Bakersfield does not restrict short-term rentals to a host's primary residence. Investors and second-home owners may operate STRs throughout permitted zones provided they obtain a Chapter 10 permit and remit transient occupancy tax.
Many California coastal cities cap short-term rentals at a hosts primary residence to protect long-term housing supply. Bakersfield, more conservative on land-use regulation, has not adopted that approach. Non-primary, investor-owned STRs are allowed in residential zones that permit transient lodging under the Bakersfield Zoning Ordinance. Owners must obtain a city STR permit through Chapter 10, collect the 12 percent transient occupancy tax, and meet building, fire, and parking standards. Homeowners associations may impose additional restrictions, but no citywide primary-residence cap exists. Operators should still confirm zoning eligibility before purchasing for STR use.
Operating an unpermitted investor STR, misrepresenting occupancy status on platform listings, or failing to collect transient occupancy tax can lead to fines, permit denial, and tax assessment.
Bakersfield, CA
Home-based businesses in Bakersfield must obtain a Home Occupation Permit and a city business tax certificate under BMC Title 5 and Title 17 (Zoning). Home o...
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 primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
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