Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Fairfax County, VA Parking Rules: Curb Color Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Curb paint
Yellow, highway grade
No-curb areas
6-inch-wide yellow stripe
Repainting duty
Property owner or designee, when paint fades
Signage
'NO PARKING OR STANDING FIRE LANE' in red letters
Tampering penalty
Class 1 misdemeanor, up to 12 months or $2,500

Summary

Fairfax County spells out exactly how fire lanes must be painted: yellow, highway-grade paint on every curb or paved space designated as a fire lane, a 6-inch yellow stripe where there is no curb, and a standing duty on the property owner to repaint as soon as the paint fades.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Fairfax County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

All curbs or paved spaces designated as fire lanes shall be indicated by yellow (highway grade) paint as approved by the fire code official. In areas without curbing, a 6-inch-wide yellow stripe shall be applied to the edge of the pavement. The property owner or designee shall repaint whenever the paint begins to fade or when directed by the fire code official.

Full Breakdown

1 of the county's Fire Prevention Code amendments, adopted through County Code § 62-2-8. All curbs or paved spaces designated as fire lanes must be indicated by yellow, highway-grade paint approved by the fire code official; the color and the paint grade are both mandatory, and the fire code official's approval controls the product used. Where a fire lane runs along pavement with no curbing, the marking requirement does not lapse. Instead, a 6-inch-wide yellow stripe must be applied to the edge of the pavement.

Maintenance is a private obligation, not a county service: the property owner or the owner's designee must repaint whenever the paint begins to fade, and also whenever the fire code official directs it, so a lane the owner considers passable can still draw a repaint order. The paint works alongside the required signage bearing 'NO PARKING OR STANDING FIRE LANE' in red letters. 2 protects the whole marking system with a tampering ban: defacing, removing, or impairing fire lane paint or signs is itself a violation.

Violations & Fines

Defacing, removing, or impairing fire lane paint or signage violates Section 503.3.2's tampering ban, and Chapter 62 makes violations a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail or a $2,500 fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What paint do Fairfax County fire lanes require?
Yellow, highway-grade paint approved by the fire code official, on all curbs or paved spaces designated as fire lanes.
How are fire lanes marked where there is no curb?
With a 6-inch-wide yellow stripe applied to the edge of the pavement.
Who has to repaint faded markings?
The property owner or designee must repaint whenever the paint begins to fade or when the fire code official directs it.
What is the penalty for painting over or removing fire lane markings?
That is tampering under Section 503.3.2, and Chapter 62 violations are Class 1 misdemeanors carrying up to 12 months in jail or a $2,500 fine.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Fairfax County

All Fairfax County rules

Compare Fairfax County to another location·View the Virginia parking rules overview

Get notified when Curb Color Rules in Fairfax County, VA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Curb Color Rules in Cities Across Fairfax County