Urban Agriculturein progress
Status set at the City Council Regular Meeting on Jul 9, 2024 · watch the moment
Urban Agriculture refers to proposed and enacted zoning text amendments to Chapter 110 of the Code of the City of Fairfax, Virginia, governing the cultivation, retail sales, and distribution of agricultural products within fully enclosed structures or on rooftops within city limits.
The process began in summer 2024, with staff presenting a draft ordinance at a Planning Commission work session on July 8, 2024, followed by a City Council work session on July 9, 2024 — both without formal action. On July 22, 2024, the Planning Commission voted 5:0 to initiate the amendment process and schedule a public hearing. On September 9, 2024, the Planning Commission recommended City Council approval of the ordinance 6:1, with Mr.
Cunningham voting against. The City Council subsequently took up the matter at a public hearing on September 24, 2024, where discussion centered on topics including cannabis exclusion language, aquaculture, and future expansion opportunities; a motion passed unanimously. As of early 2026, the Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC) has taken up urban agriculture as a key area of focus, with interest in expanding regulatory opportunities and compiling a city database of gardeners, building on the adopted zoning ordinance.
Still open
- Whether future amendments will explicitly address cannabis cultivation exclusion language in the urban agriculture definition (raised at the September 24, 2024 Council meeting but not confirmed as added).
- Whether aquaculture (fish/eel cultivation) will be incorporated into future urban agriculture ordinance expansions.
- Whether the Environmental Sustainability Committee's review of regulatory opportunities to expand urban agriculture — including community garden expansion and a city gardener database — will result in further Council action.
- Whether staff and the ESC will develop SUP processes for alcohol and tobacco establishments, as suggested in connection with the urban agriculture discussion on September 24, 2024.
What members have said
- Mr. Cunningham
Cunningham was the sole dissenting vote when the Planning Commission recommended approval of the urban agriculture ordinance on September 9, 2024 (6:1). No recorded verbal comments from him are available in the material.
- Ms. Lockhart
Lockhart made the motion at the September 9, 2024 Planning Commission meeting to recommend City Council approve the proposed ordinance amending Chapter 110 regarding urban agriculture.
- Mr. Denton
Denton seconded Lockhart's motion at the September 9, 2024 Planning Commission meeting to recommend City Council approve the urban agriculture ordinance.
- Councilmember Staley
At the September 24, 2024 Council meeting, Staley characterized the ordinance as a first step and expressed interest in an aquaculture lens (fish/eel cultivation), while acknowledging the 'go slow and build forward' approach. Staley noted the ordinance does not entirely foreclose aquaculture tied to growing operations and expressed willingness to go further but accepted the incremental approach.
Peterson is noted in a February 3, 2026 ESC presentation as having been chair of the committee when urban agriculture first became a concern of the ESC, lending early institutional impetus to the topic.
At the July 22, 2025 Council meeting, Bates was recognized for comment but stated no comments in response to a colleague's remarks about urban agriculture and 'yardins.'
- Delaine Wilkes
At the February 3, 2026 ESC presentation, Wilkes presented on urban agriculture as a key ESC focus area, highlighting alignment with the comprehensive plan, the popularity of community gardens (with wait lists), interest in expanding those programs, and plans to compile a city database of gardeners and continue reviewing regulatory opportunities to expand urban agriculture.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
councilcommissionMinutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting, Jul 8, 2024 onward.
History
Filled dots are actions on this topic; open dots are mentions.
- Work Session: Discussion on potential Zoning Text Amendments regarding Urban Agriculture
Staff presented a draft ordinance on potential Zoning Text Amendments regarding Urban Agriculture during the work session; the matter was discussed with no formal action taken, and potential initiation of zoning text amendments is anticipated at the July 22, 2024 Planning Commission meeting.
- Work Session: Discussion on potential Zoning Text Amendments regarding Urban Agriculture
Council discussed potential zoning text amendments regarding urban agriculture during the work session; no action was taken.
- Jul 22, 2024Planning Commission · item 5aMotion to amend Chapter 110 of the Code of the City of Fairfax, Virginia and articles and sections contained therein, pertaining to urban agriculture
Staff presented a report on proposed zoning code amendments related to urban agriculture; the Commission approved initiating the amendment process and scheduling a public hearing.
passedMotion to initiate amendments to Chapter 110 of the Code of the City of Fairfax pertaining to urban agriculture and to schedule a public hearing for consideration of said amendments. - Sep 9, 2024Planning Commission · item 6bProposed amendments to the Code of the City of Fairfax, Chapter 110 (Zoning) – Zoning Districts and Regulations, Site Development Standards, and Definitions (Urban Agriculture)
Proposed to be defined as an establishment for cultivation, retail sales, and distribution of agricultural products within a fully enclosed structure or on a rooftop; discussion included cannabis cultivation, animal keeping, wastewater, and compliance monitoring.
passedMotion by Ms. Lockhart, seconded by Mr. Denton, to recommend City Council approve the proposed ordinance amending Chapter 110, Zoning, of the Code of the City of Fairfax, Virginia, including Zoning Districts and Regulations, Site Development Standards, and Definitions.✓ Feather✓ Briggs✓ Coleman✕ Cunningham✓ Denton✓ Lockhart✓ Rice
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.