The process of seeking a rezoning, special exception, special permit, or variance from Fairfax County consists of a detailed review and analysis of the proposal by staff, the Fairfax County Planning Commission (PC), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and/or the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).
Section 8101 of the Zoning Ordinance lists all submission requirements by application type. If a waiver of the submission requirement is requested, then a justification statement must be submitted. Required fees associated with these applications will be paid online through the PLUS system.
Zoning Case Pre-application Consultation
If you are contemplating filing a rezoning, special exception, special permit or variance application and are not sure exactly what type of application you will need, please call the Zoning Evaluation Division at 703-324-1290 to speak with our Planner of the Day. A pre-application consultation is a service that the Zoning Evaluation Division offers to those who know that they need to file a zoning application. To request learn more about pre-application process and to request a pre-application consultation online, please visit the Zoning Case Pre-Application Consultation webpage.
Rezoning
All requests to change the existing zoning designation of a parcel require the submission of a rezoning application. For more information, please review the rezoning process webpage.
Rezoning – Conventional Application Package (Updated July 2021)
Rezoning "P" District Application Package (Updated July 2021)
Comprehensive Sign Plan Application Requirements and Instructions
Special Exception
All special exception requests require the submission of a special exception application package. For more information, please review the special exception process webpage.
Special Exception Application Package (Updated July 2021)
Special Permit
All special permit requests require the submission of a special permit application package. For more information, please review the special permit process webpage.
Special Permit Application Package (Updated July 2021)
Variance
All variance requests require the submission of a variance application package. For more information, please review the variance process webpage.
Variance Application Package (Updated July 2021)
