Fairfax County, VA · Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance
R-1 provides for single-family detached dwellings on large lots. Max 1 DU/acre. Single-family dwellings: height 35ft; other principal uses 60ft (Table 2102.4). Front setback 40ft, side 20ft, rear 25ft. Common in the rural-suburban western portions of Fairfax County.
Development standards in R-1
Minimum lot size
36000 sq ft
Max density
1 units/acre
Front setback
40 ft
Side setback
20 ft
Rear setback
25 ft
Read from Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance, effective through 2026-07-01.
Permitted uses in R-1
AllowedSingle-Family Residential
ConditionalAccessory Dwelling Units Subject to county approval
ConditionalHome Occupation
ConditionalSTR - Short-Term Rentals STRs permitted with Home Occupation permit. Entire-home limited to 180 nights/year.
Not AllowedCommercial / Retail
Not AllowedMulti-Family Residential
"Conditional" means the use generally requires a public hearing or special-exception approval — a very different timeline and risk profile from a by-right permit.
This is the zone. What about the parcel?
Zone rules are the starting point — the answer for a specific property also depends on lot
size, overlays, existing improvements and site conditions. Run a free address lookup to see
what applies to one property.