703-324-5015
TTY 711
Shahram Mohsenin,
Director, Wastewater Planning & Monitoring
Sanitary (wastewater) and stormwater sewers are not the same in Fairfax County. View a diagram of proper and improper connections to the sanitary system and where private ownership responsibilities begin and end.
In order to connect a structure to the sanitary sewer, it must be located within the approved sewer service area and public sewer must be deemed available to the property. On July 2, 1979, the Board of Supervisors adopted the following wording to clarify Board policies on extending sanitary sewer service:
"The delineation of the sewer service area boundary is determined to include the immediately adjacent area which can be served by the smallest allowable gravity lines installed in accord with the normal engineering practices which will result in the safest and most cost-effective operations and, further, any extension of a sewer line across the surface drainage divide of an approved sewer service area shall not exceed a distance of 400 feet nor a manhole depth of 12 feet without approval by the Board of Supervisors."
View the Statement of Policy Regarding Sewage Disposal.
View the GIS and Mapping Services Disclaimer.
Outside the Approved Sewer Service Area?
Serving someone outside of the approved sewer service area (ASSA), and beyond the 400’, with public sewer will require an expansion of the ASSA with legitimate reasons like public and environmental health issues. The expansion of the ASSA must be adopted by the Board of Supervisors. The expansion process starts with the Department of Planning and Zoning in collaboration with Wastewater Management.
To request public sewer extension outside the approved sewer service area, please contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-324-1380, TTY 711.
Questions about the Fairfax County Sewer Service Area?
Call the Wastewater Planning and Monitoring Division at 703-324-5030, TTY 711.
Pumped sewage systems will only be permitted in unusual circumstances when it can be proven that gravity connection to the sanitary sewer is technically unfeasible.
Any extension of public sewer shall be made at the expense of the owner of the premises to be served.
To obtain sanitary sewer as-built information, contact our office at 703-324-5015, TTY 711 or by email us at DPWES-FFXSewerReview@fairfaxcounty.gov
Once sewer is deemed available to the property, a permit must be obtained to connect the structure to the system.
Only a licensed plumber can obtain a permit to perform the actual sewer tap into a sewer main. If there is an existing spur, a homeowner may connect to the spur and install the sewer line to the house.
Charges
Direct service connections to a sanitary sewer manhole must be inspected by the Wastewater Collection Division. The plumber must call the Wastewater Collection Division at 703-250-2003, TTY 711, at least 48 hours prior to actual connection.
If you are going to abandon a septic field, contact the Health Department at 703-246-2201, TTY 711 for more information.
Prior to demolishing a residential or commercial property that is currently connected to the public sewer system, obtain a sewer cap off permit and get a final inspection before a demolition permit will be issued.
Low pressure sewer systems use grinder pumps to grind the sewage from your home (much like a garbage disposal in your kitchen) and pump the sewage through small pipes to the Wastewater Collection System. Low pressure systems are sometimes used in areas which cannot be served by gravity pipes.
Chapter 65, Article 6 of the Fairfax County Code - Connections to the sanitary sewer system
Chapter 67.1, Article 10 of the Fairfax County Code - Schedule of charges