Bakersfield, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within Bakersfield city limits. Projects in unincorporated Kern County are handled by Kern County, not the City of Bakersfield.

Department

City of Bakersfield Development Services, Building Division

Address

1715 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Phone

(661) 326-3720

Website

https://www.bakersfieldcity.us/1158/Building-Permits

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the property is within Bakersfield city limits and determine whether City Planning Review is required. The city's building permit form says all building structures, including interior and exterior alterations, exterior signs, and site modifications, must obtain City Planning Review before permit application acceptance, except lots with one single-family residence.
2. Prepare the building permit application and project information. The city requires owner information on all applications and requires contractor license information before permit issuance unless the applicant is acting as owner-builder.
3. Assemble plan sets and supporting documents. The permit form calls for complete sets of plans drawn to scale, minimum 24 inches by 30 inches, with applicable site, floor, roof, elevations, sections, schedules, utility plans, structural calculations, energy documents, and grading documents as needed.
4. Submit a separate application for each structure, tenant space, or scope of work. The city form states the permit must cover all structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical work performed.
5. Track permit status, inspections, and payments through the city's online permit portal. The Building Permits page says status access requires an account number, PIN, and active email address; applicants needing a PIN are directed to call (661) 326-3720.
6. Complete required inspections and address corrections before final approval.

Source: City of Bakersfield Development Services, Building Division

General Requirements

The city form states a separate permit and application is required for each structure, tenant space, or work performed, and that the permit includes all structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical work performed.

Required Documents

• Building permit application; owner information; contractor information unless owner-builder; complete plan sets drawn to scale with uniform sheet size minimum 24 inches by 30 inches; and project-specific supporting documents such as structural calculations, special testing and inspection, energy calculations, Title 24 energy plans, grading plans, hydrology calculations, soil/geotechnical reports, hillside information, biological study/HCP, and SWPPP where applicable.

Permit validity

The Bakersfield sources reviewed did not clearly state local permit expiration terms. California administrative code text commonly uses a 180-day abandonment period for applications unless diligently prosecuted or extended, but Bakersfield-specific confirmation was not located in the reviewed city sources.

Building code

Bakersfield's Building Codes Adoption page currently states new building construction codes took effect January 1, 2020. I did not locate a newer city code-adoption page in the reviewed Bakersfield sources, so the city webpage should be checked directly for any later update.

Owner-builder

The city requires owner information on all applications and asks the applicant to identify whether the project is owner-builder. If the applicant is not owner-builder, contractor information is required before permit issuance.

Contractor requirements

Contractor name, address, phone, license number, class, and expiration date are required before issuance when the project is not owner-builder.

Fees

Reinspection fee

The city permit application states a $55.00 re-inspection fee applies for grading pre-inspection if the inspector cannot access the site on the first visit.

Payment note

The city directs applicants to the online Building Permits portal to pay permits, schedule inspections, and check permit status. Portal access requires the account number, PIN, and an active email address.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the City of Bakersfield Development Services, Building Division to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Online portal (online)
• (661) 326-3720 (phone)

Typical inspection sequence: Not published in the reviewed city sources; at minimum, applicants should expect plan review approval, permit issuance, required trade/building inspections during construction, correction of deficiencies if any, and final approval.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Bakersfield's Building Codes Adoption page currently states new building construction codes took effect January 1, 2020. I did not locate a newer city code-adoption page in the reviewed Bakersfield sources, so the city webpage should be checked directly for any later update.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building Codes Adoption
• Building Information Guides
• Brochures and Forms
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in Kern County