Printer
TextConstruction
Contact Us
- 703-324-1300, TTY 711
Submit Complaint
Complaint History
Permits
are often required to build, clear land or dump dirt. This is
intended to protect residents and neighborhoods from unsafe
construction, as well as safeguard our environment.
Even if a building permit is not required, you must comply with Zoning regulations. Please call 703-222-1082, TTY 711, to speak to a Zoning technician.
Contact the Department of Code Compliance if you see building or land clearing without a permit or if you have a complaint about an unlicensed contractor.
Unlicensed Contractors
To make a complaint about a potentially unlicensed contractor:
- Call the Department of Code Compliance, 703-324-1300, TTY 711; or
- Call the Virginia State Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, 804-367-8500, TTY 711.
Before hiring a contractor, check to make sure they are licensed:
- Call the Permit Application Center, Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, 703-222-0801, TTY 711; or
- Review a contractor's status on the state's online database.
Also consider checking out contractors in the county’s consumer complaints database.
Unpermitted Construction
Fairfax County requires a building permit for most new residential and commercial construction. Typical home improvement projects that require a permit include:
- Additions
- Attic pull-down stairs
- Attics, finish existing
- Basements, build or enlarge
- Carports, new or enclose existing
- Decks, new (on footings or posts) or enclose existing
- Fences and privacy walls, exceeding 6 feet in height
- Garages
- Masonry chimneys
- Porches and sunrooms, new and enclose existing
- Retaining walls, supporting more than 2 feet of earth
- Sheds, attached to house
- Sheds or playhouses, detached greater than 200 square feet or more than one story.
- Skylights
- Swimming pools, spas, hot tubs
Learn more about when a building permit is required, or call the Permit Application Center, Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, 703-222-0801, TTY 711.
Unpermitted Land Disturbance
To clear land, dig up dirt or dump fill dirt, a county permit may be needed. A site permit, grading plan and conservation deposit are required for any project that will disturb 2,500 square feet or more of land.
When is a permit needed?
Most projects do not need permits and plans, including:
- Gardening or landscaping at home.
- Installing a fence, post or sign (a building permit may be required).
- Digging for individual sewer or water connections.
Typical projects that may disturb 2,500 square feet of land include:
- Building an addition to your home.
- Building a large garage or carport.
- Installing a paved driveway or in-ground swimming pool.
Clues to possible illegal land disturbance:
- The activity takes place before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. or on weekends.
- There is no company name on the construction vehicles or equipment.
- There is no advertising sign for the construction company doing the work at the site.
- The land is being cleared without surveyor’s flags on trees.
- There is no construction entrance next to the road (eg. an area of stone and gravel placed to keep mud off of streets).
Website Survey 