Animal Ordinances in Fairfield, CA (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Fairfield, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Fairfield caps backyard fowl at three chickens, geese, ducks or turkeys citywide under Section 3.22.1, and bars cows, horses, sheep, goats, hogs or other cloven-hoofed livestock on any lot smaller than one acre under Section 3.4. Both violations are handled as nuisance or misdemeanor matters.
Fairfield Backyard Chickens & Livestock Rules
Some RestrictionsFairfield Municipal Code §§ 3.4, 3.22.1
Except as otherwise provided in section 3.68, no person shall keep, corral, or harbor any cow, horse, sheep, goat, hog, or clovenhoofed animal in the city on any single parcel of property less than one acre in size. [Sec. 3.4] ... Due to their potential to create a nuisance when allowed in large numbers because of noise, bodily waste odor or other unsanitary condition, it shall be unlawful for ...
Dog Leash Laws
Fairfield dogs must be on a leash no longer than six feet whenever they are off their owner's own property, under Municipal Code Section 3.8. Dogs may run loose only inside a city-designated off-leash area or dog park, or inside an enclosed vehicle.
Fairfield Dog Leash Law: 6-Foot Limit
Some RestrictionsFairfield Municipal Code § 3.8
No person owning or having charge, care, custody or control of any dog shall cause, permit or allow the same to be or to run at large upon any highway, street, lane, alley, court or other public place, excepting a City designated area or dog park, or upon any private property or premises other than those of the person owning or having charge, care, custody or control of such dog, in the incorpo...
Breed Restrictions
Fairfield has no breed-specific dog ban. California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 preempts cities from declaring any breed dangerous or vicious by breed alone, though Fairfield enforces dangerous-dog rules based on individual behavior.
Dog Breed Restrictions in Fairfield
Some RestrictionsCal. Food & Agric. Code Sec. 31683 (Local Authority Over Potentially Dangerous Dogs - No Breed-Specific Programs)
31683. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a city or county from adopting or enforcing its own program for the control of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs that may incorporate all, part, or none of this chapter, or that may punish a violation of this chapter as a misdemeanor or may impose a more restrictive program to control potentially dangerous or vicious dogs. Except ...
Beekeeping
Keeping a beehive in Fairfield requires a permit under Article IV of the Municipal Code (Sections 3.42-3.52), capped at two hives per lot with 10-foot side setbacks, 50-foot dwelling separation, a six-foot fence, and no hives within 200 feet of a person with a bee-sting allergy.
Fairfield Backyard Beekeeping Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsFairfield Municipal Code §§ 3.43, 3.44
No person shall keep or maintain any hive of bees on any lot or parcel within the city without first obtaining a permit in accordance with this article. [Sec. 3.43] ... (1) No more than two hives shall be maintained on any lot or parcel. ... (3) No hive shall be kept or maintained within 10 feet of any side property line on the lot or parcel upon which such hives are situate, or within 50 feet ...
Exotic Pets
Fairfield prohibits keeping any wild species at large within the city, and California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 671 separately bans private possession of restricted exotic species statewide, including most large cats, primates, bears, and venomous reptiles.
Exotic and Wild Animals in Fairfield
Some RestrictionsCal. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife - Restricted Species Laws & Regulations (14 CCR Sec. 671)
Restricted Species Permits Skip to Main Content See the Emergency Closures page before visiting a CDFW office, facility or property. CA.gov Official website of the State of California About Us Contact State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife Menu Custom Google Search Home Fishing Hunting Licensing Conservation Learning Home / Licensing / Restricted Species Restricted Species Permits ...
Wildlife Feeding
Fairfield does not have a city-specific wildlife-feeding ban, but California Fish and Game Code and Title 14 regulations make it illegal to feed big game mammals (deer, bears) and harassment of wildlife. Feeding that creates a nuisance may also be cited under Fairfield's Community Preservation chapter.
Feeding Wildlife in Fairfield
Few RestrictionsCal. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife - Keep Me Wild / Human-Wildlife Conflicts Toolkit (14 CCR Sec. 251.3)
Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) can occur when humans encounter or interact with wild animals in an unwanted or unsafe way. In California, habitat loss and a changing climate have increased the frequency and type of HWC reported to CDFW. It has become more common for people to be "living with wildlife" as communities grow along the urban-wildlands interface and wildlife look for limited resources...
Pet Limits
Fairfield caps households in residential zones at three dogs or three cats over four months old, per Municipal Code Section 3.22. The limit applies in one-family (R-1), duplex (R-D), multiple residence (R-M), garden apartment (R-G), and residential estate (R-E) districts, and breaking it is a misdemeanor.
Fairfield Pet Limit: 3 Dogs or Cats
Some RestrictionsFairfield Municipal Code § 3.22
It shall be unlawful for anyone to keep, maintain, board or harbor more than three dogs or three cats over four months old on any lot or premises in residential districts in the city designated in the zoning ordinance of the city as one-family residence or R-1 districts, duplex residence or R-D districts, multiple residence or R-M districts in garden apartment developments or R-G districts, or ...
Cat Rules
Cat licensing is optional in Fairfield, unlike the mandatory dog license, under Municipal Code Section 3.26. Owners who choose to license a cat over four months old follow the same July 1 to August 31 process and fees as dog licensing, set by the Solano County Board of Supervisors.
Fairfield Cat Licensing & Ownership Rules
Light RestrictionsFairfield Municipal Code § 3.26
Every person owning or having control, custody or possession of any cat within the city may procure a license for each such cat, four months of age, between July 1 and August 31 of each year. The procedures applicable to the licensing of cats shall be the same as those pertaining to the licensing of dogs under this chapter. The fee shall be as established by resolution of the county board of su...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Fairfield has no citywide mandatory spay/neuter law; the only mandated spay or neuter in the Municipal Code applies to an animal formally declared dangerous under Article VI, where the hearing officer can order it spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian as a condition of release from impoundment.
Fairfield Spay/Neuter Order for Dangerous Animals
Some RestrictionsFairfield Municipal Code §§ 3.77(a)(4), 3.79(b)
(4) Spay or neuter the animal. To have the animal spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian and to present proof to the animal control officer; ... (b) Violations and penalties. Any violation of this article involving a dangerous animal shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars.
Microchipping
Fairfield does not require microchipping of pets generally; the only identification mandate in the Municipal Code applies to an animal declared dangerous under Article VI, which the hearing officer can order tattooed or fitted with an electronic identification device (microchip) as a release condition.
Fairfield Microchip/Tattoo ID for Dangerous Animals
Some RestrictionsFairfield Municipal Code § 3.77(a)(8)
(8) Numbers and tattoo. To have a registration number assigned to such animal tattooed by a licensed veterinarian on the animal's inner thigh or inserted by a licensed veterinarian under the animal's skin by means of an electronic identification device. The manner and method of identification to be used hereunder shall be determined by the hearing officer. For the purpose of this section, "tatt...
Pet Groomer Rules
Fairfield's zoning code treats "Animal clinic or grooming" as its own land use category. Groomers can open by right in the Neighborhood Commercial, Service Commercial, Thoroughfare Commercial and Community Commercial zones, but the Office Commercial zone requires a discretionary Conditional Use Permit, and the Regional Commercial and Mixed Commercial zones bar the use outright under Table 25-9 of the Fairfield Municipal Code.
Pet Groomer Zoning Rules in Fairfield, CA
Some RestrictionsFairfield Municipal Code § 25.22.2, Table 25-9
“Permitted” land uses are indicated by a “P” on Table 25-9. Permitted lands uses are allowed on a property without discretion by the City, subject to compliance with all applicable provisions of this Ordinance. “Conditionally Permitted” land uses are indicated by a “C” on the tables and are allowed only with the approval of a Conditional Use Permit (Section 25.40.6)... Table 25-9: Commercial Di...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Fairfield's commercial zoning table permits animal clinics and grooming outright in the CN, CS, CT, and CC districts, but requires a Conditional Use Permit in the CO district and bars them from CR and CM. Animal hospitals and kennels face tighter conditional-use requirements across most commercial zones.
Fairfield Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsFairfield Municipal Code § 25.22.2, Table 25-9
P Use Permitted C Conditional Use Permit - Not permitted Use CN CO CS CT CC CR CM ... Health and Veterinary Services Animal clinic or grooming P C P P P - - Animal hospital C C P P P C - Animal kennel C - P C C C -
Looking for Solano County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fairfield city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Solano County →