Bakersfield, CA Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Code Section
- BMC 10.40.010 (72-hour rule); BMC 10.72.070 (posted time limits)
- 72-Hour Limit
- Applies to all vehicles on any public street/alley
- RV Limit on Streets
- 72 hours (BMC 10.40.010)
- Permit-Parking Authority
- CVC 22507; near Bakersfield College
Summary
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.
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 unattended upon a bridge, viaduct, or causeway or in a tube or tunnel where the vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic. (b) If a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a highway in a position so as to obstruct the normal movement of traffic ... (d) If a vehicle is illegally parked so as to block the entrance to a private driveway.
Full Breakdown
The core citywide rule is the 72-hour limit at BMC 10.40.010: a parked or standing vehicle violates this section once it remains in the same area for more than 72 consecutive hours, with re-parking within one-half mile after police posting still counting as a continuation. Posted time-limited zones (typically two-hour or four-hour parking in commercial corridors and around schools) are authorized under BMC 10.72.070, and signs control. Bakersfield has a Residential Permit Parking Program (authorized under California Vehicle Code 22507) that restricts daytime parking in neighborhoods near Bakersfield College to residents and their guests with displayed permits. There is no general citywide overnight street-parking ban for passenger cars, but recreational vehicles parked on city streets are limited to 72 hours under the same BMC 10.40.010 rule.
Violations & Fines
Violation of the 72-hour rule may result in citation and tow under BMC 10.40.010: vehicles may be removed and stored under police direction. Standard parking citations in Bakersfield generally start around $50–$75 for posted time-zone overstays; tow and storage charges are paid separately to the towing operator and the city impound. Residential Permit Parking Program violations are issued as parking citations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is overnight street parking allowed in Bakersfield?
How long can I leave my car on the street in Bakersfield?
Where is residential permit parking enforced in Bakersfield?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bakersfield
California rules heatmap·Compare Bakersfield to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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Street Parking Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kern County handle street parking limits.