Bakersfield Building Permits 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.

The City of Bakersfield’s Building Division, based in its Development Center, lets you look up the status of a building permit online with the Click2Gov service by address, parcel number or permit number. Checking that record before you list tells you whether a permit was ever closed out.

Bakersfield building permit records at a glance

Who handles it	City of Bakersfield Building Division, Development Center
Online permit status	Click2Gov: search by address, parcel number or permit number
Automated inspection and status line	IVR 661-323-INSP (4677)
Online application	The city has an Online Permit Application and Status page
Work that needs a permit	The city says a permit fee and special permit are required for remodels or alterations and other residential work such as installing a retaining wall or hot tub
ADU permits	A separate Building ADU permit covers a new ADU at an existing residential unit

How do I look up permits on a Bakersfield property?

Use Click2Gov, the city’s permit status service, and search by address, parcel number or permit number. The record shows what permits exist and where each one stands. If you cannot find an expected permit, the Development Center can tell you whether work was ever permitted.

Compare what the record shows against what was actually built, since an addition, converted garage or remodel with no matching permit is what a buyer’s inspector will notice.

What work needs a permit in Bakersfield?

The Building Division enforces uniform building construction codes and conservation standards. It says remodels, alterations and several other kinds of residential work, including retaining walls and hot tubs, need a permit fee and special permit. If someone did that kind of work on your house before you owned it, the permit may never have been opened.

How permits affect selling a house in Bakersfield

In California, sellers generally have to disclose known problems, including work you know was done without a permit. Buyers on a traditional sale often ask for a closed-out permit, repairs or a price cut, and lenders can be cautious about living space that is not in the records. A cash buyer can purchase the house with the permit problem unresolved and price the risk into the offer.

How to sell a house in Bakersfield with unpermitted work or open permits

1. Check the permit status in Click2Gov. Know what the city shows before you talk to any buyer.
2. List what you know. Who did the work, when, and whether you have receipts or plans.
3. Compare your options. Finish the permit, sell with a price credit, or sell as-is to a cash buyer.
4. Disclose honestly. A cash offer does not change what you must disclose, but it removes the repair and inspection steps that cause delays.

We buy Bakersfield houses as they are, with no permit clean-up, repairs or showings. 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, and for backyard units see our Bakersfield zoning and ADU guide.

Not sure what your permit history means for a sale? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Bakersfield building permits FAQ

How do I check a building permit in Bakersfield?

Use the city’s Click2Gov service and search by address, parcel number or permit number, or call the automated line at 661-323-4677.

Does a hot tub or retaining wall need a permit in Bakersfield?

The city says a permit fee and special permit are required for remodels, alterations and several residential projects, including retaining walls and hot tubs.

Can I sell a house in Bakersfield with an open permit?

Yes. An open permit does not legally stop a sale, but it can slow a traditional one. A cash buyer can purchase the house with the permit still open.

How do I sell a house in Bakersfield with unpermitted additions?

Disclose the work, then choose between permitting it, discounting the price, or selling as-is to a cash buyer who accounts for the risk in the offer.

Sources

• City of Bakersfield: Building Division
• City of Bakersfield: Development Center
• City of Bakersfield: Online Permit Application and Status

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