Taxes & Fees: Fairfield vs Vacaville
How do taxes & fees rules compare between Fairfield, CA and Vacaville, CA?
Fairfield and Vacaville have similar restriction levels.
Fairfield, CA
Solano County
Any lawfully operating transient lodging in Fairfield (hotel, motel, B&B, or any rental of 30 days or fewer in a non-residential zone where allowed) must register with the City Finance Department, collect a 12% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and a 3% Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment on lodging receipts, and remit monthly. The 12% TOT rate took effect January 1, 2025 following voter approval of Measure M in November 2024, replacing the prior 10% rate established in 1984. The combined effective lodging tax burden in Fairfield is 15% of room rent.
View full Fairfield rules →Vacaville, CA
Solano County
Vacaville imposes a Transient Occupancy Tax of 8% on the rent charged for occupancy of any hotel, motel, or other lodging facility for stays of 30 consecutive days or less under Vacaville Municipal Code Chapter 3.16. On top of that, the Vacaville Tourism Marketing District (originally established under Chapter 3.17 as a Hotel Business Improvement District with a 2% assessment) increased its assessment to 4% effective November 1, 2025, after City Council approval of a Visit Vacaville board petition. Effective October 1, 2023, HdL Companies took over TOT collection, returns, and audit on behalf of the city; operators file directly with HdL's TOT Processing Center rather than with the City Clerk. Because STRs are not a permitted use in residential zones, the practical operator base for these taxes is hotels, motels, and lawful lodging facilities in commercial/mixed-use districts.
View full Vacaville rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Fairfield | Vacaville |
|---|---|---|
| TOT Rate | 12% (Measure M, eff. Jan. 1, 2025) | 8% of rent (VMC Chapter 3.16); rate unchanged since adoption |
| Prior TOT Rate | 10% (1984-2024) | - |
| TBID Assessment | 3% additional | - |
| Combined Lodging Tax | 15% of room rent | - |
| Filing Frequency | Monthly (due last day of following month) | Quarterly returns via HdL TOT Processing Center |
| Code Authority | FMC Chapter 6, Article XV | - |
| Taxable Stay Length | - | 30 consecutive days or less |
| Tourism Marketing Assessment | - | 4% effective November 1, 2025 (VMC Chapter 3.17, formerly 2%) |
| Combined Lodging Charge | - | 12% (8% TOT + 4% tourism assessment) on covered stays |
| TOT Processor | - | HdL Companies (effective October 1, 2023) |
| Code Update Pending | - | Modernization amendments + possible Nov 2026 ballot rate measure under discussion |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Fairfield FAQ
What is Fairfield's hotel tax rate?
Effective January 1, 2025, Fairfield's Transient Occupancy Tax is 12% of room rent, having increased from the prior 10% rate following voter approval of Measure M in November 2024. An additional 3% Tourism Business Improvement District assessment applies, for a combined 15% lodging tax burden. The City's Finance Department administers both, and operators register, collect, and remit monthly through a single filing.
Do I owe TOT on a sub-30-day rental even if the zoning doesn't allow it?
Yes. The TOT obligation is independent of whether the underlying zoning use is permitted. The Finance Department can assess back taxes on unpermitted operators, and you may face stacked enforcement — TOT delinquency penalties plus a Chapter 25 zoning violation. Remitting TOT does not legalize an otherwise prohibited use.
Vacaville FAQ
What is Vacaville's hotel tax rate?
The Transient Occupancy Tax under Vacaville Municipal Code Chapter 3.16 is 8% of the rent charged for stays of 30 consecutive days or less. Effective November 1, 2025, an additional 4% Vacaville Tourism Marketing District assessment applies under Chapter 3.17, bringing the combined city-imposed lodging charge to 12% on covered stays.
Who collects Vacaville TOT?
Effective October 1, 2023, HdL Companies took over TOT collection, returns, and audit services on behalf of the City of Vacaville. Operators file directly with HdL's TOT Processing Center rather than with the City Clerk or City Finance, and HdL pursues delinquencies and audits.
Do I owe Vacaville TOT for an Airbnb in a residential zone?
Operating a short-term rental in a residential zone is not a permitted use under Title 14 zoning, so the threshold question is whether the use is lawful at the address. If a property is operated as an STR despite zoning, the city may still pursue back TOT under Chapter 3.16 in addition to zoning enforcement under Chapter 1.28. A lawful lodging use (hotel, motel, B&B in a commercial/mixed-use district) is the conventional taxpayer base under Chapter 3.16.
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