Fairfield Municipal Code Chapter 27 (Community Preservation) is the city's blight-abatement chapter. It declares neglected vacant buildings to be public nuisances, requires registration and on-site security of vacant structures, mandates that vacant property not create unreasonable fire risk (weed removal), and authorizes Code Enforcement to abate at the owner's expense, with costs becoming a special assessment on the parcel.
Fairfield's anti-blight authority is in Municipal Code Chapter 27 (Community Preservation). The chapter regulates vacant buildings, abandoned property, deteriorated structures, accumulated trash, weeds and overgrown vegetation, graffiti, and exterior storage that depresses neighborhood quality. A 'vacant building' is one that is not legally occupied unless the building meets all codes, does not contribute to blight, is ready for occupancy, and is either actively being offered for sale, lease, or rent, or is actively being maintained and monitored by the owner. Owners must keep vacant buildings structurally sound; all electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems must conform to the California Building Standards Code and not create a public-safety hazard. Vacant property must be maintained so as not to create an unreasonable risk of fire, including weed removal where weeds could constitute a fire hazard. A neglected vacant building — one in material, repeated, or on-going violation — is declared a public nuisance. Owners are required to designate a responsible agent; owners more than 60 miles from the building must designate an agent whose home or place of business is within Fairfield. Special window-display rules apply to vacant commercial space in the downtown and downtown-core districts. Nuisance abatement runs under both California Government Code (broad police-power authority) and Chapter 27; the city can recover abatement costs as a special assessment on the parcel.
Chapter 27 violations are enforced through administrative citations and abatement orders. Unpaid abatement costs become a special assessment on the parcel collectible like property taxes. Late penalties add 50% if a fine is unpaid 30 days after service. Persistent violations can be referred to the city attorney for civil injunction or, in severe cases, misdemeanor prosecution.
Fairfield, CA
Residential pools in Fairfield must be enclosed by a barrier between 60 and 72 inches tall with self-closing, self-latching gates that open away from the poo...
Fairfield, CA
Fairfield does not prescribe specific residential fence materials beyond prohibiting barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fencing in residential zones. C...
Fairfield, CA
Fairfield follows California Civil Code §841, the Good Neighbor Fence Law: adjoining owners are presumed to share equally in the cost of building, maintainin...
Fairfield, CA
Fairfield requires a building permit for fences and freestanding walls over 7 feet tall and for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the f...
Fairfield, CA
Fairfield Municipal Code Section 25.30 caps front-yard fences at 42 inches within 15 feet of the front property line and 7 feet beyond that. Street side yard...
Fairfield, CA
Fairfield Municipal Code does not set a hard numeric cap on dogs or cats per household. Animals must be licensed, vaccinated, and kept in conditions that do ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Solano County.
See how other cities in Solano County handle property blight.
See how Fairfield's property blight rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.