Fairfield · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Fairfield

Fairfield sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. Fence height depends on the distance from the front property line and the zone, and accessory limits depend on size.

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Key points

Fence height: Fairfield limits fences at single-family homes and duplexes to 42 inches within 15 feet of the front property line and 7 feet beyond.
Accessory structures: At single-family homes and duplexes, Fairfield limits small accessory structures (60 square feet or less) to 7 feet and large ones to 16 feet.
Home businesses: Fairfield keeps home businesses inside the home, with resident workers only and up to 8 patron visits a day.

Each rule below is marked Fairfield code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Fences and walls

Fairfield code Fairfield limits fences at single-family homes and duplexes to 42 inches within 15 feet of the front property line and 7 feet beyond.

All 13 Fairfield rules on fences and walls, with the code text →

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Fairfield code At single-family homes and duplexes, Fairfield limits small accessory structures (60 square feet or less) to 7 feet and large ones to 16 feet.

All 10 Fairfield rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Fairfield code Fairfield keeps home businesses inside the home, with resident workers only and up to 8 patron visits a day.

All 11 Fairfield rules on running a business from home, with the code text →

RV and boat parking

Fairfield code What Fairfield's code adds
Parking on the street	No more than 72 hours. Applies: Applies to any vehicle, boat or RV on any public right-of-way. § 11.7.2 · code text It is unlawful for a person to park or leave standing any vehicle, boat, or recreational vehicle on any public right-of-way at any time for a period exceeding 72 hours. Overnight for no more than 72 hours in a row, twice in any 7-day period. Applies: Applies to a homeowner's, tenant's or out-of-town visitor's boat or RV on the street next to the owner's home. § 11.7.2 · code text Any boat or recreational vehicle parked or left standing on any public street in the city so as to allow the use of a homeowner, tenant, or out-of-town visitor shall not prohibit the overnight parking on public streets immediately abutting the owner’s residence for no more than 72 consecutive hours twice during any seven-day period.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Fairfield code Fast nondiscretionary permit, issued when the station meets all code rules; apply in person, by mail or electronically. Must not exceed the maximum legal building height.

All 5 Fairfield rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Tree removal

Fairfield code Yes, a Tree Removal Permit is required. All trees on public property.

All 8 Fairfield rules on tree removal, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Fairfield code The gap from the ground to the bottom of the enclosure is at most 2 inches. Gaps must not let a sphere 4 inches or wider pass through.

All 13 Fairfield rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Fairfield code What Fairfield's code adds
Pet limit	No more than 3 dogs over 4 months old. Applies: Applies in R-1, R-D, R-G garden apartment and R-E residential districts. § 3.22 · code text 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 residential estate or R-E districts. No more than 3 cats over 4 months old. Applies: Applies in R-1, R-D, R-G garden apartment and R-E residential districts. § 3.22 · code text 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 residential estate or R-E districts.

Building in a flood zone

Fairfield code You need a flood plain development permit before construction or development starts in any special flood hazard area. The lowest floor must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation.

All 4 Fairfield rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →

Grading and erosion control

Fairfield code Grading plans must include an erosion, sediment and runoff control plan. Cut and fill slopes may be no steeper than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical (2:1).

All 5 Fairfield rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text →

Building on a hillside

Fairfield code What Fairfield's code adds
When hillside rules apply	The Hillside (H) overlay should apply to sites with slopes of 5 to 10 percent. Applies: Projects in the Hillside (H) overlay district follow the Hillside Management Guidelines. § 25.28.4 · code text The (H) overlay district should be applied to sites with slopes of 5 to 10 percent, on all or a portion of the property, or that are otherwise located on prominent hills within the community or on the lower slopes of hillsides at the periphery of the City. Applies where land has an average slope of at least 8 percent. Applies: Subdivisions; the planning commission may then modify street design standards. § 25.166.38 · code text In the case where existing land or portion thereof has an average slope of not less than eight percent, the planning commission in the exercise of its discretion, may modify the foregoing requirements of this section in a manner that will result in the best possible utilization of the land to be subdivided while giving consideration to the intent of this article.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Fairfield code The fee equals the value of the land that would otherwise be dedicated. 3.5 acres of park land for every 1,000 residents.

All 4 Fairfield rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →

Noise and construction hours

Fairfield code What Fairfield's code adds
Noise limit at homes	Noise may average no more than 50 and peak at no more than 70. Applies: Homes, outdoors at the receiving property line, daytime (7 am - 10 pm). § 25.1403 · code text Residential \| Leq \| 50 \| 45 \| 40 \| 35 Noise may average no more than 45 and peak at no more than 65. Applies: Homes, outdoors at the receiving property line, nighttime (10 pm - 7 am). § 25.1403 · code text Residential \| Leq \| 50 \| 45 \| 40 \| 35 Noise may average no more than 40 and peak at no more than 60. Applies: Homes, indoors, daytime (7 am - 10 pm). § 25.1403 · code text Residential \| Leq \| 50 \| 45 \| 40 \| 35 Noise may average no more than 35 and peak at no more than 55. Applies: Homes, indoors, nighttime (10 pm - 7 am). § 25.1403 · code text Residential \| Leq \| 50 \| 45 \| 40 \| 35

Garage and yard sales

Fairfield code What Fairfield's code adds
How long a sale may last	A sale may last no more than 4 days in a row. § 25.20.4.4 · code text A sale or auction shall not exceed four consecutive days and occur no more than two times per calendar year on any one parcel.
Sales per year	No more than 2 sales per calendar year. Applies: On any one parcel. § 25.20.4.4 · code text A sale or auction shall not exceed four consecutive days and occur no more than two times per calendar year on any one parcel.

Family child care homes

CA state law California law
Zoning	A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)
Business license or fee	A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)
Local rules	Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)
Small home	Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)
Large home	7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)

Group homes and residential care

Fairfield code Off-street parking spaces must be at most 150 feet from building entrances. Planning Commission approval of a Special Conditional Use Permit is required.

All 4 Fairfield rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Fairfield code After one free alarm per cycle, more false alarms bring citations and/or a fine. Alarms within 24 hours count once. One free false alarm in each biennial permit cycle.

All 4 Fairfield rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Fairfield code What Fairfield's code adds
When carts must come back	Containers must be removed from the collection place before 10:00 p.m. on the day they are emptied. Applies: Applies to residential collection. § 9.390 · code text No Person shall place any such Container for Collection earlier than sunset of the day preceding the day designated for Collection, and all Containers and receptacles shall be removed from the place of Collection prior to 10:00 p.m. of the day the Containers have been emptied.
When carts may go to the curb	No earlier than sunset on the day before the designated collection day. § 9.390 · code text No Person shall place any such Container for Collection earlier than sunset of the day preceding the day designated for Collection, and all Containers and receptacles shall be removed from the place of Collection prior to 10:00 p.m. of the day the Containers have been emptied.
Where carts are kept	After collection, store containers where no public right-of-way can see them (alleys excluded). Applies: Applies to residential collection. § 9.390 · code text Such Containers shall be removed to a storage location, which is not visible from any public right-of-way, excluding alleys.

Historic homes

Fairfield code A permit from the Department of Planning and Development is required. Referral to the cultural heritage commission is required.

All 5 Fairfield rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Other Fairfield rules on this

Fairfield's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

SB 9 lot splits and two-unit projects (§ 25.20.3.4)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Fairfield?

Fairfield's code: The Hillside (H) overlay should apply to sites with slopes of 5 to 10 percent. (Projects in the Hillside (H) overlay district follow the Hillside Management Guidelines.) (§ 25.28.4); Applies where land has an average slope of at least 8 percent. (Subdivisions; the planning commission may then modify street design standards.) (§ 25.166.38).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Fairfield?

Fairfield's code: Noise may average no more than 50 and peak at no more than 70. (Homes, outdoors at the receiving property line, daytime (7 am - 10 pm).) (§ 25.1403); Noise may average no more than 45 and peak at no more than 65. (Homes, outdoors at the receiving property line, nighttime (10 pm - 7 am).) (§ 25.1403).

What are the garage sale rules in Fairfield?

Fairfield's code: No more than 2 sales per calendar year. (On any one parcel.) (§ 25.20.4.4); A sale may last no more than 4 days in a row. (§ 25.20.4.4).

Can I run a family child care home in Fairfield?

California law sets this for every city, including Fairfield: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Fairfield?

Fairfield's code: Containers must be removed from the collection place before 10:00 p.m. on the day they are emptied. (Applies to residential collection.) (§ 9.390); No earlier than sunset on the day before the designated collection day. (§ 9.390).

General information, not legal advice.

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