Fairfield — Historic Preservation

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how the City of Fairfield handles historic preservation within the local zoning framework (Title 25). It explains the local Inventory of Historic Resources, how properties become Historic Landmarks or part of a Historic District, the permit and review triggers for changes or demolition, and the benefits and exceptions that apply under the Fairfield Zoning Ordinance. Key ordinance sections that control these rules are § 25.1901 through § 25.1908 (Article XIII: Historic Preservation) and the development/permit rules in § 25.40 (permits and development review).

Note: this page is focused strictly on the City zoning/planning rules for historic resources (Title 25). For building-code technical compliance use the California Building Standards Code; for related planning topics see the city's zoning overview, zoning, and development standards pages.

How Fairfield’s Historic Preservation System is Structured

• Inventory of Historic Resources: The Open Space Commission prepares the Fairfield Inventory of Historic Resources for Planning Commission recommendation and City Council adoption. Inclusion criteria are spelled out in § 25.1903 (historic, architectural, archaeological significance, association with important persons/events, etc.). Resources on the National Register or California Register are automatically included on the local Inventory.

• Historic Landmark designation: A resource on the Inventory may be designated an Historic Landmark at the owner's request following the application, study, public hearing and resolution process described in § 25.1904; designation “runs with the land” and the City records a certificate with the County Recorder. Owners have a duty to keep designated landmarks in good repair.

• Historic Districts: After adoption of the Inventory, the Open Space Commission may recommend that the Planning Commission and City Council establish one or more Historic Districts where a majority of structures are on the Inventory or the area shows historic/architectural cohesiveness. The Open Space Commission may also recommend special regulations or design guidelines for those Districts. See § 25.1906.

• Permits & review for changes: Any exterior change to an Historic Landmark (or interior features subject to the landmark resolution) requires a permit from the Department of Planning and Development under § 25.1907. The chapter also defines what counts as a “minor alteration” vs. “major” and maps permit types in Table 25‑18 / § 25.40.1.

• Demolition delay/notice: For structures included on the Inventory, the City requires at least 180 days’ written notice before demolition or removal so the City can review preservation options; the City may waive the delay if the Chief Building Official finds an immediate public-safety need. See § 25.1908.

• Benefits and exceptions: The City can offer Mills Act agreements, apply the State Historic Building Code (Part 8, Title 24) to designated landmarks, prioritize funding, and provide recognition plaques. Normal maintenance, and emergency work ordered by the Building Official, are excepted. See § 25.1905 and § 25.1907(D).

Practical note: Historic preservation review is implemented within Fairfield’s broader permit framework (ministerial vs discretionary review, design review committees, appeal routes). See the City's permits rules and permit-table references in § 25.40.1 and the Development Permit Table (Table 25‑18).

I also highlight where preservation interacts with planning topics applicants commonly look up: design review, overlay districts, parking, ADUs, and development standards.

District-by-district breakdown (how preservation interacts with local zone districts)

Below are the actual local district / zone names that appear in the Fairfield Zoning Ordinance and the practical place to look when a historic resource sits in these areas. Where specific numeric dimensional standards are set by a table, the ordinance references those Tables rather than restating the numbers in the Historic Preservation Article — so I point you to those Tables (Table 25‑1, Tables 25‑3/25‑4/25‑5, Table 25‑9, etc.) for exact setbacks, lot coverage, and FAR.

Historic District (overlay)

• Purpose: Preserve an area’s historical/architectural cohesiveness and delay arbitrary destruction. § 25.1906 authorizes designation and special rules/guidelines.
• Typical permitted uses: Underlying base-zone uses remain unless the City Council adopts special regulations for the District; contributing structures may receive preservation benefits in § 25.1905.
• Dimensional standards: A Historic District can have its own special regulations or design guidelines recommended by the Open Space Commission; the ordinance does not list fixed numeric setbacks inside § 25.1906 — check any District-specific design guidelines or the underlying zone Tables (e.g., Tables 25‑3–25‑5). Verify with Planning.
• Where it applies: Any geographically definable area the City Council designates per § 25.1906; designation is by resolution after public hearing.

Contributing property / Historic Resource (Inventory-listed)

• Purpose: Individual properties on the Fairfield Inventory of Historic Resources are eligible for Landmark designation and protections. See § 25.1903.
• Typical permitted uses: Uses continue under the base zoning (see the applicable zoning Table for permitted uses — e.g., RL/RLM/RM/RH/RVH residential uses in Table 25‑1 and Tables 25‑3–25‑5). Historic status modifies administrative review and demolition procedures rather than permitted land use.
• Dimensional standards: Governed by the underlying base zone Tables (see Table 25‑3, 25‑4, 25‑5 for detailed dimensional standards). Specific numeric standards Not found in retrieved materials in Article XIII; see the referenced Tables.

Base residential zones — RL, RLM, RM, RH, RVH

• Purpose: Standard residential zones used citywide; the Historic Preservation Article does not change which residential uses are permitted by these base zones but adds review triggers when the property is an Inventory-listed resource or Landmark. See references to these zones and where to find the numeric standards in Tables 25‑3 through 25‑5.
• Typical permitted uses: Single-family, multifamily and accessory uses per Table 25‑1 and zone Tables. Preservation overlays do not automatically alter uses; they alter the approval process for alterations/demolition.
• Dimensional standards: See Tables 25‑3 / 25‑4 / 25‑5 for lot size, setbacks, coverage and height — Article XIII defers to the underlying Tables. Specific numeric values are Not found in Article XIII (verify in the development Tables).

Commercial / Mixed-use zones — CN, CM, HDC

• Purpose: Commercial/mixed-use activity centers. Historic properties within these zones remain subject to the base-zone permitted uses (refer to Table 25‑1 and applicable specific-plan rules) but may also be subject to Historic District design guidelines if designated. See references to CN/HDC uses in the Specific Plan excerpts and base-zone cross-references.
• Typical permitted uses: Permitted/conditional uses are defined in the Tables for those zones; historic status triggers preservation review before exterior changes.
• Dimensional standards: See the zone Tables (Table 25‑9 / Table 25‑1); Article XIII itself does not state commercial setback/height numbers. Verify with the development standards Tables and any district-specific design guidelines.

Planned Development overlay (PD)

• Purpose: The PD overlay is an adjustable overlay that can be combined with base zones (the City designates the PD by suffix). A PD can include special regulations, design guidelines, or modifications to the underlying standards; if a PD exists over historic property the approved Master Development Plan may contain historic-preservation-specific requirements. (PD rules are described in the ordinance; search the PD overlay text in the Zoning Ordinance.)
• Typical permitted uses & dimensional standards: Generally follow underlying base zone unless revised in the approved Master Development Plan (the PD must include a Master Development Plan and any special regulations). For numeric standards, consult the approved PD exhibits.

Quick Decision Table (most decision-relevant standards)

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for an alteration, demolition or landmark designation)

• Confirm whether the property is on the Fairfield Inventory of Historic Resources (Inventory) or already designated as an Historic Landmark (verify with Planning) — § 25.1903.
• If the owner seeks Landmark designation, file the application per § 25.1904 and comply with study and hearing requirements.
• For any exterior change to a Landmark, obtain the required permit from the Department of Planning and Development before starting work — § 25.1907(A).
• Prepare drawings and materials demonstrating compatibility with period details and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards as listed in § 25.1907(C).
• If demolition is proposed for any Inventory-listed resource, submit written notice at least 180 days before demolition and expect a City review for relocation/acquisition options — § 25.1908(A–B).
• Check which permit level applies (minor vs major alteration, demolition) via Table 25‑18 and § 25.40.1; assemble CEQA materials if required.
• If pursuing tax relief, request City consideration of a Mills Act Agreement once designated — § 25.1905(A).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If your Fairfield property is on the Inventory of Historic Resources or is a designated Historic Landmark, you must get planning permission before changing its exterior (including demolition), you may have access to tax incentives like the Mills Act, and the City will try to delay demolition to explore preservation options (180‑day notice). The Landmarks and Historic District rules live in Article XIII (§ 25.1901–25.1908) of the Zoning Ordinance; permit levels are mapped in § 25.40 and Table 25‑18 — so check both.

Source References

• § 25.1901 Purpose — Article XIII: Historic Preservation (purpose statements).
• § 25.1902 Definitions — definitions used in Article XIII (Historic District, Historic Landmark, Inventory).
• § 25.1903 Inventory of Historic Resources (establishment and criteria).
• § 25.1904 Designation of Historic Landmarks (application, study, Council resolution).
• § 25.1905 Benefits available to Historic Landmarks (Mills Act, State Historic Building Code, funding priority, plaque).
• § 25.1906 Historic Districts (designation and special regulations/design guidelines).
• § 25.1907 Permits for Changes to Designated Historic Landmarks (permit requirement, review standards, exceptions, appeals).
• § 25.1908 Demolition or Removal of Structures Included on Inventory (180‑day notice; preservation actions).
• § 25.40.1 Permit Requirements and Table 25‑18 (development permit levels, minor vs major, definitions for "minor alteration to a historic place").
• General Title 25 Zoning Ordinance context: Title, purpose and administration (Chapter/Division references).

(Official authoritative text and any adopted design guidelines should be confirmed with the City Clerk or Department of Planning & Development; the Municipal Code is current through Ord. 2026‑02 per the retrieved files.)

Retrieved passages

• Fairfield Zoning Code (Section 25.1905) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 25.402 (Section 25.402) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 25.1905 (Title 24) High relevance show source text
• Fairfield Zoning Code (Article shall) High relevance show source text
• Fairfield Zoning Code (Section 25.1906) High relevance show source text
• Fairfield Zoning Code (Article XIII.) High relevance show source text
• Fairfield Zoning Code (Chapter 25) Medium relevance show source text
• Fairfield Zoning Code (Section 25.1510) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• **§ 25.1901** Purpose — Article XIII: Historic Preservation (purpose statements). (§ 25.1901)
• **§ 25.1902** Definitions — definitions used in Article XIII (Historic District, Historic Landmark, Inventory). (§ 25.1902)
• **§ 25.1903** Inventory of Historic Resources (establishment and criteria). (§ 25.1903)
• **§ 25.1904** Designation of Historic Landmarks (application, study, Council resolution). (§ 25.1904)
• **§ 25.1905** Benefits available to Historic Landmarks (Mills Act, State Historic Building Code, funding priority, plaque). (§ 25.1905)
• **§ 25.1906** Historic Districts (designation and special regulations/design guidelines). (§ 25.1906)
• **§ 25.1907** Permits for Changes to Designated Historic Landmarks (permit requirement, review standards, exceptions, appeals). (§ 25.1907)
• **§ 25.1908** Demolition or Removal of Structures Included on Inventory (180‑day notice; preservation actions). (§ 25.1908)
• **§ 25.40.1** Permit Requirements and Table 25‑18 (development permit levels, minor vs major, definitions for "minor alteration to a historic place"). (§ 25.40.1)
• General Title 25 Zoning Ordinance context: Title, purpose and administration (Chapter/Division references). (Title 25)
• Fairfield_ZoningCode.md

• Official Fairfield code library