Code Compliance

CONTACT INFORMATION: Code Compliance is open 8AM - 4PM Mon-Thurs and 9:15AM - 4PM Fridays.
703-324-1300 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 1016
Fairfax, VA 22035
Gabriel M. Zakkak
Director

Department Resources

Illegal Dumping

Illegal dumping - or the unlawful deposit of litter, trash, refuse, or other materials onto someone else’s property - is a complex issue to solve. Illegal dumping often occurs outside of plain sight, sporadically, and in many different locations. Evidence necessary to carry out enforcement may be difficult to collect, and root causes (e.g. lack of access to facilities, sociocultural influences, environmental factors, or insufficient legal deterrents) are difficult to address. Regardless, illegal dumping is an antisocial behavior that pollutes our environment and may be symptomatic of other issues impacting a community.

Fairfax County responds to reports of illegal dumping through coordination by several county departments as well as other non-County agencies having jurisdiction (e.g. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality or Virginia Department of Transportation). The Department of Code Compliance (DCC) is designated as the lead agency for any illegal dumping case brought to their attention, either directly by a complainant, or referred from another agency. However, reports and complaints are often received directly by any of the several coordinating agencies, and each agency may handle a case independently depending on the circumstances and areas of responsibility. Our goal is always to address the case as efficiently as possible through the agency (or agencies) having jurisdiction.

  1. Anyone may contact Department of Code Compliance (DCC) via telephone at 703-324-1300, TTY 711, or report online, or another agency directs a complaint they receive to DCC.
  2. DCC will determine responsibility for addressing the complaint and will open a case to document the report for tracking purposes.
  3. Once responsibility has been assigned to the appropriate agency or agencies, staff will conduct work toward addressing the issue.

  • DCC may address reports of accumulated trash and debris on private property, primarily through enforcement of Outdoor Storage.
  • Based on the location, a case will be assigned to the DCC Division Supervisor who oversees that section of the County.
  • Standards steps to a DCC Investigation can be found on our About Us webpage.

DCC will contact the appropriate County agency to explain the issue and to provide the information obtained from reporting party. It then becomes the responsibility of the receiving agency to address the issue.

A list of common litter (i.e. illegal dumping) complaints and how they are handled can be found on the County’s website for litter control. Additional examples are listed below:

  1. Dumping on or along public streets, sidewalks, or rights-of-way: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) 800-FOR-ROAD
  2. Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Release or Spill: Call 911 for emergency services. If you are reporting a "fish kill", contact Virginia DEQ through the 24/7 Virginia Emergency Operations Center at 800-468-8892.
  3. Abandoned/Inoperable Vehicles: Fairfax County Police or DCC depending on the number of vehicles and other issues that may be present on the property. Find more information about vehicles on private property on our website.
  4. Construction Site Issues: Land Development Services - Construction Hotline 703-324-7470, TTY 711
  5. Dilapidated and deteriorated structures: DCC Property Maintenance Enforcement.
  6. Failing waste handling systems inside a building (e.g. trash chutes): DCC Property Maintenance Enforcement.
  7. Exterior waste management issues (e.g. overflowing dumpsters or problems with commercial haulers at apartment complex): Report online, to be handled by Department of Public Works and Environmental Services-Solid Waste Management (DPWES-MSW) - 703-324-5230, TTY 711
  8. Dumping on County-owned Property: Facilities Management Department (FMD) 703-324-2825, TTY 711
  9. Dumping on County Parks or issues associated with property or facilities regulated by Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA): go to FCPA 703-324-8700, TTY 711
  10. Dumping or other illicit discharge into a storm drain: Stormwater Planning Division, 703-324-5500, TTY 711 or complete the online form.

Complaints are routinely handled cooperatively among multiple agencies within this arrangement.

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