Public Affairs

CONTACT INFORMATION: Open during regular business hours, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.
703-324-3187 TTY 711
12000 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22035
Tony Castrilli
Director of Public Affairs

Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA)

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA) is the state law governing access by citizens of Virginia, and representatives of the media, to public records and to meetings of public bodies.

VFOIA provides that, with some specific exemptions and exceptions, all meetings of public bodies shall be open to the public and all public records open for public inspection.

Submitting a VFOIA Request

Before submitting a VFOIA request to Fairfax County, it is recommended that you first conduct a search of Fairfax County’s website

Conducting a search of the county’s website may also assist the requester in identifying the county department or agency that has the type(s) of records sought.

The types of records held by Fairfax County agencies include, but are not limited to:

  • Administrative
  • Election
  • Fiscal
  • Land development
  • Legislative
  • Medical
  • Mental health
  • Personnel
  • Procurement
  • Public housing
  • Public safety
  • Public works
  • Social services
  • Tax

Members of the media should contact the Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551, Fairfax, VA 22035, e-mail FOIA@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-324-3187.


Members of the public should contact the agency, department or entity that may have the records sought.

Please refer to the list below or visit the Fairfax County Department & Agencies List.


Fairfax County Government is not the record custodian for records held by the entities listed below:


 

Requests for records of agencies or entities not listed above should use the Countywide FOIA Form or be directed to:


Additional resources for Environmental Assessment records:

VFOIA and Public Meetings

All meetings of public bodies, as defined in VFOIA, are generally required to be open meetings, subject to certain exceptions spelled out in VFOIA.

For there to be a "meeting" subject to the Act, there must be at least three members of the body, or a quorum of the public body if less than three, present for the purpose of discussing or transacting public business. A gathering of public employees is not a meeting under VFOIA.

An open meeting is a meeting open to members of the public. During the course of a public meeting, a public body may go into a closed meeting to discuss certain specific types of matters set forth in VFOIA. In order to do so, the public body must follow the specific procedures set forth in VFOIA to go into, and come out of, closed session.

VFOIA permits members of the public to photograph or record (audio, visual, or audio-visual) public meetings. It also permits public bodies to adopt reasonable rules concerning the use of cameras and recorders, designed to prevent disruption.

Fairfax Virtual Assistant