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Zoning Permits For Construction

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ZONING PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

Anyone pursuing property improvements that require a Building Permit (BP) through the Office of Building Code Administration must obtain a Zoning Permit (ZP) through the Zoning Office. In some cases, property improvements not requiring a BP still require a ZP. Both the ZP and BP permit requests can be submitted for concurrent review, but neither permit can be issued until a ZP is approved (§6.20).

The applicant is responsible for confirming BP requirements through the Office of Building Code Administration (703-385-7830; codeadministration@fairfaxva.gov)

Examples of property improvement projects requiring a ZP include, but are not limited to:

 
COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL IMPROVEMENTS †‡

NON-LAND DISTURBING 

 LAND DISTURBING  *
  • Building construction or modification
  • New Townhomes (1 per set of attached units)
  • Parking Lot Restriping
  • Vehicular access modifications
  • Pavement improvements
  • Fences & Walls
  • Dumpster Enclosures
  • Site Lighting
  • Any items located in the Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Area (RPA) or floodplain
RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS ‡

NON-LAND DISTURBING 

  • Accessory Dwelling Unit Construction (requires Residential Accessory use Application)
  • Electrical (i.e. emergency generator)
  • Other Exterior Construction not involving land disturbance (i.e. new HVAC)
  • Any non-land disturbing work located in the floodplain 

LAND DISTURBING  *

  • New single-family home
  • Additions and building projections
  • Decks
  • Walls requiring a Building Permit
  • Attached and detached garages
  • Carports
  • Private outdoor recreation structures
  • Any items located in the Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Area (RPA) or floodplain

† Exterior improvements, visible from the public right-of-way or adjacent residential properties, may require approval by Board of Architectural Review (BAR). Contact the BAR Liaison for more information.

‡ If the proposed improvements are located on a property within a community that has a common association, the proposed improvements may also be subject to regulations, guidelines or design standards administered by the common association. An Applicant should consult the association, before submitting a permit request.

*A Tree Removal Permit may be required before you begin construction. Please review the Tree Removal Guide and video for instructions on how to submit through the Permit Portal for the permit. The Permit Portal User Guide can be found here. 


ZONING PERMIT SUBMISSION PROCESS

Effective December 13, 2021, all Commercial ZP requests must be submitted through the City of Fairfax's Public Portal, and must include the following:

Commercial Land Disturbing
  • Online application through the Permit Portal
  • Agent Authorization Form
  • A site plan or mark-up of the approved site plan showing the proposed conditions and a tabulation of Zoning Standards.
 Commercial Non-land Disturbing

 

Residential ZP applications, may be downloaded from our Applications from Download webpage. Instruction on how to submit each application are provided on the cover letter. Residential ZPs must include the following:

Residential Land-disturbing
  • Zoning Permit Application
  • Current and accurate Plat with proposed improvements drawn to scale
  • Copy of the Building Permit application
  • Copy o f Building Plans
  • HOA Approval (where HOA exists)
  • Payment of invoice
 Residential Nonland-disturbing
  • Zoning Permit Application
  • Copy of the Building Permit application
  • Copy o f Building Plans
  • HOA Approval (where HOA exists)
  • Payment of invoice

Note:

  • Review of ZPs may result in comments, which must be adequately addressed prior to approval.
  • ZPs may contain conditions of approval.
  • Upon approval, the ZP will be forwarded to Code Administration for issuance.
  • Approved permits must be displayed at all times during construction.

The information provided in this document is intended as a guide only. These webpages have no legal status. The City of Fairfax Zoning Ordinance is the legislative act adopted by the City Council.