Land Development Services

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Friday, 9:15 a.m. - 4 p.m. Please note that visitors may not be added to in-person queues past 3:45 p.m.
703-222-0801 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Pkwy
Fairfax, VA 22035
Bill Hicks
Director

Department Resources

Off-Street Parking

Newly Adopted Amendment

On Sept. 26, 2023, the Board of Supervisors adopted changes to the Zoning Ordinance parking regulations, effective Jan. 1, 2024. 

The Zoning Ordinance and the Public Facilities Manual (PFM) are the tools used to measure and design site parking. The primary changes to the Zoning Ordinance include:

  • Simple and clear parking-related processes and minimum parking rates
  • Lower minimum requirements related to planned land density
  • More parking adjustment (reduction) options
  • New minimum bicycle parking requirements

Related Resources

Parking Reimagined Project FAQs
County News Article on Parking Reimagined

Why the Change?

Vehicle parking drives many elements of land-use design and decision-making. It also consumes land area. The adopted changes to parking requirements have major land use benefits:

  • Adjusting the amount of parking to avoid excessive and unused parking lots and garages.
  • Right-sizing parking to increase efficient design, community benefit, and reduce the environmental impact.
  • Creating parking tailored to community planning and transportation using a  tiered framework.
  • Allowing for more flexibility and predictability to parking decisions.

Determining Parking Supply

New tools are available to assist customers in determining their minimum parking need including a parking calculator (available soon). The calculator can be used to determine a minimum parking requirement for a site. The Parking Reimagined GIS map is useful to quickly determine what parking requirement tier is applicable to your site.

Zoning Ordinance Subsections 6100.1, 6100.4 and 6100.5 outline:

  • When a parking tabulation is required.
  • What the baseline minimum parking requirements are by use.
  • How to use an applied tiered framework for minimum parking requirements.

The changes to the Zoning Ordinance are intended to limit the times when a parking tabulation is necessary.

Other modifications in Subsection 6100.1 provide more flexibility for use changes within existing sites without the need for additional parking spaces.

Related Resources

Parking Tier Analysis Interactive Map
Parking Calculator

 

Modifications to Parking

Land Development Services is involved in off-street parking management in three primary areas:

Formerly known as parking reductions, these are opportunities to lower the supplied parking below any minimum requirement. A formal justification by a professional engineer is required. Parking adjustment options and criteria are found in Subsection 6100.6.

Below is an example table of a new standard shared parking calculation available in the Zoning Ordinance. This is provided for guidance on these types of submittals.

Use Variables # of Spaces Weekday Daytime Weekday Evening Weekend Daytime Weekend Evening
Multi-Family 1.3 x 300 units 390 0.6 x 390 = 234 1.0 x 390 = 390 0.9 x 390 = 351 1.0 x 390 = 390
Office 2.0 x 125,000 GSF 250 1.0 x 250 = 250 0.05 x 250 = 12 0.05 x 250 = 12 0.05 x 250 = 12
Hotel 1.0 x 150 rooms 150 0.8 x 150 = 120 1.0 x 150 = 150 0.8 x 150 = 120 1.0 x 150 = 150
Restaurant 8.0 x 6,500 GSF 52 0.5 x 52 = 26 0.8 x 52 = 41 0.8 x 52 = 41 1.0 x 52 = 52
Commercial Uses 4.0 x 50,000 GSF 200 0.6 x 200 = 120 0.9 x 200 = 180 1.0 x 200 = 200 0.7 x 200 = 140
Total Spaces   1042 750 773 724 744
Req'd Parking       773    

Variables relate to the applicable rate in Section 6 of the Zoning Ordinance. For square footages, convert 1,000s to a decimal place. Example: 100,000 gross square feet = 100; 6,500 gross square feet = 6.5.

 

A parking redesignation plan shows a proposed re-striping of the layout of site parking spaces. Submission of this plan is required when parking spaces are redesignated (added, eliminated, re-arranged or reconfigured) at a site and no other changes require submission of a site plan or minor site plan. The redesignation plan cannot reduce the number of site spaces below the minimum requirement.

parking spaces rearranged

Please refer to the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance Section 6100.1.B, and Section 6100.1.D. for information on the submission of a parking tabulation.  The 2024 update of the tabulation form is here: Parking Tabulation Form.  It can also be accessed under the Parking Study (PKS) section of the Permit Library.

Opt-in to Planned Tysons Corner (PTC) Rates

For existing sites in the Tysons Urban Core and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) districts, an option is available to assume the lower parking rates for these areas. Requests to reduce the number of parking spaces in these areas are submitted as Tysons Rate Redesignations (i.e., Tysons Opt-ins). The addition of an eligible use at the property will require approval from LDS when changes to the site require submission of a site plan, a minor site plan, a parking tabulation or a 2-step parking redesignation submission.


Bicycle Parking

New minimum rates for bicycle parking and other design and location requirements were established in 2024 to ensure the placement of bicycle facilities. The requirements apply to all forms of development.


Notification Tool for New Parking Adjustment Applications

LDS offers a monthly notification service to receive monthly updates about new parking adjustment applications.

Subscribe to Email Notifications

PLUS Applications

Related Resources


 

 


Need Help? Call 703-222-0801, TTY 711.

Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

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