Since July 1988, new land developments in the county are required to install streetlights as a condition for plan approval. The developer pays for the initial cost of installation; however, after installation, the streetlights are owned, operated and maintained by either Dominion Energy (DE) or Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC). Fairfax County pays the monthly invoices from the utility company to operate and maintain the streetlights.
The specific requirements for the installation of streetlights are contained in Section 7-0800 of the Fairfax County Public Facilities Manual (PFM). The PFM has adopted the ANSI/IES Roadway Lighting Standard Practice # 8 (RP-8) as the guideline to be used when designing street lighting in Fairfax County.
Existing Streetlight Products in Fairfax County
This website contains information about streetlight products approved and adopted in Fairfax County. This website also recognizes that DE and NOVEC are the providers of standard streetlight products in Fairfax County.
Updates to streetlight products as offered by utility companies will be found on this site.
General information about existing streetlights can be found in the County’s GIS application JADE (Infrastructure and Environment→ Utilities → Streetlights). Streetlight pole number and fixture details can be viewed by clicking the streetlight map feature.
Nonstandard street lighting systems have been approved in the county for properties located within development centers. Most projects in these areas would be subject to a zoning case. The specific requirements for the installation of nonstandard streetlights are contained in Section 7-0804 of the Fairfax County Public Facilities Manual (PFM). Supplemental information related to approved nonstandard specifications are found below:
For more information about streetlighting products within NOVEC Service area, please contact their distribution engineering department at 703-754-6750, ext. 6750, or via e-mail at disteng@novec.com.
DPWES/CAP can also assist with IES files upon request.
Construction Guidance
The Streetlight Branch provides guidance to developers coordinating streetlight installations, upgrades, relocations and/or removals during construction and as part of the land development process.
To initiate the preparation of a cost estimate and construction sketch by Dominion Energy, developer must submit a Streetlight Cost Estimate Request Form to Streetlights Branch in DPWES/CAP
Projects located within areas serviced by NOVEC must request work directly to NOVEC in writing for a cost estimate of required streetlight work.
