Trees provide significant levels of environmental, social and economic benefits to our community. For over 30 years, Fairfax County has been proactive in raising awareness about the importance of trees and forests in our community.

Fairfax County's Urban Forest Management Division ensures that tree preservation and tree planting takes place on construction sites within the county, as well as protecting existing forest resources. In 2007, the Board of Supervisors endorsed the Tree Action Plan to help guide efforts to conserve and manage the county’s tree resources over the next 20 years. 

As recommended in the Tree Action Plan, the Board of Supervisors initiated a countywide tree planting program to improve our air and water quality, and to achieve objectives of the board’s environmental agenda. To support the tree planting program, the board established the Tree Preservation and Planting Fund as a mechanism to administer tree-related donations and funding identified in the annual Environmental Improvement Program. Nonprofit organizations, county agencies and regional governmental agencies may request funding for tree-related projects using the Tree Preservation and Planting Fund Disbursement Procedure (PDF) as a guide.

The information below contains links that will help you learn how to plant and maintain trees, where to buy seedlings, about county programs that regulate the removal of trees during construction and about county programs that manage insects that damage and kill trees.  For more information, call or e-mail the Urban Forest Management Division at 703-324-1770, TTY 711.

County Standards 

• Vegetation Preservation and Planting - Public Facilities Manual (PDF)
• Landscaping and Screening - Zoning Ordinance (PDF)
• Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance
• Urban Forest Management Division Policy on Landscape Implementation (PDF)
• Tree Conservation Ordinance

Forest Pests

• 2008 Gypsy Moth Spray Program

Forms 

• Heritage, Memorial, Specimen and Street Tree Nomination Form (PDF)
• Big Tree Registry - Big Tree Nomination Form* (PDF)
• Request for Waiver/Modification of the Provisions of Article 13 of the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance* (PDF)
• Other Land Development Forms
• Friends of Trees Award Nomination Form (PDF)

*Forms may be filled out online prior to printing.

General 

• FAQs - Tree Care and Tree Issues
• Tree Care Advice/Information - State
• Hazardous Tree Information
• Urban Forest Management in Fairfax County
• Being Environmentally Conscious in Fairfax County
• Tree Identification

Invasive Plants

• National Invasive Species Information Center
• Invasive Alien Plant Species in Virginia

Natural Landscaping/Native Plants

• Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Lanscaping
• Native Plants for Conservation, Restoration and Landscaping

News

• Fairfax County's 30-year Tree Planting Campaign
• Fairfax County's New Tree Preservation Ordinance

Planting Trees

• Planting Advice/Information
• Planting Around County Stormwater Management Ponds
• Planting Around Private Ponds
• Seedling Sale
• Recommended Tree and Shrub Species for Resource Protection Areas (PDF)
• Recommended Tree and Shrub Species for Bioretention Facilities (PDF)

Suggested Tree and Landscape Proffer Language for Use in Proposed Zoning Cases