Fairfax County Flood Mitigation Assistance Program Approved List of Practices for Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025)
Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District Alert:
Fairfax County Flood Mitigation Assistance Program Approved List of Practices for Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025)
Practice | Description | County Review Requirements |
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Install permanent glass protection materials or floodproof windows |
Permanent glass protection can prevent damage from flooding and other extreme weather events. Floodproof windows or those with glass protection are passive systems that protect from rising floodwater and debris impact. They are typically hurricane impact-rated and tested to withstand more than 10’ of water and large object collision. |
No reviews or permits needed. |
Install basement window covers |
To significantly increase effectiveness, basement window protection should be custom fitted and installed, as studies have shown inexpensive, plastic models offer minimal protection. |
No reviews or permits needed. |
Install custom ground floor or basement window wells | ![]() |
Before you begin: Approved practices may require applying for and the issuance by Land Development Services of building and/or mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits. Land Development Permit Library. Contact number: 703-222-0801 Contact Miss Utility at 811 or 1-800-552-7001 in accordance with Virginia Law before you begin. |
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Practice | Description | County Review Requirements |
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Install flood shields or panels, permanent doorway flood gate or panel |
Flood shields or panels are watertight structural systems that bridge the openings in walls to prevent the entry of floodwaters. Although flood shields are most often temporary measures, they can also be used as a permanent floodproofing measure (e.g. hinged plate or door). A few vendors make special doors for permanent installation and drop-in panels or barriers that are designed to be watertight and installed as needed for flood protection. Permanent floodgates can be an easier and faster alternative to sandbags; however, they require installation and, in most cases, custom fitting. Operations and Maintenance: Dry floodproofing components, including flood shields, panels and gates, must be maintained to ensure proper functioning during flood events, and some products require significant labor with pre-flood installation and post-flood removal. Special Considerations: Because dry floodproofing can create significant hydrostatic pressure, this strategy can only be used for floodwaters that are a few inches to slightly over a foot deep in existing buildings. For deeper water, walls, floors and interior columns and beams must be specially engineered to resist expected pressures. |
No reviews or permits needed. |
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Practice | Description | County Review Requirements |
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Purchase temporary flood barriers |
If deployed at a basement or garage entrance, these socks can stop leaks and water seeps. |
No reviews or permits needed. |
Purchase sandless sandbags |
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No reviews or permits needed. |
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Practice | Description | County Review Requirements |
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Purchase and connect battery-backups for sump pumps |
A battery backup provides protection against power outages and ensures the pump continues to work regardless of electric status. Grants are limited to one battery backup per pump. |
Before you begin: Approved practices may require applying for and the issuance by Land Development Services of building and/or mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits. Land Development Permit Library. Contact number: 703-222-0801 |
Install flood vents |
And while at first glance, allowing floodwater into a home seems counterproductive to mitigating damage, the purpose of flood vents is to reduce expensive structural damage. These vents accomplish this objective by allowing water to pass into or out of a building's exterior foundation walls unobstructed. |
Before you begin: Approved practices may require applying for and the issuance by Land Development Services of building and/or mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits. Land Development Permit Library. Contact number: 703-222-0801 |
Disconnect or plug internal floor drains |
If these lines get clogged or back up, water flows backwards and discharges through the floor drain. Disconnecting or plugging these drains can reduce the chance of sewer backups occurring. |
No reviews or permits needed. |
Sub-slab drainage system |
A sub-slab drainage system is a major project requiring demolition, wiring, plumbing, and permits. If not done carefully, it could make drainage problems worse and damage buried infrastructure. It is primarily used to for groundwater rising from below, not drainage problems at ground surface. It is important to determine the cause of your problem so you can choose the most appropriate solution. If you can solve a drainage problem from outside the structure, it is almost always preferable and simpler than solving it from inside. Before installing a sub-slab drainage system, you are encouraged to read the Conservation District’s drainage resources - You and Your Land and Solving Drainage and Erosion Problems: A Guide for Homeowners – to explore alternative solutions. After reading our resources, if you are still unsure how to proceed, you may contact the Conservation District for a consultation. Advice from District staff is not binding and will only be given for work that can be done on the exterior of the structure. |
Before you begin: This approved practice requires applying for and the issuance by Land Development Services of building and/or mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits. Land Development Permit Library. Contact number: 703-222-0801 Contact Miss Utility at 811 or 1-800-552-7001 in accordance with Virginia Law before you begin. |
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Practice | Description | County Review Requirements |
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Purchase utility flood covers |
By installing a waterproof flood cover underneath a furnace, boiler and/or hot water heater, a homeowner can quickly provide up to six feet of floodwater protection. |
No reviews or permits needed. |
Install interior concrete or masonry floodwalls |
These interior floodwalls can provide utilities or other key areas with up to four feet of flood protection. |
Before you begin: Approved practices may require applying for and the issuance by Land Development Services of building and/or mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits. Land Development Permit Library. Contact number: 703-222-0801 |
Elevate electrical outlets, switches, sockets, and circuit breakers |
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Before you begin: Approved practices may require applying for and the issuance by Land Development Services of building and/or mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits. Land Development Permit Library. Contact number: 703-222-0801 |
Elevate utilities and service equipment |
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Before you begin:
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Practice | Description | County Review Requirements |
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Install a flood alert system |
Current flood alert systems utilize existing home Wi-Fi networks, coupled with 20 to 30-foot water-sensing flood cables, to monitor for water intrusion. If water is detected, the flood alert system can notify a homeowner via text, call, or email. |
Before you begin: Approved practices may require applying for and the issuance by Land Development Services of building and/or mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits. Land Development Permit Library. Contact number: 703-222-0801 |
Purchase portable submersible water pumps and hoses |
A submersible water pump and hose can be used to prevent accumulation of floodwater entering a building, or remove water after a flood event, mitigating damage to the building or supplies and expediting the recovery process. |
No reviews or permits needed. |
Incorporate flood-resistant building materials |
Flood Resistant building materials are defined by FEMA as any building product [material, component, or system] capable of withstanding direct and prolonged contact with floodwaters without sustaining significant damage. The term “prolonged contact” means at least 72 hours, and the term “significant damage” means any damage requiring more than cosmetic repair. |
Before you begin: Approved practices may require applying for and the issuance by Land Development Services of building and/or mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits. Land Development Permit Library. Contact number: 703-222-0801 |
Apply waterproofing sealants or membranes to foundation walls |
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Before you begin: Waterproofing practices may require applying for and the issuance by Land Development Services of a "Residential Miscellaneous" permit. Land Development Permit Library. Contact number: 703-222-0801 If you are waterproofing the exterior of the building:
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Practice | Description | County Review Requirements |
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Perform surface regrading |
For surface regrading to be effective, the regraded soil must be mechanically compacted to prevent settling. Surface regrading should aim to reestablish the approved site plan grades (for the approved site plan, see the LDS Site Records Viewer). Note that Zoning Ordinance 2-602 states "no change shall be made in the existing contours of any land, including any change in the course, width, or elevation of any natural or other drainage channel, in any manner that will obstruct, interfere with, or change the drainage of such land…" |
Before you begin:
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Construct an earthen berm |
Note that Zoning Ordinance 2-602 states "no change shall be made in the existing contours of any land, including any change in the course, width, or elevation of any natural or other drainage channel, in any manner that will obstruct, interfere with, or change the drainage of such land…" |
Before you begin:
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Install a French drain system around foundation |
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Before you begin:
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Modification of Overland Flow Obstructions |
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No reviews or permits needed. |
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Practice | Description | County Review Requirements |
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Adding a raised curb or landing with additional steps at the top of the stairs. |
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Before you begin:
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Regrading around the top of the stairs to direct runoff away. |
Note that Zoning Ordinance 2-602 states “no change shall be made in the existing contours of any land, including any change in the course, width, or elevation of any natural or other drainage channel, in any manner that will obstruct, interfere with, or change the drainage of such land…” |
Before you begin:
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Installing a cover over the stairs to keep out rainfall. |
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Before you begin: Approved practices may require applying for and the issuance by Land Development Services of building and/or mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits. Land Development Permit Library. Contact number: 703-222-0801 |
Installing a sump pump or drain in the base of the stairwell. |
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Before you begin: Approved practices may require applying for and the issuance by Land Development Services of building and/or mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits. Land Development Permit Library. Contact number: 703-222-0801 |
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Practice | Description | County Review Requirements |
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Other |
Other types of flood mitigation practices outside of the Approved List of Practices may be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be incorporated into the Program if warranted. |
Before you begin: Approved practices may require applying for and the issuance by Land Development Services of building and/or mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits. Land Development Permit Library. Contact number: 703-222-0801 |