Utility permits are required when dry utility lines are proposed to be placed within rights-of-way which have not yet been accepted into the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) system and/or for proposed work within county easements or on county-owned property.
Utility operators must obtain a Utility Permit to install dry utilities not shown on the originally approved site-related plan (i.e., subdivision, site, or public improvement plan) which are to be installed as part of the original development of the property. The related property is being constructed under a bonded plan, so the associated utility installation falls under Fairfax County control, further regulated by Chapter 2: Property Under County Control, of The Code of The County of Fairfax. Utility permits are also required for property that is under Fairfax County control through ownership or easement agreements, including Chapter 2 Roads (unimproved non-county-maintained rights-of-way that have not been accepted into the VDOT secondary system and are named after the county code chapter describing procedures for managing county-owned property).
ON THIS PAGE
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?
Developers, landowners, utility companies or their duly authorized agents may submit utility permit applications on their own, however, the plan itself must be certified by a professional engineer, land surveyor, architect or landscape architect licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia and meeting the respective code requirements.
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 utility company operations record 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
Requirements
Depending on the scope of your project, one or more of the following may be required:
- Land Disturbance Permit Application
- Certificate of Compliance for Utility Operations Form
- Utility Permit Cost Sheet
- Notice and Utility Permit Submission Checklist
- Land Use Permit Manual
- Utility Installation Sketch or Plans
- Traffic control plan (for work performed in the roadway)
Helpful Videos:
Upload Corrected Plans - YouTube
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 Application Center will review your package for completeness and compliance with applicable codes and county ordinances. You will be notified of any deficiencies. Plan 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, fees have been paid and all associated post-approval conditions have been satisfied, your land disturbance permit and approved plans will be available to download from PLUS.
Helpful Video:
Approved Plans - YouTube Video
Site Inspections
Before beginning any land disturbing activities associated with your approved site/grading plan and land disturbance permit, you are required to request a pre-construction meeting. Before requesting your pre-construction meeting, certain items must be completed such as an approved Virginia 811 ticket. To review all required items, visit the Site Inspection page.
Conservation/Bond Release
The release of the associated conservation deposit is coordinated with your site inspector upon project completion. For any process-related questions, please contact the Bonds and Agreements Center via email or phone at 703-222-0801, TTY 711.
