Showing ordinances that apply to George Mason, VA
George Mason is an unincorporated community (population 11,162) in Fairfax County, Virginia. Because George Mason is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Fairfax County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The brush clearance rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Fairfax County does not impose formal defensible-space or Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) brush clearance distances like western states, but overgrown vegetation can be abated under County Code Chapter 119 (Air Pollution) and property maintenance ordinances. Grass over 12 inches on improved lots is a violation. VDOF and Fire Marshal recommend voluntary Firewise USA practices near wooded areas of Great Falls, Clifton, and western Fairfax.
Unlike California or Colorado WUI zones, Fairfax County does not have mandated defensible-space clearance distances. However, several regulatory mechanisms address vegetation fire risk. Fairfax County Code Chapter 119 (Property Maintenance) limits grass and weeds on improved lots to 12 inches; violations can be abated by the County at the owner's expense. The Statewide Fire Prevention Code Section 304 prohibits accumulation of combustible materials that create a fire hazard. The Fire Marshal can order abatement of dangerous conditions under SFPC 110. Virginia's 4 PM Burning Law (§10.1-1142) and VDOF-issued burn bans address fire season risk by limiting ignitions rather than requiring clearance. The Virginia Department of Forestry promotes the national Firewise USA program, and communities in fire-prone western Fairfax County (Great Falls, Clifton, parts of Burke near wooded parks) participate voluntarily. Recommended Firewise practices include keeping a 30-foot defensible zone around structures, pruning tree limbs 10 feet from chimneys, clearing debris from gutters and roofs, and maintaining screened vents. Homeowners in wooded subdivisions should also coordinate with HOAs that often have tree preservation covenants which can limit clearance (some require a pre-removal permit if clearing more than a threshold diameter). The County Urban Forestry Division reviews tree removal on lots subject to tree preservation easements.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how George Mason's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.