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Off-line Products & Services - Paper Maps

Maps available for viewing and/or purchase

There are several maps available for viewing and purchase at the GIS & Mapping Services office. Complete details of the maps available from our "Front Counter" are listed here. A visit to our Front Counter will allow you access to these maps and many more products and services. Please note that several of our maps and geographic datasets are available electronically through applications found in the On-line Products and Services section. Consult the price list for the cost of the maps outlined below.

Published Map Books		Fairfax County Street Atlas Poster-sized "Wall Map" Products USGS Quad Topographic Maps Price List for Paper Maps & Digital Data
Property Maps Zoning Maps Contour Maps Topographic Maps	Soils Maps Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas Maps Flood Plain Delineation Maps

Map Books

Official County of Fairfax map books have been published on an annual basis since 1961. Recent books have the County's jurisdiction divided into 444 map grids, with one grid per page. Several types of map books have been published with various themes which are explained below. Please note that Digital Map Viewer application provides the most recent updates to the map book pages in addition to historic versions (as far back as 1961).

Property Maps

In an effort to map the county for the Department of Tax Administration, a grid was established that divides the county into 444 numbered sections. These sections are commonly called base maps, property maps or tax maps. Every property in the county has a unique property identification number. This several digit property number begins with the tax map number and is followed by a subdivision or acreage number, and a lot or parcel number. With the exception of the County Wall map series, all of our thematic maps are tied to the tax maps. In other words, the boundaries of the maps are determined by the tax map grid.

Property maps include:
Boundaries: State, County or Corporate, Subdivision, Block Division, Property
Legal Rights of Way: State or Interstate Highway, Railroad, Public Street, Private Street, Outlet Road, Unconstructed Right-of-way, Parking or Pavement limits
Easements: Approved Flood Plain, Recorded Flood Plain, Storm Drainage, Conservation, Ingress-Egress, Major Public Utility
Drainage: Streams, Creeks, Rivers, Ponds, Lake Banks, Concrete/Steel Dams, Earthen Dams
Districts: Agricultural and Forestal District, Special Tax District
Unique Identifiers: Double circle and number - Acreage or Subdivision, Single circle and number - Block designation, Uncircled number - Parcel or Lot number
Features and Symbols: Addresses, Address Grid, Address Grid Ticks, Subdivision Name, Split Parcels, Consolidated Lots, Questionable Property cut, Buildings, Control Monuments, Churches, Cemetaries, Schools, Firehouses, Parkland, Nature Conservancy, Marine Clay

Currently all property information is captured and maintained digitally. Property maps are updated daily and published in book format yearly. In addition, all 444 grid sections have been compiled on a CD-ROM in PDF format. The Property Maps CD is available for sale as well (see Digital Data Sales ). Our reference collection of property books dates back to 1961. Current and historic property maps can be viewed at the GIS and Mapping offices, though electronic versions of the map book pages are available online using the Digital Map Viewer application.

Source materials for property maps include site plans, deed descriptions, subdivision plats, and acreage plats. A plat is a detailed drawing taken from the survey of a property boundary. A few of the many features included on a plat are: Bearings and Distances of lot lines, Utility Easements, Area, and Curve Data. The collection is comprised of paper plats which vary in size, scale, number of pages, and condition. Most subdivison plats may be viewed at the Front Counter. Photocopies of plats may also be purchased. See price list for details.

Zoning Maps

All land in Fairfax County is zoned into residential, commercial or industrial districts. The permitted density in each zoning district and the uses allowed in each district are described in detail in the County Zoning Ordinance. The location and boundaries of the zoning districts established by this Ordinance are illustrated on official zoning maps. These maps illustrate all of the property map information as well as the zoning districts.

Zoning maps include:
Residential: 5 acres - Agricultural, 10 Acres - Preservation, 5 Acres - Conservation, 2 Acres - Estate, 1 Acre - 1 DU/AC (Dwelling Unit per Acre), ½ acre - 2 DU/AC, 3 DU/AC, 4 DU/AC, 5 DU/AC, 8 DU/AC, 12 DU/AC, 16 DU/AC, 20 DU/AC, 30 DU/AC, Mobile Home Park
Commercial: Low Rise Office, Limited Office, Office District, High Intensity Office, Neighborhood Retail, Community Retail, Highway, Super-regional Retail
Industrial: Institutional, Light Ind. Research, Research, Light Intensity, Medium Intensity, General, Heavy
Planned Units: Planned Development Housing, Planned Development Commercial, Planned Residential Community, Planned Residential Mixed-Use
Overlay Districts: Airport Noise Impact, Highway Corridor, Historic, Natural Resource, Sign Control, Water Supply Protection, Commercial Revitalization
Other Categories: Boundaries of Public & Semi-Public Lands, Planning Area Designation, Pending Zoning Cases

Currently all zoning map information is maintained digitally. Zoning maps are updated daily and published in book format yearly. The Zoning Map book, as well as, individual grid section maps at a scale of 1" = 500' are available for sale. . All 444 grid sections have been compiled on a CD-ROM in PDF format (see Digital Data Sales). The Zoning Maps CD is available for sale at the GIS Front Counter. See price list for details. Please note that Digital Map Viewer application provides the most recent updates to the map book pages in addition to historic versions (as far back as 1985).

Contour Maps

A contour map illustrates ground surface elevation with lines that join points of equal elevation. These maps illustrate all of the property map information as well as contour lines. The contour interval is 5 feet. The date of the aerial photography used to determine the ground elevation is 1997, 2004, or 2005 (depending on location). The contour map data is not published in book format, however, all 444 grid sections have been compiled on a CD-ROM in PDF format. The Contour Maps w/Property CD is available for sale at the Front Counter (see Digital Data Sales). Please note that Digital Map Viewer application provides the most recent updates to the map book pages (2008). In addition, historic contour maps at a scale of 1” = 500’ derived from aerial photography dated 1972 and 1984 may be viewed and photocopied at our Front Counter.

Topographic Maps

A topographic map illustrates ground surface elevation, as well as, natural and human-made features on the ground surface. This information was derived from 1997 photography. The contour interval is 5 feet. These topographic maps do not show property map information. The 1997 topographic map data is not published in book format, however, all 444 grid sections have been compiled on a CD-ROM in PDF format. The Topographic Maps CD is available for sale at the GIS and Mapping offices (see Digital Data Sales).

Soils Maps

These maps illustrate soil types, soils problem areas, and soil symbols that describe ground surface characteristics. There are two soils maps available: the 1990 official soils map and 2008 unofficial soil map. They both show property information, but vary in their depiction of soil types. The 1990 official soils maps were published by the County’s soil office and, at the time, about 40,000 acres of unmapped land remained. The soil’s office was closed in 1996, and since there were still significant areas of the County unmapped, the County requested the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to complete the maps. A combined effort between Fairfax County, NRCS, and the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCED) led to the publishing of the unofficial 2008 soils maps. The 1990 soils map remains the official Fairfax County map and is used for reference by County ordinances.

More information regarding the official 1990 maps may be viewed online in the Soil Ratings guide, or through the Map Legends section of the Digital Map Viewer. More information regarding the unofficial 2008 maps may be viewed online in the Guide to NRCS Mapped Soils, or through the Map Legends section of the Digital Map Viewer. All of the maps may be viewed and downloaded online through the Digital Map Viewer application. The complete 1990 edition of the soils map book may be purchased at our Front Counter. See price list for details.

For more information about soils in Fairfax County, contact the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office at (703) 324-1460.

Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas Maps

In 1988 the Virginia General Assembly adopted the Chesapeake Bay Conservation Act. As a result, local governments were required to incorporate general water quality protection measures into their comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, and subdivision ordinances and to establish programs, in accordance with criteria established by the Commonwealth, that define and protect certain lands which are called Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas.

The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area maps illustrate all of the property map information as well as Resource Management Areas (RMA) and Resource Protection Areas (RPA). A RMA is that component of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area comprised of lands that, if improperly used or developed, have a potential for causing significant water quality degradation or for diminishing the functional value of the RPA. [See Fairfax County Code, Ch. 118, Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance.] A RPA is that component of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area comprised of lands at or near the shoreline or water's edge that have an intrinsic water quality value due to the ecological and biological processes they perform or are sensitive to impacts which may result in significant degradation of the quality of state waters. In their natural condition, these lands provide for the removal, reduction or assimilation of sediments from runoff entering the Bay and its tributaries, and minimize the adverse effects of human activities on state waters and aquatic resources. New development is generally discouraged in an RPA. [See Fairfax County Code, Ch. 118, Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance.]

You can read the full Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance for more infomation. Chesapeake Bay preservation areas maps display the boundaries of the RPAs adopted by the Board in 1993 and the additional RPAs adopted by the Board in 2003. All of the maps may be viewed and downloaded online through the Digital Map Viewer application.

Flood Plain Delineation Maps

During the 1960's and 1970's the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) performed a flood plain study for most of the area of Fairfax County. A cooperative agreement between USGS and Fairfax County established a project to study the effects of basin development on floods and to delineate flood boundaries on specially prepared maps of stream valleys. The results of this study include a series of USGS Open-File Reports.

The Open-File Reports include water-surface profile data, flood profiles, and topographic maps with flood boundary delineation. As stated on each map, the map shows the extent of inundation for floods of 25-, 50-, and 100-year recurrence intervals. As applied to flood events, a recurrence interval is the average interval of time within which a given flood will be equaled or exceeded once. No periodicity is implied. In addition to the flood-delineation lines, each map also includes topography with a 2 foot contour interval for the area around the stream.

The Open-file Reports and the Maps can be viewed at the Front Counter. Photocopies of the 1"=100' scale mylar film overlays can be purchased. See price list for details. Photocopies of associated water-surface profile data tables from the open-file reports are included free by request with the purchase of blue line prints of the photocopiess. Flood plain studies of Dogue Creek basin, Little Hunting Creek basin, the upper tributaries of Cameron Run basin, and Tripps Run and Holmes Run above Lake Barcroft were performed by Massey Engineers Consultants. The results of this study are a series of Drainage Reports. Drainage Reports include a flood profile for a 100-year recurrence interval discharge and a topographic map of the stream valley with a 2 foot contour interval and the 100-year flood boundary delineation line. The map scale is 1 inch = 100 feet. Drainage Reports can be viewed at the GIS Front Counter. Photocopies of the mylar sepia report can be purchased. See price list for details.

Fairfax County Street Atlas

Fairfax County coordinates the publication of a street atlas book on a yearly basis. In addition to streets and landmarks, the County tax map grid and supervisor district boundaries have been overlaid on the map. The street atlas may be purchased at the Front Counter. See price list for details. A companion street atlas index providing address ranges and tax map numbers is available for download.

Fairfax County Wall Maps Series

A series of large printed countywide wall maps is available for purchase at the Front Counter. These maps include products created by GIS & Mapping Services in addition to those compiled by other County agencies. See below for a list of wall maps in the series. Prices for the following maps vary. See price list for details. Some wall maps are available to view and download for free in the Wall Map section of the online Map Gallery.

Map Title	Description	Year
Zip Codes Map	Base map with USPS offices, zip codes boundaries, & city zip code areas	2007-08
Street Map with Grid	Base map with tax map grid	2007-08
Supervisor District Map	Base map with Fairfax supervisor's district boundaries and offices	2007-08
Public Facilities map	Base map with public facilities (i.e. police stations, hospitals, schools, etc.)	2003-04
USGS Quad Sheet	United States Geologic Survey printed topographic sheets	~1980's
Watersheds Map	Base map with watershed delineations	2006-07
4000 Scale Plan and Dist Sub Census	Base map with Fairfax created sub-census tract boundaries	2005-06
Solid Waste Collections Map	Base map with Fairfax County serviced areas for refuse and yard waste collection	2005-06
CBPA Map	Base map with Chesapeake bay preservation areas, also known resource protection areas (RPA's)	2007-08
School Cluster Map	Base map with FCPS administrative cluster boundaries and index of included schools	2008-09
Elementary School Attendance Area Map	Base map with FCPS elementary school attendance area boundaries	2008-09
Middle School Attendance Area Map	Base map with FCPS middle school attendance area boundaries	2008-09
High School Attendance Area Map	Base map with FCPS high school attendance area boundaries	2008-09
School Map Set	Collection of (4) School Clusters Map and elementary, middle, & high school attendance areas maps	2008-09
Affordable Rental Housing Map	Base Map with indexed affordable rental housing communities	2005-06
Voting Precincts Map	Base map with voting precinct boundaries and polling places	2005-06
Congressional District Map	Base map with US congressional district boundaries, precincts, and polling places	2009
House of Delegates Districts Map	Base map with Virginia House of Delegates district boundaries, precincts, and polling places	out of stock
Transportation Plan Map	Official Fairfax County transportation plan map	2006
Southeast Area Map	2000:1 scale base map of SE quadrant of Fairfax County	1995-96
Northeast Area Map	2000:1 scale base map of NE quadrant of Fairfax County	1995-96
Southwest Area Map	2000:1 scale base map of SW quadrant of Fairfax County	1995-96
Northwest Area Map	2000:1 scale base map of NW quadrant of Fairfax County	1995-96
Cemetery Map	Base map with cemeteries and accompanying index	2002-03
Parks Map	Base map with parkland and supervisor district boundaries	2006-07
Historic Sites Map	Base map with historic sites and accompanying index	2001
Fire Box Map	Base map with fire stations and first response assignment boundaries for fire protection	2006-07
Land Patent	Base map with original historic land ownership boundaries	2001-02
Community Based Volunteer Groups	Base map with boundaries of community based volunteer group service areas	2006-07
Trail Map (North)	Map of base layers and trails (paved and soft) in northern half of Fairfax	2001
Trail Map (South)	Map of base layers and trails (paved and soft) in southern half of Fairfax	2001
Historical Tour Map	Fold-out map of Fairfax historical areas with details descriptions and suggested tours routes	Date N/A

USGS Topographic Quadrangle Maps

United States Geological Survery topographic maps that cover Fairfax County are available for viewing and purchase. Please note that several of these maps were published over 20 years ago. See price list for details.

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