Zoning and Land Development Fees Increase on July 1
Starting July 1, Fairfax County will implement updated fee schedules for Land Development Services (LDS) and zoning applications. The adjustments are intended to reflect the increase in costs related to inflation and personnel over recent years while ensuring the continuation of high-quality county services.
BACKGROUND
The Board of Supervisors approved these fee adjustments on May 5, 2026, fulfilling the request of reviewing fees every two years. The new fees will better align with the current costs of providing these services, which have risen due to increased personnel costs and other inflation-related factors.
DETAILS OF THE ZONING APPLICATION FEE CHANGES
Zoning application fees will increase by 5% on July 1, 2026. The minimum expenditure for Planned District Recreational Facilities will rise by 5% per residential dwelling unit in specific zoning districts, from $2,400 to $2,520.
Certain fees will remain unchanged, including fees for select wireless reviews, family healthcare structures and appeals. Reduced fees were approved for non-profits seeking a minor variation or minor modification to proffered conditions; as well as the special permit for the reduction of minimum distance requirements for manufactured homes.
UPDATES TO LDS FEE SCHEDULE
On the LDS front, building and site fees (excluding vertical transportation) will experience an additional 5% increase on July 1, 2026. Certain Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance exception requests requiring public hearings and major Water Quality Impact Assessment applications will increase by 50% to better align staff review efforts and processing time with the complexity of these applications. Technology surcharge fees and code academy surcharges will remain flat with no increase for FY27. You can see a full list of fee changes in the Appendix Q (Fee Schedule) staff report.
All fee changes will apply only to applications submitted after each respective July 1 deadline. Applications filed before these dates will be subject to the fees that were in place at the time of filing.
Learn more about specific fee changes by visiting Land Development Services and the Department of Planning and Development webpages.
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