Administrative overview · FIPS 51059
Fairfax County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Fairfax County Land Development Services
For a project in or near Fairfax County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
703-222-0801
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035
Operating hours
Monday-Thursday, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM; Friday, 9:15 AM-4:00 PM; visitors are not added to in-person queues after 3:45 PM
Review expectation
Application completeness and sufficiency review is generally completed within 2 business days. Technical review time varies by permit type, completeness, outside-agency reviews, corrections, and workload; Fairfax publishes live residential and commercial building metrics rather than one fixed permit turnaround.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Fairfax County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Fairfax County Land Development Services is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 703-222-0801.
How long might review take?
Application completeness and sufficiency review is generally completed within 2 business days. Technical review time varies by permit type, completeness, outside-agency reviews, corrections, and workload; Fairfax publishes live residential and commercial building metrics rather than one fixed permit turnaround.
How are inspections scheduled?
Schedule or cancel building and trade inspections through PLUS. Requests submitted before 11:59 PM are eligible for the next business day. Related combination inspections must be bundled for the same day; otherwise the inspection may fail and incur a reinspection fee. The applicant and onsite contacts receive an email on the inspection morning with a two-hour arrival window, inspector name, and phone number, followed by the result. Virtual inspections may be requested in the PLUS comments and are allowed at the inspector's discretion.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and 2021 Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code: 2021 Virginia Construction, Residential, Existing Building, Maintenance, Energy Conservation, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Fuel Gas Codes; 2020 National Electrical Code; 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code; and 2017 ICC A117.1 accessibility standard, with Virginia amendments. Fairfax local criteria include a 25-psf ground snow load, 24-inch frost depth, and published county wind, seismic, weathering, termite, decay, and ice-barrier design values. Fairfax lists these common residential permit exemptions: non-pool fences; like-for-like windows, doors, and electrical/plumbing/mechanical replacements without relocation; similar-material siding; roof shingles and less than 256 square feet of roof plywood; one-story detached storage sheds no larger than 256 square feet; gutters, cabinets, counters, tile, flooring, paint, and wallpaper; playground equipment; on-grade patios and driveways; concrete or masonry walls no higher than 6 feet; non-tiered retaining walls holding less than 3 feet of earth with no surcharge; temporary ramps no higher than 30 inches; qualifying low-voltage work; flagpoles no higher than 30 feet; and tents under 900 square feet with fewer than 50 persons. Zoning, site, floodplain/RPA, health, and VDOT approvals may still apply.