The Planning Division (PD) maintains the County’s Comprehensive Plan and processes all suggested and required amendments to the Plan text and map; evaluates land use and development proposals for conformity with the Comprehensive Plan and measures related environmental, development and public facility impacts; prepares various planning and policy studies which explore development, land use, environmental and public facility issues, and offers recommendations for future direction; and assists in the development of the County’s Capital Improvement Program.
If you need assistance with a question regarding the Comprehensive Plan, including information about Comprehensive Plan amendments, what types of land uses are permitted in a specific location, heritage resources, public facilities, or environmental policy, please contact the Planner of the Day by phone at 703-324-1380 or by email at dpzpd@fairfaxcounty.gov.
The Planning Division consists of five branches that perform the duties listed below.
Environmental Policy & Plan Development
- Supports environmentally-focused comprehensive planning initiatives
- Conducts Comprehensive Plan updates, amendments, and planning studies
- Provides Wetlands Board and Airports Advisory Committee support
Heritage Resources & Plan Development
- Conducts Historic Preservation Planning and provides Architectural Review Board and History Commission support
- Provides interpretations of the County’s Comprehensive Plan
- Conducts Comprehensive Plan updates, amendments, planning studies
Monitoring & Plan Development
- Interprets and assembles data for Land Use and Transportation Studies
- Prepares county employment forecasts for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and others
- Assesses Comprehensive Plan development potential
- Conducts Comprehensive Plan updates, amendments, and trends analyses
Policy & Plan Development
- Provides interpretations of the County’s Comprehensive Plan
- Conducts Comprehensive Plan updates, amendments, and planning studies
- Manages the Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process
Public Facilities & Development Review
- Conducts public facilities planning and review
- Assists with the Capital Improvements Program
- Reviews zoning applications for conformance with the Comprehensive Plan
- Reviews Interjurisdictional, ROW Vacation and Conservation Easement requests
- Manages the Agricultural and Forestal District (A&F) Program