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

How to Report a Violation to DCC


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.

Before You Report

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:

  • Choose a calm, neutral time to talk
  • Focus on the specific issue, not the person
  • Explain how the issue affects you or the neighborhood
  • Ask if they're aware of the situation
  • Give them time to address the problem
  • Offer assistance to correct the problem

Contact Fairfax County Police (non-emergency: 703-691-2131) or call 911 if:

  • You witness criminal activity
  • There is an immediate threat to safety or property
  • You know there are dangerous individuals at the property
  • You’re observing human trafficking or exploitation
  • There is illegal drug activity
  • Someone is in immediate danger

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.

Ways to Report

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

  • Complete street address including any unit or suite number (required)
  • Business Name (if applicable)
  • Specific location on the property where the violation is occurring (e.g., "back yard," "driveway," "front porch")
  • Nearby landmarks or identifiable features if the address is unclear

2. Description of the Problem

  • What you're seeing or experiencing
  • How long the issue has been happening
  • Whether it's ongoing or happens at specific times

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

  • Time of day (if relevant)
  • Days of the week
  • How often (daily, weekly, occasionally)

4. Impact on You or the Neighborhood

When applicable, explain how the violation affects you or the community. Examples of impact include:

  • "Cars are blocking the sidewalk, making it impossible to walk past"
  • "Overgrown vegetation is blocking sight lines at the intersection"
  • "Trash and debris are attracting rats to the neighborhood"

5. Photos or Video (Helpful but Not Required)

Photos or video can significantly help our investigation, but we understand safety concerns:

  • Take photos from public areas (sidewalk, street) if you feel safe doing so
  • Include date and time stamps if possible
  • Show the overall property and close-ups of specific issues
  • Never put yourself in danger to take photos

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:

  • We can ask follow-up questions to better understand the situation
  • We can keep you updated on the case status
  • We can let you know when the issue has been resolved
  • We can clarify details if your initial complaint is unclear

Your privacy matters:

  • Your contact information is never automatically shared with property owners
  • We will never share your information without proper legal process and in accordance with Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests

Requirements for Anonymous Complaints

If you choose to remain anonymous, your complaint must include sufficient detail for us to investigate:

  • Time/Date/Recurrence: When does the violation occur?
  • Description: What is the specific violation?
  • Location: Where exactly on the property is the issue?
  • Impact: How does it affect the neighborhood or safety?

Without this information, we may not be able to accept anonymous complaints because we have no way to ask follow-up questions.

What Happens After You Report?

Our intake team reviews every complaint to ensure:

  • It's not a duplicate of an existing case
  • It contains enough information to investigate
  • It's within DCC's jurisdiction

If accepted, your complaint is assigned to an investigator who will:

  • Contact you (if you provided contact information) within an estimated 4 days
  • Conduct research on the property
  • Perform a site inspection within an estimated 14 days
  • Attempt to contact the property owner

The investigator will determine if a violation exists. During this process, they may:

  • Work with the property owner to gain voluntary compliance
  • Issue a Notice of Violation with a deadline for correction
  • Conduct follow-up inspections
  • Pursue legal action if necessary

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:

  • Duplicate a case that's already open
  • Were filed within 30 days of a closed case (unless new information is provided)
  • Are anonymous and lack sufficient detail
  • Have a documented history of being repetitive and unfounded
  • Are objectively retaliatory, harassing, or discriminatory
  • Are outside DCC's jurisdiction (e.g., criminal matters, purely aesthetic concerns)

If your complaint is not accepted, we will notify you (if contact information was provided) and explain why.

Common Code Violations We Investigate

Note: For commercial buildings, contact the Office of the Fire Marshall

Please note that DCC does not handle:

  • Criminal activity (contact Police)
  • Noise complaints occurring after business hours (contact Police non-emergency: 703-691-2131). Note: If the noise is recurring, and is not causing an immediate problem, or Police are otherwise unable to respond, you may file the complaint with DCC. DCC Investigators will schedule a time to conduct a nighttime investigation.
  • Parking enforcement on public streets (contact Police non-emergency: 703-691-2131 or find more information here: Parking Resources | Police)
  • Private covenant or HOA disputes unless specifically governed by a County approval, entitlement, or proffered condition
  • Disputes over property boundaries
  • Aesthetic preferences such as paint colors, landscaping style, etc.
  • See our homepage for other common topics which may be resolved by other agencies.

.

How DCC Protects Your Privacy

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: 

  • Where and when the issue is occurring (e.g. time, date, how often, locations on the property)
  • Description of the potential violation
  • Explanation of the negative impacts  

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.

  • Non-Exempt FOIA Requests: Complaints about running bamboo or grass height are not exempt, your identity may be released.
  • Legal Requirements: Personal information may be disclosed if required by law, including through court orders or subpoenas. 

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. 

Close
Fairfax Virtual Assistant