Fairfax County, VA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 max coverage
- 25% of front yard
- R-3 max coverage
- 30% of front yard
- Unsurfaced parking
- 48-hour limit
- Applies to
- lots up to 36,000 sq ft
Summary
Single-family homes in the R-1 through R-4 districts must park in the front yard on a surfaced area capped at 25% to 30% lot coverage under the zoning code.
In the R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 Districts, for any single-family detached dwelling on a lot no larger
than 36,000 square feet, all parking for vehicles or trailers in a front yard must be on a surfaced area and limited to the maximum coverage percentage listed in Table 6100.1, except, that on a pipestem lot, the surfaced area within the pipestem driveway is not included in the maximum coverage percentage.
Table 6100.1: Residential Front Yard Coverage
Zoning District Maximum Front Yard Coverage
R-1 25 Percent
R-2
R-3 30 Percent
R-4
(a) The limitations in Table 6100.1 may be exceeded for a surfaced area that:
1. Contains no more than two side-by-side parking spaces and is no more than 25 feet long and
18 feet wide;
2. Consists of two parking spaces and a vehicular turnaround area, if:
a. The lot has its access from a major throughfare,
b. The surfaced area is not more than 25 feet long and 18 feet wide, and
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published.
Full Breakdown
In the R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 districts, any single-family detached home on a lot up to 36,000 square feet must keep all front-yard vehicle and trailer parking on a surfaced area, capped at the percentage of front yard set in Table 6100.1 (25 percent in R-1, 30 percent in R-3). Permitted surfaces include asphalt, concrete, brick, stone, gravel, and pervious materials like grasscrete. Pipestem driveways don't count toward the cap.
Violations & Fines
Paving or graveling more of the front yard than the table allows, or parking on unsurfaced ground beyond the 48-hour loading/repair exception, is a zoning violation subject to code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park on gravel in my front yard?
Can I temporarily park on grass?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fairfax County
Compare Fairfax County to another location·View the Virginia parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.