The Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan organizes growth through Area Plans for Tysons, Reston, Annandale, Springfield, and 21 other planning districts, supplemented by detailed sector and small-area studies.
Adopted under Va. Code 15.2-2223, the Comprehensive Plan is the policy backbone for all rezonings and special exceptions. It is divided into a Policy Plan and Area Plans for each of the county's 24 planning districts plus standalone documents for Tysons and Reston. Sector plans cover smaller areas such as Bailey's Crossroads and Lake Anne. Plan amendments follow the SSPA (Site-Specific Plan Amendment) process opened roughly every two years. The Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors review all amendments after community task force input.
The plan itself is policy, not regulation; binding limits flow through the Zoning Ordinance and proffered conditions enforced by zoning administration.
See how Fairfax's specific plans overview rules stack up against other locations.
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