Our services are offered virtually, so you can save a trip if you'd like (see information below on submitting various types of applications without having to visit City Hall).

If you visit City Hall, department staff will be in the office during normal working hours (M-F 8:30am-5:00pm) to receive you and take in any applications, plans, or other materials you may need to submit. To discuss an application, plan, or other submission material, please be advised that you may need to set up an appointment.

Please call 703-385-7820 or send a message to zoning@fairfaxva.gov to schedule your appointment in advance (appointments must be made at least one working day in advance). In-person appointments may be scheduled if a virtual meeting is not feasible. 

Please make yourself familiar with the additional standards for all electronic drawings and documents submitted to the City of Fairfax as part of any application for building or land development. Improperly formatted plans will delay the review process and may be rejected by the City.

**INFORMATION ON FILING AN APPLICATION FOR A COMMERCIAL USE & OCCUPANCY PERMIT, MINOR HOME OCCUPATION PERMIT, COMMERCIAL ZONING PERMIT, RESIDENTIAL ZONING PERMIT, BEE KEEPING PERMIT, CHICKEN KEEPING PERMIT, ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT PERMIT, PERMANENT SIGN PERMIT, TREE REMOVAL PERMIT AND MINOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS (BAR)**

Please be advised the permit types listed above must be submitted on the City of Fairfax Permit Portal. You will need to create an account and apply for the appropriate permit.

**INFORMATION ON FILING AN APPLICATION FOR AN ADDITIONAL MESSAGE SIGNS, SPECIAL EVENT SIGN PERMIT OR TEMPORARY USE PERMIT**

Sending materials to our office:

Please be advised that you can submit these applications and associated materials to CD&P without having to visit City Hall. The two options for getting your documents to City Hall are:

Option 1:

Download an application, fill it out, and send it and all other required materials to: zoning@fairfaxva.gov. City staff will reply to you with an invoice that you can use to pay the application fee. 

• Permit fees can be paid online, by mobile app, or by calling 1-866-480-8552.
  • When paying online, please enter the invoice number, the accounting code(s), and case number on your invoice into the "Purpose of Payment" box. 
  • To pay with the mobile app, go to the App Store or Google Play and search for "PayGov Mobile." In the app, select "Make a Payment" and enter the City of Fairfax Payment Location Code (PLC): 34530. Please enter the invoice number, the accounting code(s), and case number on your invoice into the "Purpose of Payment" box.
  • When paying by phone, tell the representative that you are paying for a permit, and provide the invoice number and accounting code(s) on your invoice.

Option 2:

• Download an application, fill it out, and mail it along with a check for the application fee(s) (made payable to "City of Fairfax"), and all other required materials to: Community Development & Planning, 10455 Armstrong Street, Fairfax VA 22030.

If you have questions about these options or application fees, please contact CD&P staff at 703-385-7820.

If you are trying to coordinate your application submission to CD&P with an application to Code Administration, please check Code Administration's submission procedures here. 

If you are already working with a member of the CD&P staff, please refer to the staff directory to find staff e-mail addresses. Please be advised that some members of the staff are working remotely, so e-mail is the preferred communication method. If using e-mail presents a challenge, please feel free to call 703-385-7820 and we can assist you in contacting other members of our staff. Unless directed by staff, please do not e-mail submission directly to staff. 

**INFORMATION ON SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION TO THE FAIRFAX RENAISSANCE HOUSING CORPORATION CAN BE FOUND HERE.** 

**INFORMATION ON SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR PLAN REVIEW**

These procedures apply to applications for Administrative Approvals, Appeals, Development Review, and Floodplain Permits. For applicants prepared to submit plans, please note changes to our plan intake and review process:

Pre application meetings:

• Pre-application meetings are required and are encouraged to be held via video conference. If you have not already satisfied the requirement for a pre-app meeting with staff, you may contact staff and request a video conference in lieu (please call 703-385-7820 or send a message to zoning@fairfaxva.gov).
• Prior to pre-app meetings, be sure to provide all relevant discussion materials, and your questions in writing to the staff member coordinating your application.
• After staff has assessed your development proposal, he/she will inform you of submission requirements.

Application submission:

• We request that all submittals (applications, plans, etc.) be provided electronically to the staff member coordinating your application, via email or link to downloadable version. Please note, emails larger than 10 MB will cannot be received by our staff.
• Most application forms can be found on the Applications for Download webpage.
• Paper copies are still required, staff coordinate a schedule meeting for submission or hard documents.
• Staff will perform an initial completeness report, before routing submission for review by all departments/staff. Missing or incorrect submittals must be correct before submissions will be deemed accepted.
• Upon acceptance, staff will provide a formal invoice to you and/or your agent for payment of fees. This invoice will also include instructions on how to pay over the phone.

Resubmission:

• Staff will complete review and provide comments for each submission via email to the applicant/engineer.
• Each resubmission should follow the submission procedure outlined above.
• The feasibility of post-submission meetings may be determined by the staff member coordinating you application. Meetings will be handled via video conference.
• Prior to signature submission, staff will inform you of how to submit signature plans and record documents in the land records (as needed).

Release:

• Upon approval, staff will prepare signed plans for release and coordinate transmission back to you.