Bakersfield, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Parking Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Requirement
- Minimum 2 off-street spaces (BMC Title 17 zoning)
- Requirement
- No parking on front lawns, sidewalks, or blocking driveways
- Requirement
- On-street parking limited in permit parking districts
- Transferability
- HOA rules in gated communities may be stricter
- Requirement
- Spillover parking complaints can trigger code review
Summary
Bakersfield requires short-term rentals to provide the same off-street parking as a single-family home, typically two enclosed or covered spaces, and hosts may not count on-street spots to meet occupancy-based guest parking. Parking on lawns, sidewalks, or blocking driveways is prohibited under BMC Chapter 10.60.
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
Although Bakersfield has not adopted a specific STR parking ratio, the city's zoning code (BMC Title 17) requires every dwelling unit to provide at least two off-street parking spaces, and STR operators are expected to meet that baseline. Listings that advertise sleeping for 8 or more guests are scrutinized during code enforcement review if complaints allege spill-over street parking. 60 (Stopping, Standing, and Parking) bans parking on unpaved surfaces in the front yard, on sidewalks, in front of driveways, and in red-zone areas near fire hydrants.
On-street parking citations are handled by Bakersfield Police Department traffic division. In neighborhoods near Cal State Bakersfield or downtown, residents can petition for Permit Parking Districts, and STRs in those districts must inform guests that non-permitted vehicles may be ticketed after posted hours. Some HOAs in developments like Seven Oaks and Silver Creek impose additional guest parking limits that override any city minimum. Operators should provide clear parking instructions in their listing to avoid repeated complaints that can trigger code enforcement action and permit review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can guests park on the street overnight?
Is parking on the lawn okay for extra guests?
Do I need to list a parking cap on Airbnb?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bakersfield
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Short-Term Rental Parking Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kern County handle short-term rental parking rules.