Street vending cart rules in Bakersfield, CA — also called pushcart, food cart, or sidewalk vendor regulations — set where mobile vendors can operate and what permits they need.
Under BMC Chapter 5.45, a sidewalk vending cart must be non-motorized and operated by the permittee, maintain 4 feet of unobstructed sidewalk clearance, and — if used for food — meet Mobile Food Facility (MFF) standards enforced by the Kern County Public Health Department under the California Retail Food Code (CalCode, Health & Safety Code 113700 et seq.).
BMC 5.45.010 defines a sidewalk vendor as a person who sells food or merchandise from a pushcart, stand, display, pedal-driven cart, wagon, showcase, rack, or other non-motorized conveyance on a public sidewalk or pedestrian path. The cart must be controlled by the permitted vendor at all times, may not be left unattended, and may not extend beyond the size the city's permit allows. Food carts additionally need an MFF certification from Kern County Public Health under CalCode (HSC 113700 et seq.), routine commissary use, food handler card, and a current Kern County Environmental Health permit decal displayed on the cart. Trash must be collected by the vendor and removed at the end of each operating shift — leaving litter on the sidewalk is a separate violation under BMC 8.27 (property maintenance) and 8.32 (litter).
Operating a cart that fails ADA clearance, exceeds permitted size, or operates without required food permits is subject to the BMC 5.45 administrative-fine schedule ($100 / $200 / $500). Health-code violations are enforced separately by Kern County Public Health under CalCode, which can suspend or revoke the MFF permit. Litter and abandoned-cart violations are infraction-level citations under BMC 8.32.
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield Municipal Code 6.04.230 prohibits keeping any animal, bird, or fowl that by sound or cry unreasonably disturbs the peace or interferes with the c...
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield Municipal Code Chapter 9.22 prohibits any loud, unnecessary noise that disturbs the peace or quiet of any neighborhood, or that causes discomfort...
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield does not generally ban overnight street parking, but BMC 10.40.010 makes it unlawful for any vehicle (operable or not) to remain parked on a publ...
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield does not restrict year-round lawn ornaments (statues, gnomes, flamingos, religious figures, sports themes) on residential property. There is no p...
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield does not regulate residential inflatable holiday displays by size, lighting, or motor noise. They qualify as seasonal decorations exempt under BM...
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield's outdoor lighting standards exempt seasonal decorations as long as they are not in use for more than 60 consecutive days. Residential lots zoned...
See how Bakersfield's cart & stand rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.