Zoning Report
Bakersfield, CA Zoning
Bakersfield’s zoning code is organized by a modern district-based framework in Title 17, with separate chapters for residential, mixed-use, commercial, industrial, floodplain, airport approach, hillside, ADUs, parking, landscaping, signs, lighting, and nonconforming situations. The city appears to use a mix of by-right zoning, director review and approval, site plan review, and conditional use permits depending on the use and district. The code also includes special-purpose overlay or combining districts such as floodplain, airport approach, petroleum extraction, and hillside development, which can add constraints beyond the base zone.
Last researched May 2026
Zoning Districts in Bakersfield, CA
R-S Suburban Residential
Low-density suburban residential area intended for single-unit detached dwellings and accessory dwelling units on larger parcels, with animal keeping allowed under specific standards.
Allowed uses: single-unit detached dwellings, accessory dwelling units, animal keeping under specific guidelines
R-1 Residential
Lower-density residential district intended to preserve and develop single-unit neighborhoods with accessory dwelling units.
Allowed uses: single-unit detached dwellings, accessory dwelling units
R-2 Residential
Small-scale residential district allowing single-unit homes and smaller multi-unit formats.
Allowed uses: single-unit dwellings, accessory dwelling units, duplex dwellings, triplex dwellings, quadplex dwellings
R-3 Residential
Medium-density residential district intended for duplexes, townhomes, condominiums, apartments, and other medium-density housing forms.
Allowed uses: accessory dwelling units, two-unit dwellings, single-unit dwellings, multi-unit dwellings
Mixed-Use Zones
Bakersfield has a dedicated mixed-use zoning chapter, indicating districts intended to combine residential and nonresidential activity.
C-O Professional and Administrative Office
Office-oriented commercial district listed in Title 17.
C-1 Neighborhood Commercial
Neighborhood-serving commercial district listed in Title 17.
C-2 Regional Commercial
Larger-scale commercial district listed in Title 17.
C-B Central Business
Downtown/central business district listed in Title 17; parking rules indicate special treatment in the central district.
C-C Commercial Center
Commercial center district listed in Title 17.
M-1 Light Manufacturing
Light industrial district listed in Title 17.
M-2 General Manufacturing
General industrial district listed in Title 17.
M-3 Heavy Industrial
Heavy industrial district listed in Title 17.
A Agriculture
Agricultural district listed in Title 17.
OS Open Space
Open space district listed in Title 17.
HOSP Hospital
Hospital zoning district listed in Title 17.
Recent Zoning Changes
The provided code excerpts show at least two 2024 ordinance updates affecting Bakersfield zoning administration and parking. Ordinance 5175 (2024) updated planning director authority and residential parking standards, including no minimum parking standards for multifamily residential development with nineteen or less dwelling units, while preserving EV-capable and accessible parking obligations required by state law.
Setbacks, Lot Size & Height Limits in Bakersfield, CA
The official source set clearly provides residential density ranges for several residential districts. The fetched research did not include the official Bakersfield dimensional tables themselves, so setbacks and other bulk standards are only partially available; a third-party setback summary exists but should be verified directly with the city before reliance.
| District | Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| R-S | residential density range | zero to two dwelling units per net acre — From Chapter 17.10 residential zone purpose statement. |
| R-1 | residential density range | 2.1 to six dwelling units per net acre — From Chapter 17.10 residential zone purpose statement. |
| R-2 | residential density range | 6.1 to thirteen dwelling units per net acre — From Chapter 17.10 residential zone purpose statement. |
| R-3 | residential density range | 13.1 to twenty dwelling units per net acre — From Chapter 17.10 residential zone purpose statement. |
| R-1 | front setback | 20 feet — From third-party source citing Bakersfield code; verify against official code before use. |
| R-1 | side setback | 5 feet — From third-party source citing Bakersfield code; verify against official code before use. |
| R-1 | rear setback | 20 feet — From third-party source citing Bakersfield code; verify against official code before use. |
| R-2 | front setback | 15 feet — From third-party source citing Bakersfield code; verify against official code before use. |
| R-2 | side setback | 5 feet — From third-party source citing Bakersfield code; verify against official code before use. |
| R-2 | rear setback | 15 feet — From third-party source citing Bakersfield code; verify against official code before use. |
| R-3 | front setback | 15 feet — From third-party source citing Bakersfield code; verify against official code before use. |
| R-3 | side setback | 5 feet — From third-party source citing Bakersfield code; verify against official code before use. |
| R-3 | rear setback | 15 feet — From third-party source citing Bakersfield code; verify against official code before use. |
| R-S | front setback | 25 feet — From third-party source citing Bakersfield code; verify against official code before use. |
| R-S | side setback | 7 feet — From third-party source citing Bakersfield code; verify against official code before use. |
| R-S | rear setback | 25 feet — From third-party source citing Bakersfield code; verify against official code before use. |
ADU, Rental & Special Use Rules in Bakersfield, CA
ADU / JADU
Bakersfield has a dedicated zoning chapter for accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units, and the city publishes an official ADU information page with standard plans and an ADU calculator.
- See Chapter 17.65 for zoning standards.
- Official city webpage indicates Bakersfield offers an ADU Standard Plans Gallery.
- Official city webpage indicates Bakersfield provides an ADU Calculator.
Home Occupations
Bakersfield regulates home occupations in a dedicated zoning chapter.
- See Chapter 17.63 for detailed standards; substantive rules were not included in the provided excerpts.
Overlay Districts in Bakersfield, CA
FP-P Floodplain Primary Zone
Floodplain zoning district listed in Title 17 that likely applies added flood-related development controls in high-risk floodplain areas.
FP-S Floodplain Secondary Zone
Secondary floodplain zoning district listed in Title 17, likely applying flood-related controls in mapped floodplain areas outside the primary floodplain zone.
AA Airport Approach Zone
Airport approach zoning district listed in Title 17 that may restrict height or other features near airport approach areas.
DI Drilling Island District
Special district listed in Title 17 related to drilling operations.
PE Petroleum Extraction Combining District
Combining district listed in Title 17 related to petroleum extraction activities.
HD Hillside Development Combining Zone
Combining zone listed in Title 17 that likely imposes site and development constraints on hillside properties.
Parking Requirements in Bakersfield, CA
- Single-family residential developmentNo minimum parking standard required
- Deed-restricted affordable housing projectsNo minimum parking standard required
- All residential development in the central district and Old Town KernNo minimum parking standard required
- Multifamily residential development with nineteen or less dwelling unitsNo minimum parking standard required
- One-family or two-family dwellings in residential zonesRequired off-street parking spaces shall be located on the same lot as the dwellings served
Bakersfield, CA Zoning FAQ
Are ADUs allowed in Bakersfield, CA?
Bakersfield has a dedicated zoning chapter for accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units, and the city publishes an official ADU information page with standard plans and an ADU calculator.
What are the setback requirements in Bakersfield, CA?
Setbacks vary by district. Examples — R-1: 20 feet; R-1: 5 feet; R-1: 20 feet; R-2: 15 feet. Always confirm the exact yard requirements for your district with Bakersfield, CA.
What are the parking requirements in Bakersfield, CA?
Parking minimums vary by use — Single-family residential development: No minimum parking standard required; Deed-restricted affordable housing projects: No minimum parking standard required; All residential development in the central district and Old Town Kern: No minimum parking standard required; Multifamily residential development with nineteen or less dwelling units: No minimum parking standard required.
What zoning districts are in Bakersfield, CA?
Bakersfield, CA includes districts such as R-S Suburban Residential, R-1 Residential, R-2 Residential, R-3 Residential, Mixed-Use Zones, C-O Professional and Administrative Office, C-1 Neighborhood Commercial, C-2 Regional Commercial.
Are there flood zones or overlay districts in Bakersfield, CA?
The clearest zoning-based environmental constraints in the provided sources are floodplain zoning districts and a hillside development combining zone. Third-party flood risk sources suggest Bakersfield overall has relatively low citywide flood risk, but flood exposure can still matter in specific subareas and any parce…
Have there been recent zoning changes in Bakersfield, CA?
The provided code excerpts show at least two 2024 ordinance updates affecting Bakersfield zoning administration and parking. Ordinance 5175 (2024) updated planning director authority and residential parking standards, including no minimum parking standards for multifamily residential development with nineteen or less d…
Common questions about Bakersfield, CA zoning
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Deal-fit, approval path & risk flags for Bakersfield, CA
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- Ch. 17.08 General Regulations Including Site Plan Review | Bakersfield Municipal Code — Provided Bakersfield’s general zoning rules, site plan review process references, prohibition principle for more restrictive zones, and determination-of-use framework.
- Ch. 17.10 Residential Zones | Bakersfield Municipal Code — Provided residential district purposes, allowed housing types, and density ranges for R-S, R-1, R-2, and R-3.
- Ch. 17.64 Modifications, Conditional Use Permits, Amendments and Appeals | Bakersfield Municipal Code — Provided approval authority split between planning director and Planning Commission, plus hearing and appeal structure and 2024 amendment references.
- Ch. 17.58 Parking and Loading Standards | Bakersfield Municipal Code — Provided key parking policy, same-lot parking rule, and 2024 residential parking exemptions including relief for small multifamily and central district housing.
- Title 17 Zoning | Bakersfield Municipal Code — Confirmed Bakersfield’s full zoning chapter framework, including mixed-use, commercial, industrial, overlay, ADU, parking, signage, landscaping, lighting, and nonconforming chapters.
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA - Official Website — Confirmed the city maintains an official ADU program page with standard plans and calculation tools, supporting the ADU-focused special use analysis.
- Planning Guides | Bakersfield, CA - Official Website — Confirmed that the city provides planning guidance resources, though no substantive zoning details were extractable from the provided excerpt.
- Planning Commission | Bakersfield, CA - Official Website — Confirmed the existence of Bakersfield’s Planning Commission as an active reviewing body.
- Meetings & Agendas | Bakersfield, CA - Official Website — Confirmed the city publishes agendas and minutes online, though specific recent cases were not included in the research excerpt.
- Permits, Forms & Applications | Bakersfield, CA - Official Website — Confirmed the city maintains permit, application, checklist, and forms resources relevant to filing and entitlement workflow.
- Bakersfield, CA Flood Map and Climate Risk Report | First Street — Used only as supplemental, non-code context for citywide flood risk; not used to define zoning law.
- Downtown Bakersfield, CA Flood Map and Climate Risk Report | First Street — Used only as supplemental, non-code context for downtown flood risk; not used to define zoning law.
This summary is AI-generated from public municipal sources and is not legal, engineering, or land-use advice. Always verify zoning with Bakersfield, CA officials before making decisions.