Know Your Invasive Species Responsibilities

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) encourages volunteers to help remove invasive plants on FCPA property. Volunteers must follow certain rules.

• Policy Manual
  Read the 2023 Policy Manual, especially Policy 208, for details on protecting park land and facilities.
• Invasive Management Area (IMA) Program
  The program organizes volunteers to help remove invasive plants. Check out the Volunteer Calendar to join in.
• Group Events
  You can request group events for invasive plant removal by emailing parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.

To protect trees, Fairfax County follows the Public Facilities Manual. The manual explains the rules for managing trees during construction and land development. You can look at these rules in Chapter 12 of the Public Facilities Manual.

• Removing plants, grass, or groundcover, is considered land disturbance and is regulated by the state and county.
• If you disturb more than 2,500 square feet, you must follow the Erosion and Stormwater Management Ordinance requirements. These are found in Chapter 124.1 of Fairfax County Code.
• You need permission before removing non-native, invasive plants in a protected area called the Resource Protection Area (RPA). This rule applies no matter how small the area is.
• Want to learn what land disturbance means? Visit Land Disturbance 101.
• To find out how to get permission and learn more about RPAs, visit Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance.

Virginia has specific laws to protect against harmful and/or nuisance wildlife and fish issues. These can be found in the Virginia Administrative Code.

• Nuisance species designated.
• Permit required to import, liberate or possess predatory or undesirable animals or birds.
• Importation requirements, possession, and sale of nonnative (exotic) animals.
• Taking aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and nongame fish for private use.