Fairfield, the Solano County seat situated between Sacramento and the Bay Area on I-80, has no local rent control ordinance — California's AB 1482 is the only rent increase protection available to most Fairfield renters.·Updated May 2026
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Key Takeaways
Most pre-2011 multi-unit rentals; single-family homes, condos, and units built in the last 15 years are exempt
5% + Bay Area CPI, maximum 10% per year (approximately 8.8% cap for 2025)
After 12 months of tenancy, landlord must have a valid at-fault or no-fault reason to evict
Fairfield sits at the geographic midpoint of the I-80 corridor in Solano County, roughly equidistant between San Francisco and Sacramento. Home to Travis Air Force Base — one of the largest Air Mobility Command installations in the country — the city has a significant military and civilian workforce population, and roughly 40% of its approximately 120,000 residents are renters. That mix of military families, working-class households, and commuters priced out of closer Bay Area cities makes affordable housing a persistent concern.
Fairfield has no local rent control ordinance. The primary renter protection in place is California's statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019, commonly known as AB 1482. For qualifying units, AB 1482 limits annual rent increases and requires landlords to have a legally recognized reason before evicting a tenant who has lived in the unit for 12 months or more. These protections are enforced by tenants themselves — there is no local rent board or city agency administering AB 1482 in Fairfield.
This guide explains which Fairfield rentals AB 1482 covers, how the rent cap is calculated using Bay Area CPI figures, what just-cause eviction means in practice, and where Fairfield renters can find free legal help if a landlord oversteps.
2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Fairfield?
AB 1482 covers residential rental units in California whose certificate of occupancy was issued 15 or more years ago. Because this is a rolling threshold, units that were new in 2011 become covered in 2026; units built in 2012 become covered in 2027, and so on. In practical terms for Fairfield renters today, most apartment buildings and multi-unit housing constructed before 2011 are covered — provided they are not carved out by one of the law's exemptions.
Even if your building is old enough to qualify, AB 1482 does not apply to the following:
Single-family homes and condominiums — excluded under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), which prohibits local and statewide rent caps on these property types
Units built within the last 15 years — the rolling construction-date exemption means any unit with a certificate of occupancy dated 2011 or later is currently exempt
Owner-occupied duplexes — if the landlord lives in the other unit of a two-unit building, both units are exempt
Corporate-owned single-family homes — a real estate investment trust (REIT), corporation, or LLC that owns a single-family home must provide written notice of AB 1482 exemption; if that notice was not given, the unit may still be covered
Government-subsidized affordable housing — Section 8 project-based housing and other deed-restricted affordable units typically operate under separate, stricter affordability agreements
Transient and hotel accommodations — short-term rentals, extended-stay hotels, and similar lodging are excluded
If you are unsure whether your unit qualifies, check your lease for an AB 1482 exemption notice. Landlords of exempt units are required to provide written disclosure. The absence of that notice is a meaningful signal that your unit may be covered.
3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases
For covered units, AB 1482 caps annual rent increases at 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI) percentage change, with a hard ceiling of 10% per year, regardless of how high CPI climbs. Fairfield is part of the San Francisco–Oakland–Hayward metropolitan area for CPI purposes, meaning landlords must use the Bay Area CPI figure published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate the maximum allowable increase.
For rent increases taking effect in 2025, the Bay Area CPI increase was approximately 3.8%, making the 2025 maximum allowable increase roughly 8.8% (5% + 3.8%). This figure shifts each year as the BLS updates its regional CPI data, so landlords and tenants should verify the current figure before any increase takes effect.
Additional rules that apply in Fairfield under AB 1482:
12-month waiting period: A landlord cannot impose any rent increase during the first 12 months of a tenancy. After 12 months, increases are permitted but only within the cap.
One increase per 12-month period: Landlords may raise rent no more than once in any rolling 12-month period.
No banking of unused increases: If a landlord skips a year or raises rent below the cap, they cannot carry forward the unused percentage to a future year.
Proper notice required: Increases of 10% or less require 30 days written notice; any increase above 10% (which would be illegal under AB 1482 for covered units) would require 90 days notice under general California law.
If your landlord issues a notice of rent increase that exceeds the AB 1482 cap, the excess portion is unenforceable. You do not have to pay more than the lawful maximum.
4. Just Cause Eviction Protections
Once a tenant in a covered unit has lived there for 12 months (or if there are multiple tenants, once at least one tenant has been there 24 months), the landlord must have a legally recognized just-cause reason to terminate the tenancy or refuse to renew a lease. Without just cause, a termination notice is void.
At-fault just cause reasons (tenant has done something wrong):
Nonpayment of rent
Material breach of the lease after written notice to cure
Maintaining a nuisance or causing substantial damage to the unit
Committing criminal activity on the premises
Refusing to allow the landlord lawful entry after proper notice
Using the unit for an unauthorized sublease or assignment
Failure to vacate after a valid notice at the end of a fixed-term lease where the tenant was notified of the no-renewal policy at move-in
No-fault just cause reasons (tenant has done nothing wrong):
Owner move-in: The owner, or a qualifying family member, intends to occupy the unit as a primary residence
Ellis Act withdrawal: The landlord is removing all units in the building from the rental market
Substantial remodel: The landlord intends to perform work requiring permits that cannot be completed with the tenant in place (minimum 30-day displacement)
Demolition: The landlord has obtained a permit to demolish the building
Relocation assistance for no-fault evictions: When a landlord terminates a tenancy for a no-fault reason, AB 1482 requires the landlord to pay the tenant one month's rent as relocation assistance. The landlord may also offer a rent waiver for the final month instead of a cash payment. Failure to provide this assistance makes the eviction notice voidable.
5. Local Rules and Special Protections
Fairfield has not enacted a local rent stabilization or just-cause eviction ordinance. The Fairfield City Council has not pursued local rent control, and even if it chose to, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535) would prohibit the city from capping rents on single-family homes, condominiums, or any unit built after February 1, 1995. This state law effectively limits how much any California city can do beyond what AB 1482 already provides — and Fairfield has chosen not to legislate up to that limit.
What this means for Fairfield renters in practice: there is no local rent board to file a complaint with, no city-administered mediation program for rent disputes, and no local registry of rent-stabilized units. Tenants who believe their landlord has violated AB 1482 must pursue remedies through the courts, through state agencies, or with the help of a legal aid organization.
The City of Fairfield does maintain a housing division that administers federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs and connects residents with housing assistance programs. The Housing Authority of the County of Solano administers Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers for income-qualified Fairfield residents. Neither entity enforces AB 1482 or handles rent increase disputes, but they can refer tenants to appropriate resources.
Fairfield renters should also be aware that Travis Air Force Base's proximity means a significant share of rental units are occupied by military families under Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protections, which operate separately from AB 1482 and provide additional safeguards for active-duty personnel.
6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources
Use the RentCheckMe address lookup at rentcheckme.com to check whether your specific Fairfield rental unit is likely covered by AB 1482 based on its construction date and property type.
The following organizations provide free or low-cost assistance to Fairfield and Solano County renters:
Bay Area Legal Aid — Free civil legal services for low-income tenants across the Bay Area, including Solano County. Bay Area Legal Aid handles unlawful detainer defense, habitability issues, and illegal rent increase cases.
Centro Legal de la Raza — Free legal services for low-income Latino and immigrant residents in the Bay Area; tenant rights representation and know-your-rights workshops.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization. Provides a tenant hotline, self-help resources, and referrals to local legal aid across the state.
Housing Authority of the County of Solano — Administers Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers for Solano County; also a referral point for emergency housing assistance.
Housing Is Key — California's statewide housing assistance portal; call 833-430-2122 for rental assistance referrals and tenant rights information.
7. Resources for Fairfield Tenants
Bay Area Legal Aid — Free civil legal services for low-income Bay Area tenants, including Solano County residents facing eviction or illegal rent increases.
Centro Legal de la Raza — Free legal services for low-income Latino and immigrant tenants in the Bay Area, including tenant rights representation.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization offering a tenant hotline, self-help resources, and referrals statewide.
Housing Is Key — California's official statewide housing assistance portal. Call 833-430-2122 for rental assistance and tenant rights information.
8. Important Disclaimer
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws, CPI figures, and exemption thresholds change over time, and individual circumstances vary. If you have a specific dispute with your landlord or questions about whether AB 1482 applies to your unit, consult a licensed California attorney or contact a free legal aid organization in your area.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
No. Fairfield has not enacted a local rent stabilization or just-cause eviction ordinance. The only rent increase protections available to Fairfield renters come from California's statewide AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019). There is no Fairfield rent board or city agency that handles rent disputes — tenants must enforce their rights through legal channels or with the help of legal aid.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Fairfield?
If your unit is covered by AB 1482, your landlord can raise rent by no more than 5% plus the Bay Area CPI percentage, with a maximum of 10% per year. For 2025, that works out to approximately 8.8% (5% + 3.8% Bay Area CPI). Your landlord can only raise rent once in any 12-month period and cannot impose any increase during your first 12 months of tenancy.
Does AB 1482 apply to my rental in Fairfield?
AB 1482 applies to most Fairfield apartment buildings and multi-unit housing that received a certificate of occupancy before 2011 (the 15-year rolling threshold). It does not apply to single-family homes, condos, units built in the last 15 years, or owner-occupied duplexes. Check your lease for an AB 1482 exemption notice — landlords of exempt units are required to disclose this in writing, so the absence of that notice may mean you are covered.
Can my landlord evict me without cause in Fairfield?
If your unit is covered by AB 1482 and you have lived there for at least 12 months, your landlord must have a valid at-fault reason (such as nonpayment of rent or lease violations) or a recognized no-fault reason (such as owner move-in or Ellis Act withdrawal) to evict you. For no-fault evictions, your landlord must also pay you one month's rent in relocation assistance. Tenants in exempt units — such as single-family homes — do not have AB 1482 just-cause protections.
Where can I get help with a rent dispute in Fairfield?
Bay Area Legal Aid (baylegal.org) provides free civil legal services to low-income tenants in Solano County, including Fairfield, and can assist with illegal rent increases or eviction defense. Tenants Together (tenantstogether.org) offers a tenant hotline and statewide referrals. You can also call Housing Is Key at 833-430-2122 for rental assistance and guidance. Use RentCheckMe (rentcheckme.com) to first verify whether AB 1482 covers your specific unit.
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