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.
Unlike many coastal California cities that mandate owner-occupancy, Bakersfield permits unhosted whole-home short-term rentals under Chapter 10 of the Municipal Code. Owners may rent entire single-family homes, condominiums, or accessory dwelling units to transient guests without staying on-site. The conservative Central Valley regulatory approach treats STRs primarily as a business-licensing matter rather than a residential-character issue. Standard requirements still apply: a city STR permit, 12 percent transient occupancy tax collection, posted emergency contact, and compliance with noise, parking, and occupancy rules. Repeated nuisance complaints can still trigger permit revocation regardless of host presence.
Operating without a permit, failing to remit transient occupancy tax, or ignoring posted local-contact requirements can result in fines, permit suspension, and back-tax liability with penalties.
Bakersfield, CA
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...
Bakersfield, CA
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 p...
See how Bakersfield's host presence rule rules stack up against other locations.
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