Bakersfield Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Information comes from the City of Bakersfield; sources are listed at the end.

Bakersfield has an ADU page and a Building ADU permit for adding a new unit at an existing residential property, and the city’s published owner-occupancy rule for ADUs built from 2020 through 2025 differs from the rule for junior ADUs. The city site is the place to confirm current standards before you rely on any unit, so this guide sticks to what the city states and avoids guessing at size or setback limits.

Bakersfield ADU rules at a glance

Who administers it	City of Bakersfield Development Center and Planning
Permit	A Building ADU permit covers construction of a new ADU at an existing residential unit
Owner occupancy, ADUs built 2020 to 2025	Owners are not required to live on a property with an ADU
Owner occupancy, JADUs	The owner-occupancy requirement still applies to junior ADUs
Permit status	Click2Gov, searchable by address, parcel number or permit number
Automated inspection and status line	661-323-INSP (4677)

What does the owner-occupancy rule mean for a seller?

If you own a Bakersfield house with a permitted ADU built between 2020 and 2025, the city says you are not required to live on the property, which matters if a buyer wants to rent out both units. A junior ADU is different: the city says the owner-occupancy requirement still applies.

Before you market a house as having a legal second unit, confirm in Click2Gov that the unit was permitted and finaled.

How ADUs and zoning affect selling a house in Bakersfield

A permitted ADU can be a selling point, but a converted garage or backyard unit with no permit is something buyers’ inspectors and lenders flag, and the city’s Building Division enforces uniform construction codes. In California, sellers generally have to disclose known unpermitted work.

Your choices are to permit the unit, remove it, discount the price, or sell as-is to a cash buyer who accounts for the risk. See our Bakersfield building permits guide for the lookup tools.

How to sell a house in Bakersfield with an unpermitted ADU

1. Check the permit status. Search the address in Click2Gov to see whether the unit was ever permitted.
2. Check for complaints. Ask Code Enforcement whether any case is open.
3. Weigh the options. Permit it, convert it back, sell with a credit, or sell as-is.
4. Disclose honestly. A cash offer does not change what you must disclose, but it removes repairs and inspections from the timeline.

We buy Bakersfield houses as they are, including houses with converted garages and backyard units. Read how selling a house as-is in Bakersfield works, or see our Bakersfield cash-offer process. If the house has been cited, read our Bakersfield code enforcement guide.

Not sure whether your unit is legal? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Where to take ADU questions in Bakersfield

The city’s Development Center lists the Building ADU permit and gives its phone as 661-326-3000, with hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday except holidays.

The city’s fee schedule also lists an ADU application fee, so ask for the current amount rather than relying on an older figure. The Planning Division handles zoning and planning questions, and the Building Division enforces the uniform construction codes.

Reading the owner-occupancy rule as a buyer or seller

The city says owners are not required to live on a property with an ADU built between 2020 and 2025, while the requirement still applies to junior ADUs. For a seller, that distinction affects how you describe the property.

A buyer who plans to rent both units needs to know which kind of unit the property has and when it was built, and the answer should match the permit record.

State ADU law has been amended repeatedly, so a buyer’s agent may also ask for the date of the permit and the final inspection.

Confirming a unit is permitted, step by step

1. Search the address, parcel number or permit number in Click2Gov.
2. Look for a final inspection or certificate of occupancy, not only an issued permit.
3. Compare the unit’s size and use with what was approved.
4. Call the automated status line at 661-323-4677 or the Development Center if the record is unclear.

If the unit is rented

A tenant in an ADU adds notice and access rules to a sale. Our California guide to selling a tenant-occupied home explains how those rules work, and our guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work covers the disclosure side.

Bakersfield zoning and ADU FAQ

Do I have to live on my Bakersfield property if it has an ADU?

The city says owners are not required to live on a property with an ADU built between 2020 and 2025, but the requirement still applies to junior ADUs.

How do I check if a Bakersfield ADU was permitted?

Search the address, parcel number or permit number in the city’s Click2Gov service, or call the automated line at 661-323-4677.

Can I sell a Bakersfield house with an unpermitted ADU?

Yes. The sale is not legally blocked, but you should disclose the unit. A cash buyer can purchase the house as-is with the unit unpermitted.

Is a permit required to build an ADU in Bakersfield?

Yes. The city’s Development Center lists a Building ADU permit for constructing a new ADU at an existing residential unit.

What are the Bakersfield Development Center hours?

The city lists 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday except holidays, and the phone is 661-326-3000.

Does the Bakersfield owner-occupancy rule apply to junior ADUs?

Yes. The city says the owner-occupancy requirement still applies to junior ADUs even though it does not apply to ADUs built between 2020 and 2025.

Sources

• City of Bakersfield: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Bakersfield
• City of Bakersfield: Development Center
• City of Bakersfield: Building Division

This guide is general information, not legal advice. ADU rules change often; confirm requirements with the City of Bakersfield.