Short-term rental permit rules in Kern County, CA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Every short-term rental in unincorporated Kern County must obtain a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate from the Kern County Treasurer-Tax Collector before advertising or hosting guests. Operators collect a 6% TOT on accommodations under Kern County Ordinance Code Chapter 4.16 (authorized by Cal. Revenue & Taxation Code §7280) and file quarterly returns even with zero rental activity. There is no separate registration fee, but each separately advertised unit requires its own certificate.
Kern County administers short-term rentals through the Treasurer-Tax Collector's online registration portal at kern-ca-str.deckard.com. A TOT certificate is mandatory for each separately advertised rental unit or bedroom in unincorporated Kern County, including listings on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. The TOT rate is 6% of gross rents under County Ordinance Chapter 4.16. Operators must file quarterly returns: Q1 due April 30, Q2 due July 31, Q3 due October 31, Q4 due January 31 - even when there is no rental activity. Late returns trigger a 10% penalty plus 1.5% monthly interest, with an additional 10% penalty after 30 days of nonpayment. The county can record tax liens, file civil suits, or seize property for unpaid taxes. Operators must report changes in ownership or property information within 30 days and retain receipts and documentation for at least three years. California has no statewide STR preemption, so cities such as Bakersfield and Ridgecrest may impose their own rules; the county's 6% TOT and registration apply to unincorporated areas only. Contact: Treasurer-Tax Collector (661) 868-3490; Planning & Natural Resources (661) 862-5263.
Operating without a TOT certificate or failing to remit collected tax is a violation of Chapter 4.16. Penalties include a 10% late-filing penalty, 1.5% monthly interest, an additional 10% penalty after 30 days nonpayment, estimated tax assessments, recorded tax liens, and civil suits up to and including property seizure.
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