Zoning Permits Section

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our offices are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
703-222-1082 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 250
Fairfax, VA 22035
Leslie Johnson
Zoning Administrator

Sign Permits - Frequently Asked Questions

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Article 7 of the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance regulates signage within Fairfax County.

Our office con be reached by phone at (703) 324-4300 or by email at DPDMailforZPB-SPS@FairfaxCounty.gov.

An application may take approximately 14 calendar days to process if no additional information is requested or required. 

The sign permit will include fees related to zoning, building, and electric. Fees are calculated based on the number and types of signs and must be paid prior to application submission.

Yes, an approved certificate of occupancy, known as a Nonresidential Use Permit (NonRUP) is required to be listed on the sign permit application. An issued New Tenant Layout permit (NTL) may be substituted if a NonRUP has not been approved.

An application may require the following documents:

Property Owner Permission Letter: A signed letter from the property owner/agent authorizing the applicant to install a sign on the property with valid contact information (name, title, business address, email address and phone number) and dated within six (6) months of submittal. This document type is only required if the applicant is not the property owner.

Sign Rendering: One color rendering of each proposed sign to include the length, width and height of each sign. If a sign includes two sign faces, include the measurement between the sign faces and the angle between the sign faces if they are not parallel. If the sign is building-mounted, show the location of the sign on the building. All renderings should be drawn to scale. This document type is always required. 

Site Plan: One site plan drawn to scale, showing the location of the sign and the distance of the sign from the nearest property line in a residential district or to the nearest curb line in a commercial or industrial district. This document type is required only if a freestanding sign is proposed.

Building Plans. Stamped, engineered plans that provide details on how the sign(s) will be constructed and installed. Building plans should not be uploaded when the application is initially submitted. If building plans are required, the applicant will receive a separate notification with additional details after the application is submitted. Building plans should not be uploaded when the application is initially submitted.

Stamped sealed drawings are required for new freestanding signs over six feet in height, and new awnings. Building plan review is required for all freestanding signs over six feet in height, and new awnings. For information regarding building plan review, please contact Land Development Services Building Plan Review office at (703) 631-5101.

Yes, however illuminated signs must meet the outdoor lighting standards set forth by subsection 5109.3.B of the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance which states: "Internally illuminated signs must have an opaque background with translucent text and symbols, or a translucent background that is not white, off-white, or yellow in color."

Banner signs and popsicle style signs are considered minor signs and do not require sign permits, provided they meet the requirements of Article 7 of the Zoning Ordinance.

The Zoning Ordinance prohibits these types of signs.

Article 7 of the Zoning Ordinance regulates the allowable calculation methods which can be used when measuring the area of a building mounted sign. Further, please see the  "Calculating the Area of a Building Mounted Sign" brochure.

Article 7 of the Zoning Ordinance regulates the allowable calculation methods which can be used when measuring the area of a freestanding sign. Further, please see the "Calculating the Area of a Freestanding Sign" brochure.

ARB approval is required when a proposed sign is located within a Historic Overlay District.

Tax Map Number of a property can be determined by using the Fairfax County’s Real Estate Assessment property search database:

Zoning and overlay districts of properties within Fairfax County can be determined by utilizing the Planning & Zoning viewer, selecting the zoning basemap & turning on the overlay layer.

You can search for applicable zoning cases (rezoning, special permits, special exceptions, or comprehensive sign plans) in PLUS by utilizing the property’s Tax Map Number or address. 

Permit history of a property can be researched in PLUS. Some permits and permit information, specifically older permits are kept within the Zoning Permit Section Street Files and may not be located in PLUS. Street files may be reviewed in person by contacting the Zoning Permit Section at 703-222-1082.

The Zoning Permits Section does not provide pre-approval reviews of proposed signs. Staff may be able to provide limited information based on recently approved permits if it is available.

The Zoning Permits Section does not offer expedited sign permit review or approvals. 

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