Fairfax County needs plumbers, electricians, general contractors, landscapers, arborists, and similar trades or service providers to ensure that our homes, offices and industrial properties are well maintained. These types of service providers are considered “contractor’s offices and shops” under the Zoning Ordinance. A contractor’s office and shop is allowed in the C-8, Commercial District; the I-3, I-4, I-5, and I-6 Industrial Districts; and, in the PTC, Planned Tysons Corner Urban District. Contractor’s offices and shops are also subject to the general standards for all commercial and industrial use, as well as additional use-specific standards. For example, outdoor storage of commercial equipment, vehicles, materials and supplies is a common feature of this use and is regulated as follows.

• In the I-3 and I-4 Districts, outdoor storage may not exceed 2,000 square feet in area;
• In the C-8 District, outdoor storage may not exceed 1,000 square feet in area; and
• In all districts where the use is permitted, outdoor storage cannot be located in any front yard, and must be contained within an area enclosed by a solid fence or wall of at least six feet in height.

If the contractor only needs a space to store their vehicles and equipment, and there are no onsite business functions, the use is likely considered a storage yard rather than a contractor’s office and shop. Storage yards are permitted in the I-3, I-4, I-5, and I-6 Districts.

It is important to remember that establishing a use requires County approval of a nonresidential use permit (certificate of occupancy), site plan, and/or construction permits. Please plan ahead.

If you have questions, want to make a report, or if you are the subject of enforcement and need to contact us, DCC is here to help. You can report problems online, learn about what happens during an investigation, reach us via email, by phone (703-324-1300 / TTY 711), or visit us in person at 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 1016, Fairfax, VA 22035.