Department Resources

Projects and Initiatives

The Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development conducts many high-profile projects and studies, as well as proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Ordinance. Additional information for each highlighted initiative is available by selecting the links below:

Exceptional Design Awards

Sponsored by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and administered by the Department of Planning and Development and the Architectural Review Board, the James M. Scott Exceptional Design Awards program recognizes achievement in the total design of building and site; and creates an awareness of outstanding planning and design projects among design professions and the general public.

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Plan Forward

Fairfax County has launched a new, multi-year project to update policies that guide how land is developed. Called Plan Forward, the project focuses specifically on the Policy Plan which is a component of the Comprehensive Plan, the county’s long-term vision for land use. Plan Forward is an important opportunity to ensure updated Comprehensive Plan policies such as land use, housing, sustainability, and transportation, enhance the quality of life for our residents.

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Gum Springs Study

Through collaboration with the Gum Springs community, the heritage resources study will:

Identify the historical themes and cultural narratives of the community from its founding through the early 1970s
Identify buildings and sites that contribute to significant historic themes of the Gum Springs community
Compile existing oral histories, and
Conduct new oral histories.

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Lorton Core Study

The County is undertaking the Lorton Visioning 2040 study to bolster the sense of place within the Lorton community over the next 20 years. The study will identify and analyze existing and future assets and resources within the Lorton area, and evaluate and recommend revisions to the Comprehensive Plan for land use, placemaking, parks and recreational areas, environmental corridors, historic resources, public facilities, multi-modal transportation infrastructure, and other supporting infrastructure that reflects the community’s future vision.

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Outdoor Lighting Standards

To reduce unwanted glare, Section 5109 of the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance contains standards for outdoor lighting. The Zoning Ordinance outdoor lighting standards are summarized below.

The Zoning Ordinance requirements apply to all outdoor lighting, including within above-ground, open-sided parking structures. Most of the requirements outlined below apply to pole, ground, and building-mounted fixtures. However, the requirements do not apply to public street lights.

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Historic Preservation Info Series

In 2024-2025, Heritage Resources Branch within the Planning Division of the Department of Planning and Development (DPD-HRB) developed a new series of one-page informational sheets introducing commonly used local, state, and national historic preservation tools. This effort represents a first-of-its-kind approach in Fairfax County to make complex preservation concepts accessible for the county residents. Through this series, DPD-HRB aims to highlight the county’s heritage resources and promote their value through advocacy and education.

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Reston Snapshots

Reston is an evolving community of great variety and opportunities. The Reston Snapshots site conveys information on various topics related to the evolution of the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) areas into active transit and pedestrian-oriented neighborhoods with high quality public open spaces.

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State of the Plan

The State of the Plan 2023 report examines the comprehensive planning activities of the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development (DPD) from January 2011 - December 2022. This evaluation identifies major themes in the types, locations, and outcomes of approved changes to the Comprehensive Plan; quantifies the net change in development potential from 2010-2023; and quantifies the percentage of new development potential located within activity centers.

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Department of Planning and Development

Department of Planning and Development Alert: