Kern County · checked 2026-09-13
Can you BnB it in Bakersfield?
RestrictedBakersfield requires a city short-term rental permit before you advertise or rent a home for less than thirty nights, and the property is inspected before the permit issues. The permit lasts one year, cannot be transferred or assigned, and does not run with the land, so a buyer must apply fresh.
The rules, with their sources
Permit or licenseA permit or license is required before operating.L117.74.030(A) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Hosted onlyThe code does not limit rentals to hosted stays.L1Bakersfield Municipal Code Chapter 17.74 Short-Term Rentals, sections 17.74.010 to 17.74.100 (Ord. 5218 Sec. 1, 2026); transient lodging tax Chapter 3.40, section 3.40.020 (Ord. 4573 Sec. 1, 2009) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Primary residenceThe code does not require the rental to be the operator's primary residence.L1Bakersfield Municipal Code Chapter 17.74 Short-Term Rentals, sections 17.74.010 to 17.74.100 (Ord. 5218 Sec. 1, 2026); transient lodging tax Chapter 3.40, section 3.40.020 (Ord. 4573 Sec. 1, 2009) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Caps and limitsNo citywide numeric cap. Chapter 17.74.030(B)(2) caps the number of short-term rentals inside a residential development project, defined in 17.74.020(G) as a multifamily development of five or more units: 5 to 10 units allows 1 to 2 short-term rentals, 11 to 50 units allows 3 to 10, 51 to 100 units allows 11 to 20, and 101 to 150 units allows 21 to 30. 17.74.070(E) adds a parcel level bar: after a revocation no dwelling unit on that parcel may obtain a permit for twelve months.L117.74.070(E) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Transfer when the home sellsThe permit does not survive a sale. 17.74.040(A) states the STR permit is valid for one year from issuance, may not be transferred or assigned, and does not run with the land. There is no family, heir, trust or entity exception, no transfer application window, and no grace period in the chapter. The permit is issued to the operator, who under 17.74.020(D) may be the owner or an authorized tenant, and an operator that is a trust or LLC must name the responsible individual under 17.74.030(B)(4) and (5). A buyer must apply as a new applicant, including the property inspection required by 17.74.030(B)(12) and a new fee.L117.74.040(A) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Read the code text →
In the city's own words
17.74.030(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.” source
17.74.040(A)“An STR permit is valid for one year from the date of issuance. It may not be transferred or assigned and does not run with the land.” source
17.74.020(H)“a residential dwelling unit [...] offered or provided to a paying guest(s) for occupancy [...] for overnight lodging, dwelling, or sleeping purposes for one to less than thirty consecutive nights” source
17.74.050(D)“The maximum number of persons who may be present on the STR property at any time shall be limited to two persons per bedroom.” source
Citation: Bakersfield Municipal Code Chapter 17.74 Short-Term Rentals, sections 17.74.010 to 17.74.100 (Ord. 5218 Sec. 1, 2026); transient lodging tax Chapter 3.40, section 3.40.020 (Ord. 4573 Sec. 1, 2009)
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How this page was verified
Verified from the municipal code (level 1), checked on 2026-09-13 by the CanIBnB research desk. Research is AI assisted and human reviewed; the method, the level system, and the re-check schedule are on the How we verify page. If anything here is wrong, report it and it goes in the public corrections log.