Fairfax County, VA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Strip width
- 10 feet
- Tree spacing
- 1 per 30 linear feet
- Single-family homes
- exempt unless on approved plan
- VDOT conflict
- VDOT rules control
Summary
New development along public and private streets must plant a ten-foot landscaping strip with at least one shade tree per 30 feet of street frontage, per county zoning code.
Street frontage landscaping must consist of a ten-foot-wide landscaping strip, exclusive of a sidewalk or
trail, containing at least one tree per 30 linear feet of frontage, but trees are not required to be planted on 30-foot centers.
(3) Where street frontage landscaping required by this subsection conflicts with street planting regulations
of the Virginia Department of Transportation, the regulations of the latter govern.
B. Exceptions
(1) Street frontage landscaping is not required for lots developed with a single-family dwelling unless shown
on an approved development plan or PRC plan.
(2) Street frontage landscaping is not required parallel to internal drive aisles within a development, or
along a railroad, interstate highway, the Dulles International Airport Access Highway, or the combined Dulles International Airport Access Highway and Dulles Toll Road.
(3) Where peripheral parking lot landscaping is required by this Section, street frontage landscaping is not
required.
(Ord. 112.2-2024-4, adopted 01/23/2024, effective 01/24/2024)
4. Parking Lot Landscaping
A. Interior Parking Lot Landscaping
(1) Amount Required
(a) Any parking lot containing ten or more surface parking spaces, including surface parking lots
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published.
Full Breakdown
Fairfax County's zoning ordinance requires a ten-foot-wide landscaping strip along all street lines of a public or private street for development subject to site plan review, planted with a minimum of one tree per 30 linear feet of frontage (trees need not be spaced exactly every 30 feet). Single-family homes are exempt unless the requirement is shown on an approved development plan or PRC plan. Where VDOT's own street planting rules conflict with this strip, VDOT's regulations control instead.
Violations & Fines
Landscaping plans that omit the required strip or tree count are rejected during site plan review, and required plantings must be completed before a Residential or Nonresidential Use Permit is approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to my single-family house?
Do trees need to be exactly 30 feet apart?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fairfax County
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