FAQs: Streets, Sidewalks and Trails


Who maintains the streets in the county?

Who maintains the sidewalks and trails in the county?

How do I request a new trail or sidewalk?

Who maintains street signs and traffic signals in the county?


Who maintains the streets in the county?
The Virginia Department of Transportation maintains the thousands of miles of public streets (interstate, primary and secondary) in the county. Maintenance includes potholes; traffic signals and signs; trees/branches; roadside ditches, curbs and gutters; and snow removal. To request maintenance or for further information, please contact their Northern Virginia District Office at 703-383-8368, TTY 711.

A few miles of public roadway are maintained by the county under the Fairfax County Road Maintenance and Improvement Program. For information on that program, please call the Planning and Design Division at 703-324-5800, TTY 711.

There are also many private streets maintained by businesses, apartment/condominium complexes, homeowner associations or residents. For assistance in determining maintenance responsibility for a street, please contact the Maintenance & Stormwater Management Division at 703-877-2800, TTY 711.
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Who maintains the sidewalks and trails in the county?
Most sidewalks in the public street right-of-way (i.e., alongside public roads) are maintained either by the state or the county. All public sidewalks constructed prior to 1981 are maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation. Sidewalks along private roads are property owner or homeowner association responsibility. Trails (asphalt, stone dust, wood chip, or natural surface) fall under many different jurisdictions including the state, the county, Fairfax County Public Schools, the Fairfax County Park Authority, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, and homeowner associations.

For assistance determining maintenance responsibility for a sidewalk or trail, please contact the Maintenance & Stormwater Management Division at 703-877-2800, TTY 711. To request maintenance of a state-maintained sidewalk, please contact the Virginia Department of Transportation at 703-383-8368, TTY 711. To request maintenance of a county sidewalk or trail, please use the Walkway Maintenance Request Form.

For further information please see the walkways information page.
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How do I request a new trail or sidewalk?
Requests for new walkways should be directed in writing to the Planning & Design Division, 703-324-5800, TTY 711. Send the request to:

        Attn: Ahmed Rayyan
        Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
        Planning and Design Division
        12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 449
        Fairfax, VA 22035-0052

The request should include:

  • applicant name, phone number, and address
  • justification for the request
  • street location of the requested walkway
  • nearby public facilities
  • location of nearest existing walkways

Staff will investigate the request and prepare a cost analysis. The information will then be forwarded to the appropriate Trails and Sidewalks Committee member for future funding consideration.
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Who maintains street signs and traffic signals in the county?
Traffic signals and traffic directional signs (stop, yield, speed limit, etc.), are maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation at 703-383-8368, TTY 711. They also issue permits for signs in state right-of-way.

Public street name signs are maintained by the county Sign Shop, which can be contacted at 703-877-2800, TTY 711, or by using the Street Name Sign Maintenance Request Form.

Pipestem driveway signs are the private responsibility of the property owner(s) on the pipestem.
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