Fairfax County, VA Property Maintenance: Weeds & Overgrown Grass (2026)

Fairfax County enforces grass and weed height limits under Chapter 119 (Property Maintenance Code) and its Zoning Ordinance, authorized by Virginia Code Sections 15.2-900 and 15.2-901. The limit is 12 inches on residential parcels under one-half acre (or similar threshold for larger parcels with landscaped areas). Natural landscaping, meadow plantings, and designated conservation areas may be exempt if registered or documented as intentional landscape features. Code Compliance issues a Notice of Violation upon complaint or observation, typically allowing 7-14 days for the owner to mow. If the owner fails to comply, the County may contract a mowing service and charge the owner the full cost plus an administrative fee (often $150-400 per incident), which becomes a lien on the property if unpaid. Repeat violations within the same growing season may result in faster abatement and higher penalties. Noxious weeds designated by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) require more aggressive control and may be subject to state-level enforcement. HOAs frequently impose stricter standards (e.g., 6-inch height, specific grass species requirements, irrigation mandates). Virginia does not have a statewide drought-based watering restriction, but local water utilities (Fairfax Water, Loudoun Water serving some county areas) can impose restrictions during declared drought emergencies.