Keeping Neighborhoods
Safe, Vital and Attractive
Fairfax County is undertaking a countywide effort to crack down on illegal boarding houses, and today, the code enforcement teams are operating in the northern and southern parts of the county.
The Enhanced Code Enforcement Strike Teams focus on:
- Shutting down illegal boarding houses.
- Maintaining the health, safety and welfare of neighborhoods.
- Protecting people from unsafe living conditions.
Report Overcrowding
Make a complaint if you know about an overcrowded, illegal boarding house. The teams will investigate and take action as appropriate. (Be sure to pick “Too Many Families/Too Many People” when making a complaint.)
Complaints not related to boarding houses will be dealt with by other county inspectors.
Countywide Enforcement Statistics
This chart shows the teams' current investigations and enforcement actions countywide.
| District | Open Cases |
Cases closed by the teams |
Cases referred for criminal prosecution |
Cases delivered to County Attorney for civil prosecution |
| Braddock | 9 | 20 | 2 | 5 |
| Dranesville | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Hunter Mill | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Lee | 57 | 39 | 26 | 32 |
| Mason | 53 | 34 | 24 | 22 |
| Mount Vernon | 21 | 13 | 7 | 4 |
| Providence | 9 | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| Springfield | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Sully | 15 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 177 | 131 | 67 | 72 |
Figures accurate as of 7/18/08.
How Many People May Live In a House?
The county’s zoning ordinance says:
- No more than four unrelated people may live in a house
It is illegal to operate a boarding house without the proper permits. However, other zoning rules govern how many people can live in a house.
Other Neighborhood Complaints
How to complain about noise, grass, signs and other issues.