Kern County
short-term rental taxes.

Tax and permit requirements for Kern County. Use your full address to find its governing authorities.

Outside city limits: what you need to do in unincorporated Kern County

From the linked source

To confirm
Check that short-term rentals are allowed at your address
The record has no finding on whether Kern County allows short-term rentals. Ask the planning or zoning office before you list.
To confirm
Check whether you need a license or permit
The record does not say whether Kern County requires a short-term rental license. Ask the county licensing office.
To confirm
Find out who collects the 6% Kern County occupancy tax
Not confirmed per channel. Check each channel's tax settings; on direct bookings, you collect and remit it yourself.
To do
File quarterly returns
The record does not state the due day; the tax office's calendar has it.

Verify each step with the authority before you file or apply. Source

Get a reminder before each quarterly Kern County return is due

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Before you use these figures

Rental eligibility

Whether short-term rentals are allowed in unincorporated Kern County is not established in our record. Check zoning and permit rules with the county before listing.

Check the recorded local source

What to know.

The record for Kern County lists a 6% occupancy tax. City and district taxes are shown separately. Browse the local guides below and check your address.

At a glance.

County tax: 6%
State tax: Local only
Highest recorded city rate: 12%
Cities tracked: 11

The highest recorded city rate describes the available dataset. It is not a legal maximum or the full tax due for an address.

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Tax details

Exemptions, penalties, filing information, and effective dates from the linked sources.

Kern County: Recorded exemptions

TOT 6% for accommodations at lodging facilities in unincorporated Kern County (Treasurer-Tax Collector). Filed 6% confirmed; no rate change.

Kern County: Recorded filing schedule

Filing frequency: Quarterly.

Source for these notes: kcttc.co.kern.ca.us

How county vs. city works here

The recorded county rate is 6%
The occupancy-tax rate for Kern County is 6%. Use your address to find the applicable jurisdiction. Platform collection is not available; check with your booking channel and the tax authority.
Check the rules for your local area
Open a city guide below for city and special district requirements.
Outside city limits, the county rules apply
The list under "Outside city limits" above is what Kern County requires there. Special district rules may also apply.

Sources & confidence

How we collect and check this information · Report a problem with this page

FigureValueSourceStatus

Kern County occupancy tax6%

Source

Source linked

California local lodging tax guidanceLocally administered

Source

Source linked

Sources for the county taxes and local requirements shown above.

Cities in Kern County

Browse local tax and permit requirements or look up your full address.

Outside city limits (unincorporated Kern County)? See what the county requires or Look up your exact address

Communities outside city limits

Unincorporated communities in Kern County include Alta Sierra, Bakersfield Country Club, Bear Valley Springs, Benton Park, Bodfish, Boron, Buttonwillow, Casa Loma, Cherokee Strip, China Lake Acres, Choctaw Valley, Cottonwood, and 65 more. An address in one of them is outside city limits, so Kern County rules apply. These are Census-designated places, not separate tax authorities.