Public Works and Environmental Services

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our administrative offices are open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Mon - Fri
703-324-5500 TTY 711
12000 Government Center Parkway
Suite 449, Fairfax, Va 22035
Joni Calmbacher
Director, Stormwater Planning

Flood Information

Take action to learn about flood risk, the availability of flood insurance, flood protection methods, and how to prepare for emergencies. 

What causes flooding in Fairfax County?

  • Urban flooding occurs when rainwater overwhelms the stormwater drainage systems. Flooding is more likely in
    • low-lying areas,
    • areas that lack sufficient stormwater infrastructure,
    • areas with too much impervious cover, or
    • drain blockages.
  • Riverine flooding occurs when streams and rivers swell beyond their banks and flood nearby properties. Riverine flood risk is often associated with property or roadways that are in or next to a floodplain.
  • Coastal flooding is the temporary flooding of low-lying areas during high tide events in communities along the Potomac River and its tributaries. Coastal flooding can even happen on sunny days. The risk of coastal flooding increases when storms such as hurricanes push water inland. This is called storm surge.

Additional Resources

What Can I Do?

More About Flooding

The County cannot eliminate flooding, but it can reduce the risk to life and property. We are working extensively to mitigate flooding through:​

  • ongoing maintenance and operation of the stormwater conveyance system and
  • capital improvements.

Learn more about the County’s comprehensive flood mitigation program:

floodPlains

A floodplain is any land area susceptible to being inundated (under water) by floodwaters from any source. Floodplains are beneficial because they provide natural storage for the excess water and nutrients.

There are three kinds of floodplains in Fairfax County:

  • Minor Floodplains with a drainage area between 70 and 360 acres.
  • Major Floodplain with a drainage area of more than 360 acres.
  • FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program designated floodplains.

For more information, visit Zoning Ordinance, Article 9 Section 9104, Floodplain Definitions.

Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 Section 5105 regulates activities in a floodplain. These activities may require approval by Land Development Services, or a Special Exception approved by the Board of Supervisors. For more information, visit:

The Community Rating System is a voluntary program for recognizing and encouraging community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum standards set up for the National Flood Insurance Program. The program does this by adjusting flood insurance rates to reflect the reduced flood risks that are a result of community activities that reduce flood losses, facilitate accurate insurance ratings and promote awareness of flood insurance.

Fairfax County has participated in the program since 1993 and is one of five Class 6 jurisdictions in the Commonwealth of Virginia. A Class 6 CRS rating community under Risk Rating (RR) 2.0 allows property owners in the County to obtain a 20% reduction in flood insurance premiums. RR 2.0 rating methodology incorporates a wide range of rating variables; however, flood zone and Base Flood Elevations are no longer used. So, the reduction applies to all policies irrespective of whether the property is located within the Special Flood Hazard Area or outside. A policy in Zone X receives the same discount as a policy in Zone AE.

Visit FEMA Community Rating System

There are a number of large dams in Fairfax County; some are privately owned, and others are owned or maintained by the county or other public entities. There are many small, man-made ponds or impoundments, some of which include dams as part of the structure. 

Any development proposed within the mapped dam break inundation zones of state regulated dams must be identified on all preliminary plats, subdivision plans, site plans and minor site plan submissions. More information, including maps, can be found in the Development in Dam Break Inundation Zones website.

More About Dams

Dam Basics 

Dam and Flood Safety

Stream and outfall erosion impacting infrastructure
Stream and outfall erosion impacting infrastructure

 

Stream and outfall erosion impacting infrastructure
Stream and outfall erosion impacting infrastructure

 

Stormwater pipe failure or cave-in
Stormwater pipe failure or cave-in

 

Stream and outfall erosion impacting infrastructure
Stormwater pipe failure or cave-in

 

Clogged Stormwater pipe
Clogged stormwater pipe

 

Broken stormwater infrastructure
Broken stormwater infrastructure

 

House flooding
Road flooding

 

House flooding
House flooding

 

Non-functioning stormwater facility
Non-functioning stormwater facility

 

Clogged stormwater facility
Clogged stormwater facility

 

Fairfax Virtual Assistant