Fairfield City Zoning Code

This Chapter is and may be cited as the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Fairfield, Chapter 25 of the Fairfield City Code, hereafter referred to as “this Ordinance.”

This Ordinance is enacted based on the authority vested in the City of Fairfield by the State of California, including but not limited to the State Constitution; Sections 65800 and subsequent sections of the California Government Code; the California Environmental Quality Act, Housing Act, Subdivision Map Act, and the Health and Safety Code.

Implement the General Plan by encouraging land uses designated by the Plan, while avoiding conflicts between land uses;

Provide regulations for the development of the City that will assist in maintaining a high quality of life without causing unduly high public or private costs for development, or unduly restricting private enterprise, initiative, or innovation in design;

Attain the physical, social, and economic advantages resulting from comprehensive and orderly land use and resource planning;

Reduce hazards to the public resulting from the inappropriate location, use, or design of buildings and other improvements; and

Conserve and protect the City’s natural resources.

New or changed land uses, structures, or site improvements. It shall be unlawful, and a violation of this Ordinance, for any person to establish, construct, reconstruct, alter, or replace any use of land, structure, or site improvement, except in compliance with the requirements of this Ordinance;

Building or grading permits. Building or Grading Permits may be issued by the Public Works Department only when:

Continuation of an existing land use. An existing land use that was legally established is lawful and not in violation of the Fairfield City Code if operated and maintained in compliance with all applicable provisions of this Ordinance including, where applicable, Section 25.46 (Nonconforming Structures and Uses).

Effect of Zoning Ordinance changes on projects in progress. This Ordinance or amendments to it may impose different standards on new land uses, structures, or improvements than those that formerly applied to existing development. The following provisions determine how the requirements of this Ordinance apply to projects in progress at the time requirements are changed.

Conformity of lots created prior to adoption of this Ordinance. Any lot created legally prior to the adoption of this Ordinance that no longer meets the minimum lot size established by this Ordinance shall be considered conforming.

Other requirements may still apply. Nothing in this Zoning Ordinance eliminates the need for obtaining any other approval or entitlement required by other provisions of the City Code or the requirements of any City department, or any local, State, or Federal agency.

Conflicting permits and licenses to be void. All permits or licenses shall be issued by the City in compliance with the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance, after the effective date of this Zoning Ordinance or any applicable amendment. Any permit or license issued in conflict with this Zoning Ordinance shall be void.

Decks, paths and driveways. Decks, platforms, on-site paths, and driveways that are not required to have a Building Permit by Chapter 5 (Building and Housing Codes) of the City Code, or a Grading Permit by Chapter 25, Article VI (Grading and Erosion Control) of the City Code, and are not over 30 inches above natural grade and not over any basement or story below.

Swimming pools (residential). Swimming pools proposed in conjunction with any residential land use shall be exempt from this Ordinance.

Governmental activities. Certain governmental agencies as prescribed by State law.

Interior remodeling. Interior alterations that do not increase the number of rooms or the floor area within the structure, change the use of any portion of the structure as regulated by this Ordinance, or require exterior modifications.

Exterior color changes. Exterior color changes to detached single-family dwellings and any type of attached dwellings on properties two acres or less.

Repairs and maintenance. Ordinary repairs and maintenance, if the work does not result in any change in the approved land use of the site or structure, or the addition to, enlargement or expansion of the structure or site improvements, and if any exterior maintenance and repairs employ the same materials and design as the original.

Temporary construction trailers. A mobile home, travel trailer, or other recreational vehicle used as a construction office on the same site as an approved construction project that has complied with the requirements of Chapter 5 of the City Code and the Uniform Building Code. Temporary construction offices shall not be placed in the public right-of-way. Up to one sleeping trailer for use by on-site security shall also be permitted.

Utilities. The erection, construction, alteration, or maintenance by a public utility or public agency of underground or overhead utilities (i.e., water, gas, electric, telecommunication, supply or disposal systems, including wires, mains, drains, sewers, pipes, conduits, cables, fire-alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, hydrants, etc.), but not including structures (e.g., substations), shall be permitted in any zoning district without limit as to height, provided that the route of any electrical transmission line(s) shall be subject to Planning Commission review and approval prior to acquisition of rights-of-way. Satellite and cellular telephone antennas are subject to Section 25.33 (Wireless Telecommunications Facilities).

Inclusion by reference. The Zoning Map, together with all legends, symbols, notations, references, zoning district boundaries, map symbols, and other information on the map has been adopted by the Council in compliance with Government Code Sections 65800 et seq., and is hereby incorporated into this Zoning Ordinance by reference as though it were fully set forth here.

Zoning district boundaries. The boundaries of the zoning districts established by Section 25.12.3 shall be shown upon the map designated as the “City of Fairfield Zoning Map” (hereafter referred to as the “Zoning Map"), on file with the City Clerk, and available at the Department.