Fairfax County, VA · Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance
R-5 allows single-family detached and attached dwellings at medium density. Max 5 DU/acre. Detached: min lot 5,000 sq ft, height 35ft. Front setback 20ft, side 8ft, rear 25ft. Other principal uses: min lot 14,000 sq ft, height 65ft (Table 2102.11). Common in older, established neighborhoods closer to urban centers.
Development standards in R-5
Max density
5 units/acre
Front setback
20 ft
Side setback
8 ft
Rear setback
25 ft
Read from Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance, effective through 2026-07-01.
Permitted uses in R-5
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.