A floodplain use determination is required when a proposed development activity is in or near a regulatory floodplain. Pursuant to Zoning Ordinance subsection 5105.2.A, the director of Land Development Services must review all proposed uses and development to determine whether the land on which the proposed use or development is located is within a floodplain and if so, will determine whether the proposed use or development may be permitted in accordance with county floodplain regulations.

Depending on the scope of your project, you may need to apply for a separate building permit record in PLUS. To determine whether your project requires a permit, visit When a Permit is Required. Once you determine the appropriate record type, review the associated Permit Library guide to find details regarding the submission and review process.

This information is the most common for how to obtain the necessary approval for your project and is not representative of all the conditions you may encounter.

 

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Property owners or their duly authorized agents may submit a floodplain use determination request.

• Verify License on DPOR Website
• Hiring a Contractor

 

PLAN AHEAD

Before submitting, ensure you are aware of all applicable regulations and conditions that could affect your project to avoid surprises during the review process. Some of those factors include:

• Zoning Information
• Design Codes and Standards
• Do I Need to Hire a Design Professional?
• Floodplains
• Resource Protection Areas (RPA)
• Grading/Site Plans
• Parking Tabulation
• Types of Soils and Problem Soils
• Researching Site Conditions

To get a detailed description about each regulation and condition, visit our Plan Ahead page.

 

HOW DO I SUBMIT MY RECORD?

PLUS Application

Apply for your floodplain use determination online in PLUS under the Site tab. If you are a first-time user, you must first register for an account.

 

 

Tutorial on Uploading Plans and Documents in PLUS

Helpful Instruction Guide:

• Uploading Plans and Documents

 

 

Requirements

Depending on the scope of your project, one or more of the following may be required:
 

First Submissions:

• Floodplain Use Determination Request Form – complete and upload as directed.
• Exhibit or Site-Related Plan – A plan depicting proposed land disturbing activity and proposed improvements on the subject property sufficient for the county to assess any impacts to regulatory floodplain boundaries or water surface elevations. The exhibit or plan/house location plat must show location of work on the lot, the floodplain boundary, and, if known, the flood elevations with source.
• Elevation Information – For residential additions permitted under Zoning Ordinance subsection 5105.3.A(9), include the elevation, referenced to NGVD29/NAVD88i, of the lowest part of the lowest floor (e.g., the bottom of the floor joists or top of a concrete slab on grade) of the proposed improvement. Include the elevation of electrical and mechanical equipment, and plumbing appliances and plumbing fixtures, and other service equipment.
• Itemized Cost Estimate - For additions under 5105c.3.A(9): provide an itemized cost estimate. See the Fairfax County Substantial Improvement Cost Estimate Form for further instruction.
• Signatory Paperwork – When the legal property owner is not otherwise an individual, please provide a copy of the appropriate signatory paperwork for the legal entity owning the property to properly identify signature authority (e.g., operating agreement, corporation, or trustee paperwork).
• Proof of Ownership - For new owner(s), not otherwise listed in the county’s Real Estate Assessment site, please provide sufficient evidence of current ownership.

Note: If the proposed project does not qualify as a permitted use under subsection 5105.3 of the Zoning Ordinance, do not proceed with an FPUD record submission; instead, a Special Exception is required. Contact the Department of Planning and Development for more information on submitting a Special Exception application.

 

Subsequent Submissions:

• Digital signature - verifiable digital signature of the licensed design professional
• Applicant responses - enter responses to all open issues in the PLUS Digital Plan Room
• Review fee

Helpful Videos:

 Reviewing Issues, Conditions, & Notes in PLUS - YouTube

 Upload Corrected Plans in PLUS - YouTube

Helpful Instruction Guides:

• Corrections Required
• VOID Sheet Process

 

What's Next?

To get a step-by-step guide on PLUS statuses and what they mean, see our What is My PLUS Status? Site Plans Infographic.

 

Review Process

Staff from the Site Development and Inspections Division will review your package for completeness and compliance with applicable codes and county ordinances. You will be notified of any deficiencies. Corrections and additional supporting documents may be required.

• Queue Times
• Fees
• Workflow Routing Slip to track review and plan assignment

For a detailed summary of application progress, to include the name(s) of assigned review staff, click on “Reports” in the top-right corner of the PLUS screen, when you are in a specific record, and select “Workflow Routing Slip Report.”

Plan and Permit Issuance

Once all reviews are approved, your floodplain use determination will be available to download from PLUS.

Helpful Video:

 Access Approved Plans in PLUS - YouTube Video