Accessory Dwelling Units
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) have been under active consideration in the City of Fairfax since at least mid-2024, rooted in Comprehensive Plan recommendations and a 2023 Housing Assessment calling for expanded ADU permissions. 14 separate matters touch this plan or program; each has its own status.
Courthouse Plaza
Courthouse Plaza (10300 Willard Way, with associated parcel at 3922 Blenheim Boulevard) is a shopping center redevelopment proposal in the City of Fairfax, pursued by Combined Courthouse, LLC. The project has gone through two distinct application cycles.
- Oct 27, 2025Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
A City Council work session on Accessory Dwelling Units was scheduled for October 28, 2025.
- May 11, 2026Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
A City Council work session on accessory dwelling units was reported as scheduled for May 12, 2026.
- Jul 9, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 4Stakeholder Updates
Accessory dwelling units were discussed at the most recent Planning Commission meeting, as reported by Matt Rice.
Willard-Sherwood Community Center
The Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center is a joint City of Fairfax and Fairfax County project to redevelop the Willard Health Center and Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center sites at 3740 and 3750 Blenheim Boulevard into a new shared health, wellness, and recreation facility.
- Sep 9, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
City Council held a work session on Accessory Dwelling Units, as reported by staff.
- Oct 27, 2025Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
A City Council work session on Accessory Dwelling Units was scheduled for October 28, 2025.
- May 11, 2026Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
A City Council work session on accessory dwelling units was reported as scheduled for May 12, 2026.
Blenheim Boulevard Multimodal Improvements
The Blenheim Boulevard Multimodal Improvements Project (UPC-107013) is a city transportation corridor upgrade adding walking and biking infrastructure, benches, and an amphitheater, running from Blenheim Hall Drive to Ridge Avenue. The project has been in planning and design for several years, with construction expected to begin in 2025 per early-year projections; utility relocation was underway as of March 2026, with construction start revised to later in 2026 or early 2027.
- May 11, 2026Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
A City Council work session on accessory dwelling units was reported as scheduled for May 12, 2026.
Gallery at City Center
Gallery at City Center is a proposed mixed-use development by Christopher Land, LLC at 4085–4117 Chain Bridge Road (also referenced as 4085, 4101, and 4103 Chain Bridge Road) in Old Town, Fairfax City, on approximately 2.52 acres. The project as briefed includes approximately 257 multifamily units, 7,395 sq ft of retail, 26,391 sq ft of office space, structured/subterranean parking, a proposed east-west road connecting University Drive to Chain Bridge Road, and a north-south pedestrian pathway.
- May 11, 2026Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
A City Council work session on accessory dwelling units was reported as scheduled for May 12, 2026.
The Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan is one of four Activity Center Small Area Plans adopted by the City of Fairfax. Plan development began in Spring 2023.
- Sep 9, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
City Council held a work session on Accessory Dwelling Units, as reported by staff.
- Oct 27, 2025Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
A City Council work session on Accessory Dwelling Units was scheduled for October 28, 2025.
George Snyder Trail
The George Snyder Trail was a planned shared-use trail project (VDOT UPC 112816) in the City of Fairfax intended to improve multimodal connectivity. The project drew sustained and significant public opposition throughout 2025 and into 2026.
- Oct 27, 2025Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
A City Council work session on Accessory Dwelling Units was scheduled for October 28, 2025.
The City of Fairfax's Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) 5-Year Update is a long-term planning document covering a twenty-year horizon, required by state code to be updated every five years; the previous update was completed in 2021. Work on the update was underway by at least July 2025, with a public meeting held on November 20, 2025, at Katherine Johnson Middle School Library and a community survey open through the end of 2025.
- Oct 27, 2025Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
A City Council work session on Accessory Dwelling Units was scheduled for October 28, 2025.
The City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan is the city's primary long-range land use and policy document, guiding development, housing, transportation, and related decisions. A five-year review process culminated on October 8, 2024, when City Council unanimously adopted Resolution R-24-30 approving the updated plan dated September 27, 2024.
- HHCAB Strategy Teams, Working Session
ADUs were discussed as part of the Zoning & Land Use strategy background, referencing the Comprehensive Plan action to revise zoning regulations to expand ADU opportunities and the 2023 Housing Assessment recommendation to expand ADU permissions.
The Housing and Homelessness Strategic Plan is a City of Fairfax initiative to develop a comprehensive affordable housing and homelessness strategy, undertaken in partnership with national consulting firm Thomas P. Miller and Associates (TPMA).
- Developing HHCAB's Workplan
The board noted that the city is working on zoning standards for Accessory Dwelling Units and that HHCAB's Zoning Strategy Team will engage in that process to assess affordable housing opportunities.
4010 University Drive
4010 University Drive is a proposed mixed-use development by Pathway Homes, Inc. (agent: Molly Navanti) located at the corner of University Drive and Sager Avenue in the CR Commercial Retail zoning district and Old Town Fairfax Historic Overlay District (Tax Map 57-4-02-087-B) in the City of Fairfax. The project proposes ground-floor offices and affordable residential dwelling units with related support services on the upper stories.
- Nov 25, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Local authority to regulate Accessory Dwelling Units was discussed at the November 12, 2024 City Council meeting as part of the Legislative Agenda; Chair Feather noted he attended an Accessory Dwelling Unit public meeting.
- Dec 9, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Staff reported that a community meeting regarding Accessory Dwelling Units was held on November 21, 2024.
Tommy's Carwash
Tommy's Carwash is a proposed car wash facility to be developed by Olympus Pines, LLC at 9917 Fairfax Boulevard in the City. The project required a Special Use Permit (SUP) for vehicle service use, special exceptions (for exterior vacuum stations, a fence in the transitional yard, and modified street tree requirements), and a Major Certificate of Appropriateness.
- Nov 25, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Local authority to regulate Accessory Dwelling Units was discussed at the November 12, 2024 City Council meeting as part of the Legislative Agenda; Chair Feather noted he attended an Accessory Dwelling Unit public meeting.
- Dec 9, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Staff reported that a community meeting regarding Accessory Dwelling Units was held on November 21, 2024.
Taco Bell
The Taco Bell project involves a proposed Taco Bell restaurant with a drive-through on Parcel D — a 0.66-acre vacant pad site — within an existing multi-tenant shopping center at 10120 Fairfax Boulevard. The larger parcel (Parcel A) is 2.4 acres, zoned Commercial Retail within the Architectural Control Overlay District and the Commercial Corridor place type.
- Nov 25, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Local authority to regulate Accessory Dwelling Units was discussed at the November 12, 2024 City Council meeting as part of the Legislative Agenda; Chair Feather noted he attended an Accessory Dwelling Unit public meeting.
- Dec 9, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Staff reported that a community meeting regarding Accessory Dwelling Units was held on November 21, 2024.
Davies Property
The Davies Property refers to the redevelopment of 4131 Chain Bridge Road (a ~2.69-acre site currently containing a large vacant house), proposed by The Hill, A Davies Family, LLC. The application sought to rezone the parcel from RM (Residential Medium) to CU (Commercial Urban), retaining the Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District (TOD), with a General Development Plan for a mixed-use building of up to 276 apartments, approximately 10,796 sq ft of ground-floor commercial space, and a 3-level below-grade parking garage.
- Dec 9, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Staff reported that a community meeting regarding Accessory Dwelling Units was held on November 21, 2024.
GMU Commerce Center site
- Sep 9, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
City Council held a work session on Accessory Dwelling Units, as reported by staff.
- Jul 22, 2024Planning Commission · item 8aDiscussion of Potential Zoning Options for Accessory Dwelling Units
The Commission discussed potential zoning options for accessory dwelling units during the work session; no formal action was taken.
- Jul 23, 2024City Council · item 13cWork Session: Discussion on Zoning for Accessory Dwelling Units
Zoning regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units were discussed during the work session; no formal action was taken.
- Feb 4, 2025City Council · item 1dDiscussion on Potential Zoning Options for Accessory Dwelling Units
Potential zoning options for Accessory Dwelling Units were discussed at this work session. No formal action was taken.
- Jun 12, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5dStakeholder Update – Planning Commission
Accessory Dwelling Units were the primary topic of the Planning Commission's May 12 meeting.
- Nov 10, 2025Planning Commission · item 10Commission Comments
Chair Feather noted accessory dwelling units were among topics discussed during a recent lunch with the Fairfax County Planning Commission Chair.
- December 2nd Council Presentation Debrief
The potential role of the state in enabling by-right ADUs was discussed, recognizing that local governments do not always proactively upzone.
- May 12, 2026City Council · item 11aWork Session: Potential Zoning Text Amendments Regarding Detached Accessory Dwelling Units
Council discussed proposed standards for detached ADUs including setbacks, height, size, parking, and nonconforming structures, and gave consensus to move toward a public hearing.
- Jun 8, 2026Planning Commission · item 5aMotion to amend Chapter 110 of the Code of the City of Fairfax, Virginia
Amendments to the zoning ordinance related to accessory dwelling units were initiated by the Planning Commission; a public hearing is scheduled for June 22, 2026. Staff noted that City Council held a work session on accessory dwelling units on May 12, 2026, and that a public hearing on ADU zoning ordinance amendments is scheduled for an upcoming Planning Commission meeting.
passedMotion to initiate amendments to Chapter 110 of the Code of the City of Fairfax, Virginia, related to accessory dwelling units, and to schedule a public hearing.✓ Feather✓ Cunningham✓ Lockhart✓ McCarthy✓ Rice✓ Tricarichi - Jul 28, 2026City Council · item 8aPublic hearing and Council action on proposed amendments to Chapter 110 (Zoning) relating to Detached Accessory Dwelling Units
The zoning amendments build upon the existing attached ADU provisions and now add allowances for detached ADUs, replacing the prior parking standard and establishing a Board of Zoning Appeals pathway for nonconforming structures.
failedSubstitute motion to defer consideration of the detached ADU zoning amendments until September 8, 2026.✓ Hall✓ McQuillen✓ Peterson✕ Amos✕ Bates✕ Hardy-ChandlerpassedApprove an ordinance amending Chapter 110 (Zoning) to amend portions of articles and sections relating to Detached Accessory Dwelling Units.✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ Peterson✕ Hall✕ McQuillen
In full
Attached ADUs have been permitted in the city since 2003 (initially as a special use), transitioned to a permitted-with-conditions use in 2016, and an occupancy limitation restricting residents to seniors or disabled persons was removed in 2024. The current legislative effort focused on extending allowances to detached ADUs: following a series of work sessions (July 2024, February 2025, October 2025, May 2026), a community meeting (November 2024), and engagement by both the Planning Commission and advisory bodies including HHCAB and PRAB, the City Council held a public hearing on July 28, 2026 and approved an ordinance amending Chapter 110 (Zoning) to permit detached ADUs by a 4-2 vote (Hall and McQuillen opposed). The ordinance establishes physical standards for detached ADU structures—including setbacks aligned with the existing affordable dwelling unit ordinance—replaces the prior parking standard, and creates a Board of Zoning Appeals pathway for nonconforming structures.
Subsequent miscellaneous zoning amendments, addressed at the Planning Commission in September 2026, clarified that detached ADUs are included in the footprint standard for residential accessory structures and standardized related nonconforming lot/structure language.