Fairfax County manages homeless encampments through a coordinated outreach and cleanup protocol led by the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. Cleanups follow advance notice and outreach contact, with property storage offered when feasible.
Encampments on county property are addressed through a multi-agency protocol involving the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, Fairfax County Police, Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, and Health Department. Outreach teams visit sites first to offer shelter and services. Cleanups proceed only after advance written notice, typically 72 hours or more, posted at the site. Personal property of value is bagged, tagged, and stored for retrieval. Encampments on private property are handled under trespass law and county solid waste rules in Chapter 41.1.
Illegal dumping at or around encampments is a violation of Fairfax County Code Chapter 41.1 with civil penalties. Trespass on private property is a Class 1 misdemeanor under Virginia Code Section 18.2-119 punishable by jail and fines.
Fairfax County, VA
Fairfax County's Zoning Ordinance limits front-yard fences and walls to 4 feet on most residential lots, while side and rear yards may go up to 7 feet. Lots ...
Fairfax County, VA
Fairfax County requires a building permit from Land Development Services for any private pool, spa or hot tub with a surface area greater than 150 sq ft, cap...
Fairfax County, VA
Fairfax County does not allow detached backyard tiny homes on most residential lots. The Zoning Ordinance treats a second dwelling as an Accessory Living Uni...
Fairfax County, VA
Fairfax County treats a carport as a freestanding accessory structure under the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 112), Article 4 use rules and Article 5 dimensional...
Fairfax County, VA
Fairfax County enforces residential pool barriers under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC, 13VAC5-63), which adopts the International Swimm...
Fairfax County, VA
Fairfax County permits Accessory Living Units (ALUs) under Zoning Ordinance Section 4102.7. Interior ALUs (within the principal dwelling) may be approved by ...
See how Fairfax County's encampment sanitation rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.