Fairfax County, VA · Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance
R-C protects watercourses, stream valleys, watersheds, aquifer recharge areas, and scenic vistas by encouraging large-lot single-family and agricultural use. Conventional: max 1 DU/5 acres. Min lot 5 acres. Height 35ft (up to 40ft with a 50ft setback). Front 40ft, side 20ft, rear 25ft. Section 2102.2.
| Front setback | Single-family dwellings: If the lot is one the ordinance lets keep the setbacks that applied on an earlier date, the setbacks are those applicable to the lot on July 25, 1982; otherwise at least 50 ft if the building height is more than 35 ft; otherwise 40 ft “[4] If a proposed dwelling or addition to a dwelling on a lot rezoned to the R-C District on July 26, 1982 or August 2, 1982 and that lot was (a) the subject of a final plat approved before July 26, 1982, or (b) recorded with a final consent decree entered in Chancery No. 78451 by the Fairfax County Circuit Court on September 17, 1985, or (c) recorded with a final consent decree entered in Chancery Nos. 78425, 78452, 78454, 78461, 78462 and 78465 by the Fairfax County Circuit Court on September 17, 1985, as amended by a final consent decree entered on November 25, 1991 by the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Chancery No. 123887, then the setbacks are those applicable to the lot on July 25, 1982.” “Front setback, minimum 40 feet or 50 feet [3, 4]” “[3] A dwelling may be taller than 35 feet, up to a maximum of 40 feet, with a minimum 50-foot setback.” | 2102 |
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| Other principal uses: At least 40 ft for a building up to 35 ft tall, 43 ft up to 40 ft, 49 ft up to 45 ft, 55 ft up to 50 ft, 61 ft up to 55 ft, 67 ft up to 60 ft; no figure above that height | 2102 | |
| Side setback | Single-family dwellings: If the lot is one the ordinance lets keep the setbacks that applied on an earlier date, the setbacks are those applicable to the lot on July 25, 1982; otherwise at least 50 ft if the building height is more than 35 ft; otherwise 20 ft “[4] If a proposed dwelling or addition to a dwelling on a lot rezoned to the R-C District on July 26, 1982 or August 2, 1982 and that lot was (a) the subject of a final plat approved before July 26, 1982, or (b) recorded with a final consent decree entered in Chancery No. 78451 by the Fairfax County Circuit Court on September 17, 1985, or (c) recorded with a final consent decree entered in Chancery Nos. 78425, 78452, 78454, 78461, 78462 and 78465 by the Fairfax County Circuit Court on September 17, 1985, as amended by a final consent decree entered on November 25, 1991 by the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Chancery No. 123887, then the setbacks are those applicable to the lot on July 25, 1982.” “Side setback, minimum 20 feet or 50 feet [3, 4]” “[3] A dwelling may be taller than 35 feet, up to a maximum of 40 feet, with a minimum 50-foot setback.” | 2102 |
| Other principal uses: At least the greater of the building height and 20 ft | 2102 | |
| Rear setback | Single-family dwellings: If the lot is one the ordinance lets keep the setbacks that applied on an earlier date, the setbacks are those applicable to the lot on July 25, 1982; otherwise at least 50 ft if the building height is more than 35 ft; otherwise 25 ft “[4] If a proposed dwelling or addition to a dwelling on a lot rezoned to the R-C District on July 26, 1982 or August 2, 1982 and that lot was (a) the subject of a final plat approved before July 26, 1982, or (b) recorded with a final consent decree entered in Chancery No. 78451 by the Fairfax County Circuit Court on September 17, 1985, or (c) recorded with a final consent decree entered in Chancery Nos. 78425, 78452, 78454, 78461, 78462 and 78465 by the Fairfax County Circuit Court on September 17, 1985, as amended by a final consent decree entered on November 25, 1991 by the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Chancery No. 123887, then the setbacks are those applicable to the lot on July 25, 1982.” “Rear setback, minimum 25 feet or 50 feet [3, 4]” “[3] A dwelling may be taller than 35 feet, up to a maximum of 40 feet, with a minimum 50-foot setback.” | 2102 |
| Other principal uses: At least the greater of the building height and 25 ft | 2102 | |
| Maximum height | Other principal uses: At most 60 ft | 2102 |
| Single-family dwellings: At most 40 ft “[4] If a proposed dwelling or addition to a dwelling on a lot rezoned to the R-C District on July 26, 1982 or August 2, 1982 and that lot was (a) the subject of a final plat approved before July 26, 1982, or (b) recorded with a final consent decree entered in Chancery No. 78451 by the Fairfax County Circuit Court on September 17, 1985, or (c) recorded with a final consent decree entered in Chancery Nos. 78425, 78452, 78454, 78461, 78462 and 78465 by the Fairfax County Circuit Court on September 17, 1985, as amended by a final consent decree entered on November 25, 1991 by the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Chancery No. 123887, then the setbacks are those applicable to the lot on July 25, 1982.” “Building height, maximum 35 feet or 40 feet [3]” “[3] A dwelling may be taller than 35 feet, up to a maximum of 40 feet, with a minimum 50-foot setback.” | 2102 | |
| Maximum FAR | Other principal uses, public uses: At most 0.15 | 2102 |
| Other principal uses, uses other than residential or public: At most 0.1 | 2102 | |
| Single-family dwellings: No requirement | 2102 | |
| Max density | Conventional subdivision: At most 0.2 dwellings per acre (1 divided by 5) | 2102 |
| Cluster subdivision: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 2102 | |
| Minimum lot size | Conventional subdivision: At least 217,800 sq ft | 2102 |
| Cluster subdivision: At least 36,000 sq ft | 2102 | |
| Minimum lot width | Conventional subdivision: At least 200 ft “[2] Lot width may be modified in accordance with subsection 5100.2.K.” | 2102 |
| Cluster subdivision, interior lot, adjacent to a major thoroughfare: At least 200 ft “[2] Lot width may be modified in accordance with subsection 5100.2.K.” | 2102 | |
| Cluster subdivision, corner lot, adjacent to a major thoroughfare: At least 200 ft “[2] Lot width may be modified in accordance with subsection 5100.2.K.” | 2102 | |
| Cluster subdivision, corner lot, adjacent to a local or collector street: At least 125 ft “[2] Lot width may be modified in accordance with subsection 5100.2.K.” | 2102 | |
| Cluster subdivision, interior lot, adjacent to a local or collector street: No requirement | 2102 | |
| Minimum open space | Cluster subdivision: At least 50% | 2102 |
| Conventional subdivision: No requirement | 2102 |
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.
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