Fairfield, CA Rental Property Rules: Just Cause Eviction (2026)
Just cause eviction rules in Fairfield, CA, sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances, list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Key Facts
- Local Ordinance
- None
- Statewide Authority
- Cal Civ Code §1946.2 (AB 1482)
- Coverage Threshold
- 12 months continuous tenancy
- Relocation Assistance
- 1 month rent for no-fault
- Court Venue
- Solano County Superior Court (Fairfield)
- Self-Help Eviction Penalty
- $100/day + actual damages (CC §789.3)
Summary
Fairfield has not adopted a local just-cause eviction ordinance. Termination of tenancy on covered rental units is governed by the just-cause provisions of California's Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482, Civil Code §1946.2), which after 12 months of continuous tenancy require the landlord to state an 'at-fault' or 'no-fault' just cause. No-fault terminations require relocation assistance equal to one month's rent. Single-family homes and condominiums owned by natural persons with proper notice in the lease are exempt.
1946.2. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, after a tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied a residential real property for 12 months, the owner of the residential real property shall not terminate a tenancy without just cause, which shall be stated in the written notice to terminate tenancy. If any additional adult tenants are added to the lease before an existing tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied the residential real property for 24 months, then this subdivision shall only apply if either of the following are satisfied: (1) All of the tenants have continuously and lawfully occupied the residential real property for 12 months or more. (2) One or more tenants have continuously and lawfully occupied the residential real property for 24 months or more.
Full Breakdown
2 (effective January 1, 2020, sunset January 1, 2030) defines two categories of just cause. At-fault causes include: nonpayment of rent (after a 3-day notice to pay or quit), breach of a material lease term, nuisance, waste, criminal activity on the premises, assignment or subletting in violation of lease, failure to provide access for repairs, and certain other tenant-side defaults. No-fault causes include: owner or family-member move-in (with restrictions including a 12-month occupancy requirement and disclosure), withdrawal from the rental market (Ellis Act, Government Code §7060), substantial remodel or demolition (with a specific definition tightened by AB 1482 in 2023), or government order.
No-fault evictions require either one month's rent in relocation assistance paid to the tenant within 15 calendar days or a one-month rent waiver applied to the final month of tenancy. The landlord must serve a written notice that specifies the just cause and complies with Code of Civil Procedure §1161 (3-day or 60-day notice depending on cause and tenancy length). 'At-fault' causes typically require an opportunity to cure for curable breaches. Exempt units (single-family homes and condos owned by natural persons or revocable trusts with the statutorily required exemption notice in the lease) are subject only to the standard Code of Civil Procedure 30-day or 60-day no-cause termination process.
) have expired, but local rental assistance programs through Solano County and Catholic Charities continue to operate. Solano County Superior Court (Fairfield branch) handles unlawful detainer cases under Code of Civil Procedure §§1161-1179a, with the case proceeding on a fast track once an answer is filed.
Violations & Fines
Filing an unlawful detainer without the required just cause and notice: tenant has an affirmative defense, the case will be dismissed, and the tenant may recover statutory damages of $200-$2,000 plus attorney's fees under Civil Code §1942.5. No-fault termination without paying relocation assistance: the notice is void, the case cannot proceed, and the tenant may recover treble damages for willful violations. Self-help eviction (changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities) is illegal in California under Civil Code §789.3 with statutory damages of $100 per day plus actual damages. Retaliatory eviction within 180 days of a tenant exercising a protected right is presumptively void under Civil Code §1942.5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my Fairfield landlord need a reason to evict me?
What relocation assistance is required for a no-fault eviction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fairfield
California rules heatmap·Compare Fairfield to another location·View the California rental property rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Just Cause Eviction in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Solano County handle just cause eviction.