Fair Oaks is sixteen miles northeast of Sacramento on the north bank of the beautiful American River, two miles north of U.S. Highway 50. Fair Oaks is unincorporated with Sacramento County providing road, sheriff, and other services.
Local government is by self-governing park, school, cemetery, sanitation, and water districts.
Trucking lines of both Sacramento and San Francisco also serve Fair Oaks. The district was formed in 1917, and buys water from San Juan Suburban Water District, which is the Master District, and was formed in 1954. Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District offers a wide variety of programs and recreation facilities for everyone from tiny tots to senior citizens. The Plaza and Village Park complex is the location of the community clubhouse, outdoor amphitheater and crafts building. Other recreation attractions in the Fair Oaks area include the 114-acre Sailor Bar Park and the American River Parkway and bicycle path with are maintained by Sacramento County.