Agenda Item No: O.4
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: April 7, 2026
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: David Gassaway, City Manager
SUBJECT: PD Discussion and Direction Regarding Rental Housing Safety Program
PD Discussion and Direction Regarding Rental Housing Safety Program
Funding Source: N/A
Contact: Jeremy Profitt, (707) 428-7709
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Receive report, open discussion, and provide direction to staff.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
The City Council requested a follow-up discussion on the potential development of a new Rental Housing Safety Program and is asked to provide direction to staff on whether to move forward with program.
DISCUSSION
The proposed Rental Housing Safety Program is designed to address ongoing health, safety, and habitability concerns within Fairfield’s rental housing stock. The program establishes a structured framework around state mandated legislation such as Assembly Bill ( AB) 548 for routine inspections, compliance monitoring, and property owner engagement to ensure that rental units meet minimum standards. Staff have evaluated a variety of program models and determined that implementing a proactive inspection approach , supported by dedicated personnel , is the most effective way to reduce chronic violations, improve housing conditions, and minimize long‑ term impacts on community resources.
The recommended staffing and fee structure reflect the operational needs required to administer the program, perform inspections, provide education and outreach, and ensure timely enforcement when necessary. Aligning the approval of program staffing with the adoption of ordinance is essential to ensure resources are available at the time of implementation. This
coordinated approach will allow the city to launch the program efficiently and begin addressing identified gaps in rental housing oversight.
Our first community outreach meeting was held with rental property owners and property managers on March 31, 2026, in the City Council Chamber and via Zoo m to maximize participation and discussion. A second outreach meeting for tenants will be conducted during the week of April 20.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The financial impact includes costs associated with staffing, program administration, community outreach, inspection services, and first year start-up expenses. Potential funding sources include General Fund allocations and cost recovery through Rental Housing Safety Program registration and inspection fees.
The total projected first year cost is $1,407,476. Estimated cost recovery is $1,579,871, based on approximately 7,169 rental apartment units, 476 two plus unit rental properties, and an additional 1,036 qualifying low -income units assessed at reduced fees totaling $92,820. This results in a total first year revenue projection of approximately $1,579,871.
Over the first two to three years, our goal is to reduce the number of full inspection units by 25% through increased self -certification. As more properties meet the requirements for self - certification, individual unit inspection fees would decrease from $196 to $85, as outlined in the proposed ordinance. Under this model, cost recovery projections would adjust to approximately $1,369,551, with an estimated 1,912 out of nearly 8,000 units becoming self -certified. This reduction in inspections would decrease workload for City staff while rewarding responsible property owners.
Program Fee Structure (Updated)
• Annual Program Fee: $195 per unit
• Self-Certification Annual Fee: $85 per unit
• Low-Income Fee (60% reduction): $85 per unit
• Re-inspection Fee: $255
• Annual 50% late fee does not exceed $7,000 per year
PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION
N/A
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
N/A/
COORDINATED WITH
Community Development and Economic Department
STAFF CONTACT
Jeremy Profitt, Police Support Manager
(707) 428-7709
[email protected]
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 2: Proposed Draft Ordinance