Fairfax, VA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Virginia does not broadly mandate removal of invasive plants from private property, but the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Natural Heritage Program maintains the Invasive Alien Plant Species list identifying species that threaten native ecosystems. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) enforces the Virginia Noxious Weeds Law (VA Code Section 3.2-800 et seq.), which prohibits the sale, movement, and intentional propagation of designated noxious weeds including Japanese stiltgrass, giant hogweed, and others. In the City of Fairfax, common invasive species of concern include English ivy (which kills mature trees and degrades forest understory), tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima, host plant for the invasive spotted lanternfly), Japanese honeysuckle, Oriental bittersweet, Bradford pear and other ornamental pears, Japanese stiltgrass, and garlic mustard. While removal is not mandated on residential lots, the city actively manages invasives in city parks and along stream corridors, and the Urban Forestry program provides guidance to residents. The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act RPA buffers increasingly require native plantings during development. Spotted lanternfly quarantine under VDACS requires residents to check outdoor items, firewood, and vehicles for egg masses, especially when traveling to or from quarantine zones. Ornamental sale of Callery (Bradford) pear is being phased out in Virginia effective January 2023 for new sales under a DCR rule.