Green Building Policy
The Fairfax City Green Building Policy establishes green building standards for both public and private sector construction and major renovations. 11 separate matters touch this plan or program; each has its own status.
Urban Forest Master Plan
The Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) is the City of Fairfax's first-ever 20-year roadmap for stewardship of its urban forest, developed beginning in May 2024. The planning process included two Steering Committee meetings, multiple public meetings and open houses (July 2024, October 2024, October 2025), a public survey, stakeholder interviews, and presentations to the Planning Commission, City Council, PRAB, and the Environmental Sustainability Committee.
- Jul 22, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Staff noted that City Council would hold a work session on the Green Building Policy at its July 23, 2024 meeting.
- Stakeholder Updates
The draft Green Building Policy developed by City staff in consultation with the ESC will be discussed at a City Council work session on May 27.
- Mar 9, 2026Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
City Council held a discussion on the Green Building Policy at the February 17, 2026 meeting.
10340 Democracy Lane
10340 Democracy Lane is the site of a proposed multifamily residential redevelopment on approximately 3.22 acres in the city. The project as presented would replace roughly 59,983 sq ft of existing office space with a 6-story multifamily residential building totaling approximately 434,000 sq ft of residential space.
- Mar 9, 2026Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
City Council held a discussion on the Green Building Policy at the February 17, 2026 meeting.
- Oct 14, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
A Green Building Policy presentation was noted as scheduled for the October 28, 2024 Planning Commission meeting.
The Two-Year Transportation Program is a recurring City of Fairfax planning and prioritization mechanism through which transportation projects are formally advanced for concept development, funding applications, and design. The program was introduced at the October 8, 2024 City Council meeting and subsequently discussed during a work session on the same date with no formal action taken.
- Oct 14, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
A Green Building Policy presentation was noted as scheduled for the October 28, 2024 Planning Commission meeting.
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.
- Oct 14, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
A Green Building Policy presentation was noted as scheduled for the October 28, 2024 Planning Commission meeting.
The Chain Bridge Road/Eaton Place Intersection Improvements is an active transportation infrastructure project in the City. The project received an initial work session presentation at the October 8, 2024 City Council meeting, with no formal action taken.
- Oct 14, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
A Green Building Policy presentation was noted as scheduled for the October 28, 2024 Planning Commission meeting.
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.
- Jul 22, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Staff noted that City Council would hold a work session on the Green Building Policy at its July 23, 2024 meeting.
- Sep 9, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
City Council held a work session on Green Building Policy, as reported by staff.
GMU Commerce Center site
- Sep 9, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
City Council held a work session on Green Building Policy, as reported by staff.
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 Green Building Policy, as reported by staff.
WillowWood project
- Jul 22, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Staff noted that City Council would hold a work session on the Green Building Policy at its July 23, 2024 meeting.
- Jul 22, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Staff noted that City Council would hold a work session on the Green Building Policy at its July 23, 2024 meeting.
- Jul 23, 2024City Council · item 13aWork Session: Discussion on the development of the city's green building policy
The development of the city's green building policy was discussed during the work session; no formal action was taken.
- Fairfax City Green Building Policy – Presentation by Sonia Succar Ferré
Sonia Succar Ferré and Victoria Kiechel of Cadmus presented the proposed Green Building Policy to PRAB, covering scope, incentives (including tax abatements for LEED gold-or-higher certification), and next steps including a community meeting at Sherwood Community Center on November 7 and presentation to City Council for adoption in early 2025.
- Environmental Sustainability Committee – Rusty Russell
The ESC is making progress on the Green Building Policy as reported at the December 2024 PRAB meeting.
- Stakeholder Updates – Environmental Sustainability Committee
The final draft of the Green Building Policy is described as imminent and is posted on the Engage Fairfax page.
- Discussion on the development of the Green Building Policy
Council reached consensus to proceed with adoption of the Green Building Policy for public and private sector construction and major renovations, with the caveat that a staffing position must accompany the policy, and directed staff to research green building incentives.
- Mar 10, 2026City Council · item 7bPublic Hearing – Proposed FY27 Budget
Multiple public speakers urged Council to adopt the Green Building Policy and fund a permanent full-time Climate and Energy Manager position as part of the FY27 budget.
- Jun 11, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5bStakeholder Updates – Environmental Sustainability Committee
A newly approved full-time energy manager will dedicate a significant portion of their time to facilitating implementation of the Green Building Policy.
In full
Development of the policy was directed by City Council in 2020, and staff spent several years researching best practices, working with consultants (including Cadmus and George Mason University), participating in the U.S. Green Building Council's Green Building Policy Accelerator cohort, and engaging stakeholders. Key milestones include City Council work sessions in July 2024 and February 2026, a public presentation to PRAB in October 2024, and a community meeting at Sherwood Community Center in November 2024.
At a February 17, 2026 work session, Council reached consensus that the policy struck the right balance between ambition and feasibility and directed staff to proceed with adoption contingent on a dedicated staffing position being in place, and also directed staff to research green building incentives. The policy was formally considered for adoption at a public hearing on June 23, 2026, and was adopted at that meeting. The adopted policy requires LEED Silver or equivalent for private development (base standard), does not include incentives in this iteration — incentive analysis is scheduled for FY31 with a revised policy to be presented in FY32 — and calls for annual progress reports to Council and a full policy review at minimum every five years.
A new full-time Energy Programs Manager position, approved by the city manager, is anticipated to be hired in fall 2026 and will be responsible for implementing and managing the policy. The private sector standards are expected to launch in July 2027 following pre-launch planning and coordination in FY27.