Parking Restrictions and Related Issues

• Parking is allowed on public roads unless otherwise restricted.
• The Residential Permit Parking District (RPPD) program exists to allow communities to petition for restrictions.
• For more information, visit the RPPD web page.

• Parking Boats/Trailers/RVs is allowed on public roads unless otherwise restricted.
• The Community Parking District (CPD) program exists to allow communities to petition for restrictions.
• For more information, visit the CPD web page.

• Parking not allowed within 10 feet of driveways.

• Parking not allowed on sidewalks.

• It is illegal to park in a properly designated accessible parking space unless a valid accessible license plate or placard is displayed.
• In Virginia, the DMV issues such plates or placards with the proper documentation.
• Police can enforce on public and private locations where properly posted.
• See "Accessible parking spaces - How to get" below in the Signs section

• Parking not allowed within 15 feet of hydrant.
• Police/FRD will enforce on both public and private roads.

• Parking not allowed within 30 feet of stop sign.
• Police will enforce.

• Parking not allowed in or within 20 feet of the intersection. Radius is from where the pavement begins to curve for the cross street.

• Parking not allowed within 60 feet on the approach side and 10 feet on the departure side of a bus stop.
• Bus stops designated by:
  • Fairfax Connector
  • WMATA
  • CUE

Fairfax County PD

Fairfax County Police
Non-emergency
703-691-2131*

• Parking in travel/turn lanes/bike lanes is prohibited.

• Allowed unless otherwise prohibited by law and not impeding traffic or fire lanes.
• If parking is presenting problems, contact VDOT.

• Parking not allowed in or within 20 feet of designated crosswalk.
• If parking is creating sight distance problems, contact VDOT.

• Vehicles are considered unattended if left for 15 days without being moved at least 300 feet, unless parked within 500 feet of the property where the vehicle is registered.
• 40 days after being towed, the vehicle can be declared abandoned. The vehicle can then be sold/disposed of.
• Trailers are considered vehicles in this statute.
• Police will enforce.

• Police may tow after being left on road for 4 or more days.

• Must have valid State safety inspection if required by state of registration.

• Vehicles required to have a current license plate on both front and rear.
• New residents to Virginia must register/license within 30 days of moving into the state.
• Military/diplomatic people are exempt from requiring VA tags but still must have valid tags.

• Vehicles required to have a current safety inspection sticker and license plate on both front and rear if required by state of registration.
• New residents to Virginia must register/obtain license within 30 days of moving into the state.
• Military/diplomatic people are exempt from requiring VA tags but still must have valid US tags.

• Vehicles must be parked facing direction of travel lane.
• Vehicles may park on either side (in the proper travel direction) of a one-way road if not otherwise prohibited.

• It is illegal to leak or discharge wastewater or sewage from vehicles on public roads and private property.

Oil/anti-freeze/ gasoline/hydraulic fluid dripping onto public road from parked vehicles;
hazardous material leaks from vehicles onto public or private property

•   It is unlawful to discharge oil, petroleum products, noxious or flammable substances into state waters or onto any property in the county where it may be washed into the stormwater sewer or into state waters. 
• Fire and Rescue will investigate reports of materials presenting an immediate hazard to the public.

DPWES Stormwater Management

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue for active leaks of hazardous materials

703-324-5500

Dial 911 for active leaks requiring Fire and Rescue response

• Only minor emergency repairs to vehicles parked on public roads is permissible. 
• It is permissible to have a vehicle on jack(s) for emergency repairs only. Vehicles left on jack(s) for an extended period will be considered abandoned.

The following vehicles are not allowed on private property unless they are completely screened from view (such as in a fully enclosed building):

• Vehicle is not capable of starting and moving under its own power; OR
• Does not display valid license plates; OR
• Does not display an inspection decal that is valid, or displays an inspection decal that has been expired for more than 60 days.

Fairfax County Police will take steps to remove junk vehicles from private property if the vehicle is not removed or violations corrected 30 days after notice to owner.

Fairfax County Police Inoperable Vehicle Hotline
703-280-0716

Or complete online form:  
Report An Inoperable Vehicle 

• It is permissible to have a broken windshield as long as the vehicle is parked. However, a vehicle with a broken windshield for a period of time may be considered unattended.

• It is permissible to have a vehicle with a flat tire(s). However, vehicles with a flat tire(s) for an extended period of time may be considered unattended.

• It is illegal to park food dispensing vehicles in residential areas, both on private property and on a public street. 
• Vending from public streets is allowed only in established Food Truck Zones that are marked with signs. All other vending from a public street is not allowed.  

Fairfax County Police Department

Fairfax County Department of Code Compliance 

Fairfax County Code 82-5-7 (Public Street)

Fairfax County  Zoning Ordinance Section 4102.1.B Standards for Uses in Residential Districts
(Private property)

Fairfax County Code 82-1-30

Fairfax County Police
Non-emergency
703-691-2131*

Fairfax County Code Compliance
703-324-1300*

• Fire and Rescue will investigate any reports of materials presenting an immediate hazard to the public.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue 

Dial 911 to report the hazardous material

• Fire Lanes are established by the Fire Marshal’s Office in accordance with the Fire Prevention Code.
• Fire lanes are established on County owned or privately owned property and roadways. Fire lanes are not established on public roads maintained by VDOT.
• Property owners who wish to designate new fire lanes should contact Fire Marshal’s Office for application requirements.  
• Fire lane signs and curb markings are installed and maintained by the property owner, subject to Fire Marshal’s requirements. 
• Parking is not allowed in fire lanes at any time. Fire and Rescue and Police can ticket vehicles parked in fire lanes on private property. 

Fairfax County Fire Marshal's Office

Fairfax County Police Department 

Fairfax County Code 62-2-7
 

Fairfax County Code
82-5(a)(4)

703-246-4849*
 

Fairfax County Police
Non-emergency
703-691-2131*

• Placing a dumpster or other containers, including a storage POD, is not allowed on the public right-of-way.
• If the location of the dumpster/container does not create a traffic hazard, the owner of the illegally placed dumpster/POD will be contacted to remove it.

VA 15.2-2018

Fairfax County Police Motor Carrier Safety
703-280-0583*

• Dumpsters are trash containers and must be properly screened or located in accordance with an approved site plan. These dumpsters are usually for the dumping of normal household garbage.
• Debris containers are usually associated with temporary construction debris collection and removal. They require the property owner to have a current building permit and be actively conducting construction. On a private road, short-term placement of a debris container requires the permission of the owner of the road.

• It is a zoning violation to park vehicles on lawns for more than 48 hours. Generally, only 25% of front lawn in R1-R2 can be paved or otherwise made into a driveway; only 30% of front lawn in R3-R4.

• It is illegal to park any vehicle from which any merchandise is being sold upon any street. Also contact Fairfax County Consumer Protection for information concerning peddlers.

Fairfax County Police Department

Fairfax County Consumer Protection

Fairfax County
82-1-30

82-5-19(3)

Fairfax County Police Non-emergency
703-691-2131*

Fairfax County Consumer Protection
703-222-8435*

• It is illegal to park a vehicle on a public road for the purpose of selling or offering the vehicle for sale or rent.

• Dumping on a public roadway is illegal. The Fairfax County County Health Department is the initial agency for investigating dumping of debris complaints.

• It is illegal to park any commercial vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer on or adjacent to roads in residentially zoned areas, except one taxicab or limousine per dwelling unit if registered and licensed in the Commonwealth. Does not apply to temporary business activity. Description of commercial vehicles described in County Code 82-5-7.
• Where roads zoned residential on one side abut non-residential areas, the Board may prohibit commercial parking on the non-residential side of the road. Restrictions are subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors at a public hearing.
• Only one commercial vehicle (limited in size) is permitted on private property in residentially zoned areas.

Fairfax County PD/FCDOT

FCDOT

Fairfax County DCC

Fairfax County 82-5-7

Fairfax County 82-5-37

Fairfax County 10-102

Fairfax County Police Non-emergency
703-691-2131*

FCDOT Parking Manager
703-877-5600*

Fairfax County Code Compliance
703-324-1300*

• It is illegal to park a commercial vehicle used to haul solid waste on any highway in Fairfax County.

• It is illegal to operate a car sale or repair business from a residential home. Also see expired/no safety decal and expired/no license plate tag.

• It is illegal to park any motor vehicle including licensed common carriers , trailer, or semi-trailer on or adjacent to roads in residentially zoned areas except one taxicab or limousine per residence if registered or licensed and licensed in the Commonwealth. Does not apply to temporary business activity. Description of commercial vehicles described in County Code 82-5-7.

• It is permissible to park school buses in residential areas. If citizens complain, the school may direct the driver not to park overnight in residential areas, however, buses will be allowed to park in residential areas during the day.