Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Significant Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Short-term rental permit rules in Bakersfield, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.

Key Facts

Permit required: Before any advertising, renting, or operating
Ineligible units: ADU, JADU, SRO, affordable, group residence
Multi-unit cap: ~20% of units in 5+ unit projects
Emergency contact: 24/7, 1-hour complaint response
Application lapse: 45 days to complete requirements

Summary

Bakersfield bans advertising, renting, or operating a short-term rental anywhere in the city without a city-issued STR permit under Section 17.74.030(A). The dwelling must be an eligible residential unit, no ADUs, JADUs, deed-restricted affordable housing, special group residences, or single-room-occupancy units, and the application must clear a lengthy 15-point checklist before a permit issues.

A. No person or entity shall advertise, rent, or operate a short-term rental in the city unless a short-term rental (STR) permit has been issued by the city pursuant to this chapter. An STR operator shall obtain a permit from the city and shall be responsible for all requirements of this chapter. ... 1. The property is a residential dwelling unit, as defined in Section 17.04.200. The residential dwelling shall not be an accessory dwelling unit, a junior accessory dwelling unit, a deed restricted affordable housing unit, in a special group residence, or single-room occupancy.

Source: Bakersfield Municipal Code Title 5 Business LicensingView official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 5221, passed July 15, 2026).

Full Breakdown

' The development services director sets the application form and can demand any information needed to evaluate eligibility. Subsection (B) lists fifteen conditions an applicant must meet at submission. 1). 2). 13). 12). 15). 14).

Violations & Fines

Advertising, renting, or operating an STR in Bakersfield without an issued permit is unlawful under Section 17.74.030(A) and enforceable under Chapter 1.40 and Title 17 general code-enforcement procedures per Section 17.74.070(C), (G). Section 17.74.070(A)(5) separately lists 'any attempt to rent an unpermitted STR by advertising the property' as a chapter violation, and providing false or misleading permit-application information is a violation under Section 17.74.070(A)(4).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rent out a Bakersfield home short-term without a permit?

No. Section 17.74.030(A) makes it unlawful to advertise, rent, or operate a short-term rental anywhere in the city without a city-issued STR permit, and advertising an unpermitted unit is separately listed as a chapter violation under Section 17.74.070(A)(5).

Can an ADU or JADU be used as a Bakersfield short-term rental?

No. Section 17.74.030(B)(1) excludes accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units from STR eligibility, along with deed-restricted affordable housing, special group residences, and single-room-occupancy units: these building types cannot receive an STR permit regardless of the applicant's other qualifications.

How many short-term rentals can a Bakersfield apartment complex have?

The cap scales with project size under Section 17.74.030(B)(2): a 5-to-10-unit project may have one to two STRs, an 11-to-50-unit project three to ten, a 51-to-100-unit project eleven to twenty, and a 101-to-150-unit project twenty-one to thirty.

Sources & Official References

[1]Bakersfield Municipal Code § 17.74.030 (Permit required)

Other rules in Bakersfield

Animal Ordinances: Chickens & LivestockSignificant Restrictions Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome Restrictions Host Platform LiabilitySome Restrictions Insurance RequirementsSome Restrictions Extended Home ShareSignificant Restrictions Repeat Violator StrikesSignificant Restrictions Night CapsSignificant Restrictions Occupancy LimitsSome Restrictions Taxes & FeesSome Restrictions Noise RulesSome Restrictions Short-Term Rental Parking RulesHeavy Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseLight Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome Restrictions

All Bakersfield rules

How Bakersfield compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Bakersfield to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.