Fairfax County, VA · Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance
R-3 provides for single-family detached dwellings on moderate lots. Max 3 DU/acre. Single-family dwellings: height 35ft; other principal uses 60ft (Table 2102.7). Front setback 30ft, side 12ft, rear 25ft. Common across established suburban Fairfax neighborhoods.
Development standards in R-3
Minimum lot size
10500 sq ft
Max density
3 units/acre
Front setback
30 ft
Side setback
12 ft
Rear setback
25 ft
Read from Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance, effective through 2026-07-01.
Permitted uses in R-3
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.