Fairfield is getting ready to put its rental market under a brighter spotlight, with a community education forum set for March 31 from 6 to 7:30 PM in the City Council chambers. The meeting will walk rental property owners, managers, and tenants through a proposed Rental Housing Safety Program that would add an annual per-unit fee, with a discounted rate for owners who qualify for a self-certification track. City officials say the goal is to catch maintenance and safety problems early and to better support both renters and property owners.
What officials are proposing
According to the City of Fairfield on Facebook, the March 31 forum will be held in person at the council chambers and streamed on Zoom so rental owners and managers can ask questions in real time and offer feedback on the plan. The city frames the event as part of a broader outreach effort led by the Code Enforcement division, with a separate tenant-focused meeting to be scheduled to hear renter concerns. The flyer posted with the announcement includes the Zoom passcode and direct contact details for code enforcement staff.
Fees, scope and who it would affect
When staff presented the concept to the City Council last year, they outlined an annual fee of $195 per rental unit, with a reduced $85 annual charge for owners who qualify for the self-certification option, as detailed in the Fairfield City Council agenda. The proposed rules would cover single-family rentals, duplexes and triplexes as well as larger apartment communities. Staff told councilmembers that the revenue from the fees is intended to pay for inspections, tenant outreach and the administrative work needed to run the program.
Safety, crime prevention and compliance
City materials say the Rental Housing Safety Program is designed to flag safety or maintenance issues earlier, strengthen neighborhood health and tenant retention, and fold in crime-prevention strategies through Fairfield’s Crime-Free Multi-Housing efforts. According to the Fairfield Police Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, the training component is meant to give rental owners and managers practical tools to cut down on criminal activity at their properties. City information also notes that the rental program would help landlords meet inspection obligations under California AB 548, with additional background posted on the city’s rental program page.
How to join and where to get materials
The March 31 community forum is scheduled for the City Council Chambers at 1000 Webster St and will include a Zoom option with passcode 80764004, according to the City of Fairfield on Facebook. For questions, the city lists the email [email protected] and phone number 707-428-7587. Staff point attendees to the city’s rental program page, where they can find flyers, past staff reports and sign-up information to review ahead of the meeting.
How other cities approach inspections
Fairfield would not be the first Bay Area city to link rental registration with regular inspections and per-unit fees. Richmond, for example, runs a Residential Rental Inspection Program that combines an annual registration or processing fee with per-unit inspection charges and includes exemptions for some subsidized units. The structure of Richmond’s program shows how those fees can be used to cover inspections and repeat inspections over a multi-year cycle.
