Fairfax, VA Environmental Rules: Grading & Drainage (2026)

The City of Fairfax administers tree protection through the Zoning Ordinance and development review standards authorized under Virginia Code §15.2-961 and §15.2-961.1, which allow localities to require tree canopy preservation during development. Specimen trees, typically defined as healthy trees above a threshold diameter such as 24 or 30 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) depending on species, are protected during site plan review. New development must preserve a percentage of existing tree canopy or replant to meet canopy standards measured at 10 or 20 years after development. Critical Root Zone protection requires construction fencing and no-disturb zones during construction. On existing developed single-family residential lots, homeowners generally may remove trees from their property without a permit, except trees within the Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Area (RPA) buffer adjacent to Accotink Creek, Daniels Run, and other perennial streams. In RPA buffers (typically 100 feet from top of bank), tree removal requires a water quality impact assessment and approval. Street trees in the public right-of-way are City property and may not be pruned or removed without a permit from the Urban Forestry program. Violations of street tree protection can result in fines plus replacement costs.