Annexation is the process by which a city expands its boundaries to include neighboring land. This allows a city to accommodate new housing, businesses and infrastructure, supporting growth and improved services. The annexation process involves detailed studies, public outreach and formal approval by regulatory agencies to ensure orderly and sustainable development.
Solano County LAFCO is a regulatory agency responsible for overseeing the boundaries of cities and special districts within a county. Its primary role is to promote efficient delivery of municipal services and oversee growth. Their approval is required for City annexation because it evaluates whether the proposed expansion aligns with regional planning goals, environmental considerations and the ability of the City to provide services to the annexed area. This process ensures that annexations are in the best interest of both the City and the affected communities.
Annexation decisions do not typically require a public vote. Instead, the process is overseen by LAFCO, a regional agency that evaluates the proposal. That said, Suisun City places great importance on community input and wants residents to have many opportunities to participate in the annexation exploration process. Through public meetings, conversations, and events, residents can share their feedback, ask questions and help shape the process along the way.
The annexation process would be expected to take several years. Expansion exploration began in early 2025 with the City Council’s direction to explore options and conduct stakeholder outreach. Through 2025 and 2026, studies, environmental reviews and community workshops will take place. Following that, formal annexation applications, public hearings and LAFCO review would occur with final decisions expected beyond 2026.
The annexation process and related studies are funded by private developers such as California Forever through reimbursement agreements with the City. This means there is no direct cost to current Suisun City taxpayers for the exploration or planning phases of annexation.
The area currently under discussion for potential annexation has been proposed by the developer, California Forever, as outlined in a recent letter submitted alongside a reimbursement agreement with the City. While the developer is initiating the process and identifying specific parcels, Suisun City would independently evaluate whether this aligns with long-term interests. This evaluation would be based on community input, applicable plans and studies and coordination with neighboring jurisdictions and stakeholders. Suisun City is committed to a transparent process that considers the suitability of the land for residential, commercial or mixed-use development in a way that supports Suisun’s growth, infrastructure capacity and sustainability goals. Proposed areas can be viewed on the City’s interactive maps.
Annexation would enable the City to expand and improve essential services such as police, fire protection, road maintenance and utilities to new areas. These service enhancements would be funded primarily through new tax revenues and developer contributions without additional financial burden on existing residents.
Annexation would bring several benefits to current residents, including increased housing options, new local jobs, a stronger tax base that supports City services, infrastructure upgrades and enhanced community amenities. Importantly, these benefits are expected without raising taxes on existing property owners.
The City is conducting comprehensive studies to understand and plan for the impacts of expansion on traffic patterns, school capacity, utilities and other infrastructure. These assessments will guide development plans to minimize congestion, support school growth and ensure adequate infrastructure is in place to meet community needs.
Annexation provides Suisun City with a unique opportunity to strengthen protections around Travis Air Force Base by incorporating the Travis Protection Zone directly into the City’s planning framework. This allows Suisun City to ensure land uses near the base are compatible with its long-term mission and operations, securing critical buffer areas from conflicting development. As outlined in the draft specific plan, the vision includes a land-use strategy that supports and enhances the base’s role in national defense. This includes providing housing options for military and civilian families, creating job opportunities for military spouses and fostering a cluster of defense and aerospace-related businesses nearby. Annexation gives Suisun City the tools to coordinate growth while reinforcing Travis AFB as a vital economic and strategic asset for the region.
California Forever owns adjacent, annexable land. On June 10, 2025, Suisun City signed a reimbursement agreement with California Forever, which establishes the terms under which California Forever will fund city costs related to the potential annexation and development of approximately 15,740 acres under the proposed Suisun expansion specific plan. The agreement ensures full reimbursement to the city for staff time, consultant services, legal and environmental review (CEQA), public outreach and required agency coordination. In addition to reimbursing all upfront costs, California Forever will provide early public benefit payments totaling $10 million in community benefit. These will be delivered in two phases and the Development Agreement will require $3.5 million following the city’s certification of the EIR and $6.5 million within 30 days of annexation approval by LAFCO. These funds will be allocated by the city council to support critical community priorities, including public safety, infrastructure, parks, homelessness response and downtown improvements.
Environmental impact studies are a critical part of the annexation process. These studies assess how expansion could affect local ecosystems, air and water quality, open spaces and sustainability goals. Mitigation strategies will be developed to minimize negative effects and promote environmentally responsible growth.
Suisun City is committed to transparent, community-driven planning throughout the annexation process by providing frequent updates through its website, newsletters and social media. The City will host community conversations, which are interactive workshops where residents can learn about progress, ask questions and share feedback directly with City staff. Alongside these conversations, public meetings and events offer multiple ways for residents to stay informed and get involved. By combining consistent communication with diverse opportunities for engagement, Suisun City aims to ensure an open and inclusive process every step of the way.
You can stay up-to-date by visiting the City’s expansion website, subscribing to the newsletter, following social media updates and attending public meetings and workshops. All announcements and calendar events are posted regularly to ensure easy access to information.