Fairfax County, VA Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

Historic Overlay Districts (HODs) are created to promote the general welfare, education, economic prosperity, and recreational pleasure of the public through the identification, preservation, and enhancement of buildings, structures, neighborhoods, landscapes, places, and areas that have special historical, cultural, architectural, or archaeological significance as provided by state law, and that have been officially designated by the Board. Regulations within HODs are intended to protect against destruction of or encroachment upon those areas, structures, or premises; to prevent creation of environmental influences adverse to those purposes; and to encourage uses that will lead to their continuance, conservation, and improvement in accordance with the following purposes:

A. To preserve and improve the quality of life for residents of the County by protecting and preserving familiar

visual elements in the district.

B. To promote heritage tourism by protecting heritage resources for visitors to the County that may support local

business and industry.

C. To promote the rehabilitation and upkeep of significant structures and encourage appropriate land use

planning and development that will enhance both the economic viability and historic character of the district.