Fairfax County Police Department

CONTACT INFORMATION: 24/7 Emergency Response; Office and Program Hours Vary
703-691-2131 TTY 711 (Non-Emergency)
12099 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22035
Kevin Davis
Chief of Police

Department Resources

Public Parking Violations and Resources

no parking sign
Public Streets
How can I report parking violations on public streets?

Call the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications' Non-Emergency phone number at 703-691-2131 or use the link below to submit a parking violation report.

Inoperative (Junk) Vehicles

For information about reporting inoperative vehicles located on private property, see our page about Inoperable Vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Per Code Section 82-5-29:

a. Whenever any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer is found on the public streets or public grounds unattended by the owner or operator and constitutes a hazard to traffic, or is parked in such manner as to be in violation of law, or whenever any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer is left unattended for more than fifteen (15) days upon any public property or privately owned property other than the property of the owner of such motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, or is abandoned upon such public property or privately owned property, without the permission of the owner, lessee or occupant thereof, or whenever any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is stalled or rendered immobile as the result of adverse weather conditions or other emergency situations on any public roadway, any such motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer may be removed for safekeeping by or under the direction of a police officer to a storage area; provided, however, that no such vehicle shall be so removed from privately owned premises without the written request of the property owner, property lessee, or property occupant thereof.

b. The person at whose request such motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer is removed from privately owned property shall indemnify the County against any loss or expense incurred by reason of removal, storage or sale thereof.

c. It shall be presumed that such motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, or part thereof, is abandoned if: (1) it lacks either a current license plate, or a valid
state inspection certificate or sticker, or is parked in violation of the law; or (2) it has been in a specific location for fifteen (15) days without being moved at least 300 feet. Provision (2) does not apply if the vehicle is parked within 500 feet of the property line where the vehicle is registered.

d. Each removal shall be reported immediately to the Department of Public Safety Communications and notice thereof given to the owner of the motor vehicle,
trailer or semitrailer as promptly as possible.

e. The owner of such motor vehicle or trailer or semitrailer, before obtaining possession thereof, shall pay to the parties entitled thereto all reasonable costs incidental to the removal, storage, and locating and notifying the owner of the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer. Should such owner fail or refuse to pay the cost, or should the identity or whereabouts of such owner be unknown and unascertainable after a diligent search has been made, and after notice to him at his last-known address and to the holder of any lien of record filed with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles against the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, the officer or authorized agent designated by the Chief of Police may, after holding the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer 40 days and after due notice of sale dispose of the same at a public auction, which may include an internet sale by auction. The County or its authorized agent shall reimburse itself for the expenses of the auction, the cost of removal, storage, investigation as to ownership and liens. Any remainder from the proceeds of a sale shall be held for the owner of the abandoned motor vehicle or any person having security interest in the vehicle, as their interests may appear, for 60 days, and then be deposited into the General Fund of the County.

f. Section shall not operate to deprive any person of other remedies available under law to obtain payment from the owner of unattended, abandoned or immobile vehicles for towing, storage or other services rendered.

g. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles shall be notified of the disposition of any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer under this Section.

h. Any person who shall violate, permit, or suffer or allow anyone to violate any provisions of Section 82-5-29 shall be punished as provided in Section 8-1-32.

 

Per Code Section 82-5-19:

a. It shall be unlawful for any person:

  1. To park or place any automobile, truck, trailer, or other vehicle upon or in the public right-of-way for the purpose of selling or offering the same for sale or rent;
  2. To park any vehicle from which any merchandise is being sold upon any public right-of-way in a commercial district;
  3. To park or stop a vehicle at any time in the public right-of-way for the purpose of advertising any article of any kind, or to display thereupon advertisements of any article or advertisement for the sale or rental of the vehicle itself.

b. It shall be unlawful for employees and/or representatives of any company to park or allow to be parked, for the purpose of storage, any fleet vehicles, as defined in this section, within the public right-of-way.

  1. Such restrictions do not apply to a single, company vehicle assigned to an individual employee for take home use provided, however, that the parking of such vehicle is otherwise permitted by law.
  2. Such restrictions do not apply to any commercial vehicle when picking up or discharging passengers, when making a pickup or delivery of merchandise, or when temporarily parked pursuant to the performance of work or service at a particular location, provided that such vehicle does not obstruct traffic.
  3. At such time as a single vehicle is rented or leased by an individual or organization, it is no longer considered a fleet vehicle.

Per Code Section 82-5-7, a Commercial Vehicle is any of the following:

Any solid waste collection vehicle
Tractor / Trailer combination or apart
Dump Truck
Concrete Mixer Truck
Towing or Recovery Vehicle 12,000 lbs GVW or greater
Heavy Construction Equipment
Trailer or other vehicle which food or beverages are stored or sold
Trailer used to transport landscaping or lawn equipment
Contract Carrier or Limousine**1
Vehicle over 21 feet in length including appurtenances**2
Vehicle over eight feet in height including appurtenances**2
Vehicle over 102 inches in width**2
Vehicle with gross weight of 12,000 pounds or more**2
Vehicle carrying commercial freight in plain view
Any trailer or semi-trailer attached or not to another vehicle**3


Exceptions:

**1 - One vehicle per single family dwelling unit is permitted (house, apartment, condo, etc) The vehicle must be registered in Virginia to the address (dual registration is OK (DC and VA, etc))

**2 - Vehicles used by a public service company as defined in 56.1, or others working on their behalf are allowed. Vehicles providing cable television services, such as Cox Cable 56.2-2108.2 are also allowed.

School buses used on a current and regular basis to pick up students are permitted. Properly placarded private vehicles used to transport disabled persons are permitted. Moving vehicles such as a U-Haul truck are permitted within 48 hours of the execution of the leasing contract.

Vehicles used in the provision of propane gas service are also permitted.

**3 - Vehicles designed to be used as a camper or boat trailer or a single axle utility trailer are permitted, as long as the roadway has not been designated as part of a Community Parking District, 82-5B-7.

Another change to the code clarifies enforcement on service roads that abut residential areas. The entire service roadway which abuts a residentially zoned area shall be deemed residential for the purposes of enforcement.

Per Code Section 82-5-42:

"It shall be unlawful for any person to use, occupy, or permit the use or occupancy of any automobile, truck, camper, house car, mobile home, recreational vehicle, trailer, trailer coach, or similar equipment for human habitation on any public property, street, avenue, alley, or other public right-of way within Fairfax County, except in a designated public campground, recreational park, or licensed mobile home park."

Per Code Section 82-5-43:

"It shall be unlawful for a person, firm or corporation to service any motor vehicle stopped or parked on any public street or public right-of-way within the County, except for minor repairs as necessitated by an emergency. Emergency repairs constitute the least amount of immediate repair necessary for a vehicle to operate. Examples of repairs would be replacing a battery or changing a tire. Regularly required vehicle maintenance or complex vehicle repairs would not be considered emergency repairs."

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