, and a deed restriction recording that obligation must be filed with Kern County before a certificate of occupancy is issued.
Ridgecrest FAQ
No FAQs available.
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