Code Compliance Alert:
The Department of Code Compliance (DCC) helps maintain safe and healthy neighborhoods in Fairfax County. We respond to complaints about property maintenance, zoning, unpermitted construction, and other quality of life concerns. This guide gives the community an idea of what makes a good complaint, and how you can help us stay safe and operate as effectively as possible.
If you feel safe and comfortable doing so, think about speaking with your neighbor or the business owner about the issue first. Many code violations happen when property owners are unaware of the rules/regulations and do not realize the impact this has on others. A friendly conversation can often resolve the issue faster than a formal complaint.
Tips for Neighbor Conversations:
Contact Fairfax County Police (non-emergency: 703-691-2131) or call 911 if:
Important: DCC does not enforce criminal laws or address public safety threats directly. If you're aware of serious criminal activity, please report it to law enforcement. This information also helps keep our investigators safe when they visit properties.
You can report code violations in several ways:
The more detailed information you provide, the better we can investigate and address the issue. If the report is made anonymously without enough information, then we may decline to accept it.
Here's what helps us most:
1. Property Information
2. Description of the Problem
Example: There has been construction at this address for several months. Work is being done on weekends and evenings. I can see new rooms being built on the back of the house, and I don't see any permit signs posted.
3. When It Happens
4. Impact on You or the Neighborhood
When applicable, explain how the violation affects you or the community. Examples of impact include:
5. Photos or Video (Helpful but Not Required)
Photos or video can significantly help our investigation, but we understand safety concerns:
Note: We understand that taking photos of someone's property can feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Photos are helpful but never required. Your safety comes first.
You can file a complaint anonymously, and we accept anonymous complaints.
However, providing your contact information helps us in several ways:
Requirements for Anonymous Complaints
If you choose to remain anonymous, your complaint must include sufficient detail for us to investigate:
Without this information, we may not be able to accept anonymous complaints because we have no way to ask follow-up questions.
Our intake team reviews every complaint to ensure:
If accepted, your complaint is assigned to an investigator who will:
The investigator will determine if a violation exists. During this process, they may:
Overall Timeline: Most cases are resolved within 120 days, though complex situations may take longer. Our goal is always voluntary compliance before considering legal action.
We may not investigate complaints that:
If your complaint is not accepted, we will notify you (if contact information was provided) and explain why.
Note: For commercial buildings, contact the Office of the Fire Marshall
Please note that DCC does not handle:
We only collect what’s necessary to provide responsive service. We encourage complainants to leave basic contact information, like a telephone or email address while omitting their name.
Anonymous complaints are accepted but may be closed if sufficient information cannot be obtained. We accept anonymous complaints, but rely on a minimum amount of information so we can act on the report, such as:
This type of information helps our Investigative staff act efficiently, effectively, and stay safe when inspecting an unknown property. Vague complaints with no contact information will be closed administratively for lack of detail.
For complaints about zoning, building, or fire code violations, your identity is exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and not disclosed. More information about FOIA can be found on the Office of Public Affairs Website.
Common FOIA exemptions we use include:
Access to your information is always limited to authorized Fairfax County staff for official use only.
Remember: While your identity may be protected, the circumstances of the case and other information may be provided as a public record. Parties subject to a complaint, or found in violation, may guess an identity even if names and contact information are redacted.