City of Fairfax, VA
Home MenuAffordable Dwelling Units
On this page:
- Resources for developers and builders
- Rental and homeownership information
- Program overview and history
Information for Developers and Builders
Administrative Regulations
The administrative regulations outline the requirements for the sale or rental of Affordable Dwelling Units.
View Administrative Regulations
Key Provisions
- Applicable to any new development with a minimum of 30 dwelling units that is seeking a rezoning, special use permit, special exception, or has filed a site plan or subdivision.
- Single-family developments, including detached, attached, townhouse, and duplex units, provide 10% of the total units as affordable.
- Multifamily developments provide 6% of the total units as affordable.
- Affordable Dwelling Units available for purchase are required to be affordable to households with incomes of 70% or less of the area median income.
- Rental Affordable Dwelling Units are required to be affordable to households with incomes of 60% or less of the area median income.
- Affordable Dwelling Unit developments are provided an approximately 20% bonus density through the modification of certain dimensional requirements of the applicable zoning district.
Modification Requests
Modifications to ADU zoning requirements are limited to specific provisions and must be submitted using the application below. All requests require City Council approval following a public hearing.
Submit Modification Application
To discuss the modification process or schedule a pre-application meeting, contact the City of Fairfax Community Development Division at 📞 703-385-7930.
Zoning Ordinance
For questions about the Zoning Regulations, visit the City Code webpage or contact the City of Fairfax Zoning Division at
📧 zoning@fairfaxva.gov
📞 703-385-7820
Information for Prospective Renters and Homebuyers
Dedicated Affordable Rental HousingThe following developments offer dedicated affordable rental housing in the City of Fairfax.
These units are managed by property owners, not Fairfax County. Please contact the leasing offices directly for availability:
- West Wood Oaks (10734 West Drive) - 54 units
- Scout on the Circle (9450 Fairfax Boulevard) -24 units
- The Point at Fairfax (4040 Gateway Drive)-24 units
Dedicated Affordable Housing for Sale
The Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development administers affordable dwelling units on behalf of the City of Fairfax. Participating properties include:
- Sutton Heights (3500 block Pickett Road)
- Five townhomes (SOLD)
First-Time Homebuyers Program
For details on the First-Time Homebuyers Program, email FTHBhomeownership@fairfaxcounty.gov or contact the Homeownership Resource Center at 📞 703-246-5087 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.).
About the Affordable Dwelling Unit Program
The Affordable Dwelling Unit Program supports the development of mixed-income housing in the City of Fairfax by requiring a portion of new residential units to be designated as affordable.
On June 23, 2020, the City of Fairfax Zoning Ordinance was amended to include Affordable Dwelling Unit provisions. This change was part of the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan recommendations to increase housing affordability.
To implement the program, City Council:
- Adopted administrative regulations to guide program operations.
- Authorized an agreement with the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development to support the administration of the city's program.