Bakersfield, CA Home Business: Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Bakersfield Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning) regulates home occupations through a ministerial permit issued by the Planning Division, typically approved over the counter when standards are met. The occupation must be conducted entirely within the dwelling or a permitted accessory structure, must not alter the residential appearance of the property, and may not use more than one-quarter of the gross floor area of the home. Only residents of the dwelling may work on site — no non-resident employees are allowed to report to the home, though remote employees elsewhere are fine. Client or customer visits are restricted to levels that do not generate traffic beyond typical residential activity (generally no more than a few visits per day, by appointment, during reasonable hours). External evidence is prohibited: no business signs, no outdoor storage of materials or equipment, no commercial vehicles over 1 ton parked on site, and no deliveries by semi-trucks. Retail sales requiring customers to pick up merchandise are generally not permitted, though online sales shipped via standard carriers are fine. Professional services (consulting, tutoring, accounting, design), artisan crafts, and writing are typically approved. A city business tax certificate from the Finance Department is separately required (around $30-$100 per year). HOAs in master-planned communities often impose additional restrictions.