Bakersfield, CA Short-Term Rentals: Night Caps (2026)

Cities like San Francisco (90-night cap for non-hosted) and Santa Monica impose strict night limits on short-term rentals, but Bakersfield has taken a more permissive approach and does not cap the number of nights per year. Operators may rent an entire home 365 days a year as long as they hold a business tax certificate, remit the 12% TOT on each booking under BMC 3.40, and meet building and fire code requirements. California Health & Safety Code §13113.7 requires smoke alarms in every sleeping area and in hallways leading to sleeping areas, and §13113.8 requires carbon monoxide alarms in homes with attached garages or fuel-burning appliances - both apply to STRs. Zoning districts R-1, R-2, and R-3 allow STR use without a Conditional Use Permit, while some mixed-use downtown districts may require administrative review. If Bakersfield later adopts an STR ordinance, grandfathered operators would likely be limited to the terms of existing permits, so existing operators should maintain accurate remittance records to prove active use. Short-term rental of rooms in a primary residence follows the same framework and also has no night cap.