Land Development Services Alert:
The 2026 Unit Price Schedule (UPS) will go into effect on March 1, 2026. This formulaic change reflects a 2.8% increase linked to inflation as published in the Engineering News-Record 2026 Construction Cost Index (published in February 2026). Affected submittals include the following:
In the case of development agreement extension and replacement requests, if the estimated value using the 2026 UPS exceeds the existing posted amount, the county will require supplemental security before approval of the request. As noted above, all bond reductions must be calculated using the 2026 UPS.
The 2026 UPS will be available at the Forms & Publications Library on March 1, 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact Morgan Wolfe in the Bonds and Agreements Center at 703-324-1519, TTY 711.
When a land development project is initiated in Fairfax County, improvements to the public infrastructure, such as streets, sidewalks, utilities and other bondable items, may be required. Learn more about Bonds and Agreements.
Land Development Services (LDS) Building Division (BD) has updated the Sewer and/or Water Service Connection Agreement to align with the requirements of the Code of the County of Fairfax.
These updates clarify when a single sewer and/or water service connection may serve more than one building or business establishment on a lot and ensure that all such arrangements are properly documented, legally enforceable, and consistent with County Code provisions.
The updated Sewer and/or Water Service Connection Agreement is available directly at the link below:
Click here for a copy of the Sewer and/or Water Service Agreement Form
The document is also available through the LDS Forms and Publication Library.
Applicants and design professionals should begin using the updated agreement immediately for all applicable projects.
If you have any questions regarding when this agreement is required or how it applies to your project, please contact the Fairfax County Building Division at (703) 222-0801, TTY 711.
Fairfax County Land Development Services has published guidance to help property owners, contractors, and design professionals understand how construction on one property can affect trees on an adjoining property. Excavation, grading, and equipment activity near property lines can damage root systems that often extend well beyond the trunk, creating long-term decline or failure of otherwise healthy trees. The guidance encourages early communication between neighbors, review of approved development plans, and use of certified arborists to evaluate potential impacts and recommend practical protection measures such as root zone barriers, adjusted grading limits, and monitoring during construction. This guidance was created to improve awareness of shared responsibility and to promote proactive steps that reduce conflict while protecting community tree canopy.
Industry professionals are encouraged to incorporate consideration of neighboring trees early in site planning and construction sequencing. Recommended practices include verifying limits of disturbance near property lines, documenting existing tree conditions, coordinating access agreements when protective measures are needed off-site, and consulting a qualified arborist when significant roots may be affected. These actions can help avoid damage, project delays, and post-construction claims.
Fairfax County has been made aware of fraudulent emails sent to applicants that appear to come from the Department of Planning and Development. These messages may reference real application numbers or upcoming hearings and may include fake invoices requesting wire transfers or other forms of payment.
These emails are not from the county. Staff will never request payment through unsolicited emails, wire transfers or invoices sent outside of the official PLUS system. Official fee payments are exclusively processed through the PLUS system using ACH/eCheck, credit card or, in limited instances, a physical check.
If you receive an email that seems suspicious, contains unexpected payment instructions (especially a request for a wire transfer), or appears to impersonate a county employee:
Protect yourself by confirming the source of any financial request before responding. Read the full NewsCenter Article about these scams.
On December 9, 2025, the Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted amendments to Chapter 124.1 (Erosion and Stormwater Management Ordinance). The amendments update Chapter 124.1 to implement changes to the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Regulation (Regulation) and clarify existing requirements in the Erosion and Stormwater Management Ordinance. The changes to the water quality control requirements related to the Regulation were implemented by Land Development Services on July 1, 2025, as required by the Regulation (See Letter to Industry #25-05). For detailed information on the adopted amendments, visit Public Facilities Manual and County Code Amendments | Land Development Services.
Living shorelines are effective strategies that can be utilized along tidal shorelines, to protect natural resources and minimize negative impacts. Land Development Services created a Living Shoreline webpage which provides guidance and resources to support projects involving living shoreline features. This new web resource includes a map to identify tidal shorelines in Fairfax County, where living shorelines may be implemented, provides tools to guide designers in decision making, outlines the approval process to obtain necessary permits and approvals from various agencies, and offers contacts for additional support to property owners, designers and contractors pursuing projects involving living shorelines.
Pavement designs for streets within approved site related plans, must be submitted as plan revisions in PLUS. All pavement designs must be signed and sealed by a licensed professional engineer or land surveyor.
Public Streets
Pavement designs for all streets within existing or proposed public right-of-way will be subject to VDOT review, which will generally follow the workflows for plan review outlined in Technical Bulletin 26-01.
When submitting the plan revision in PLUS, the applicant must select “no” to the ESI review field shown below in the PLUS interface.
Private Streets
Pavement designs for privately maintained streets will be reviewed by Fairfax County, for conformance with the Public Facilities Manual, based on review times described in Technical Bulletin 25-06 corresponding to the timelines associated with a revision to the associated plan (e.g., Site Plan, Rough Grading Plan).
Designated Plans Examiners (DPEs) may request an expedited pavement design review through the Engineering Surveyors Institute (ESI), by selecting “yes” to the ESI review field shown below in the PLUS interface.
The ESI expedited review is subject to an additional review fee, to be billed by ESI to the applicant directly. The expedited submission must include the following statement signed by the DPE:
This pavement design is in conformance with the requirements of the Fairfax County Public Facilities Manual and is submitted for approval under the Designated Plans Examiner Program.
ESI expedited review will be completed within 2-3 business days.
On October 14, 2025, the Board of Supervisors (Board) authorized public hearings on amendments to Chapter 124.1 (Erosion and Stormwater Management Ordinance) before the Planning Commission on November 12, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. and before the Board on December 9, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. The amendments update Chapter 124.1 to implement changes to the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Regulation (Regulation) and clarify existing requirements in the Erosion and Stormwater Management Ordinance. The changes to the water quality control requirements related to the Regulation were implemented by Land Development Services on July 1, 2025, as required by the Regulation (See Letter to Industry #25-05). For detailed information on the proposed amendments and public hearing schedule, visit Public Facilities Manual and County Code Amendments | Land Development Services.
Effective immediately, the Health Department’s Onsite Sewage and Well Water Section will no longer conduct reviews of Infill Grading Plans (INFs) until an Onsite Sewage System Design (HOSSA) has been approved. This change is intended to streamline the review process and reduce the need for multiple re-reviews by our plan review staff.
If you have any questions regarding this process change, please contact the Health Department at HDEHD@fairfaxcounty.gov.
On September 9, 2025, the Board of Supervisors (Board) authorized advertisement of public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board to consider proposed amendments to the Subdivision and Zoning Ordinances necessary to implement changes required by changes to the Code of Virginia §§15.2-2259 and 15.2-2260 made by Chapter 100 of the 2025 Virginia Acts of the Assembly (House Bill 2660) and Chapter 594 of the 2025 Virginia Acts of the Assembly (Senate Bill 974), which became effective on July 1, 2025.
The amendments:
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on October 8, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., in the Board Auditorium at 12000 Government Center Parkway. Information on ways to testify can be found on Ways to Provide Public Hearing Testimony.
The Board will hold a public hearing on October 28, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., in the Board Auditorium. Information on the ways to testify can be found on Ways to Provide Public Hearing Testimony.
If adopted, the amendments are proposed to become effective October 29, 2025.
A copy of the staff report may also be found under the “Proposed Amendments Authorized for Public Hearing” section on the Public Facilities Manual and County Code Amendments | Land Development Services (fairfaxcounty.gov) webpage.
For more information contact Jerry Stonefield, Site Code Research and Development, Land Development Services, at 703-324-1791, TTY 711.