City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Bakersfield, CA
How Bakersfield regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here operate under a registration or permit system with ongoing operating rules.
- STR permit required to operate (BMC Ch. 17.74, annual, ministerial renewal)
- whole-home non-owner-occupied STR permitted — operators may be owners, tenants, LLCs, or trusts (no primary-residence requirement)
- city levies transient lodging tax on STR stays; business tax certificate required
- no residential-zone exclusion (targeted prohibited-building types only); multifamily developments capped at 20% of units per development
Based on: Bakersfield Municipal Code Ch. 17.74 (Short-Term Rentals), added by Ord. 5218 § 1 (2026); adopted 6-11-2026, effective
Summary of the rule
Bakersfield Municipal Code Ch. 17.74 (added by Ord. 5218 § 1, 2026), § 17.74.010: 'The purpose of this chapter is to establish regulations, standards, and a permitting process governing the renting or leasing of privately owned visitor serving residential dwelling units on a short-term basis; ensure the collection and payment of transient lodging taxes (TLT)...'; § 17.74.030 requires a permit to operate. The operator definition (§ 17.74.020(D)) includes any owner or tenant of a residential dwelling unit and expressly 'a limited liability company, including the member(s) of such company' and family trusts — so non-owner-occupied / investor whole-home STR is permitted under permit. No primary-residence requirement and no residential-zone exclusion.
Last reviewed Sep 22, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Bakersfield · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.