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.
Development standards in R-C
Minimum lot size
217800 sq ft
Max density
0.2 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-C
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.