Fence permit checklist — Fairfax County, Virginia
Assembled from Fairfax County’s own published permit rules. Every line below is quoted from a city document and linked to it. Nothing here is generated, estimated, or inferred from another jurisdiction.
Do you need a permit?
Fairfax County does not require a permit for a fence.
Building permits are not typically required for fences of any height on residential lots in Fairfax County. A building permit is required if the fence is needed for pedestrian safety or serves as a barrier for a swimming pool. The Residential Fences and Walls publication states building permits are required for concrete or masonry walls six feet or greater in height; the county's Does My Project Require a Permit? page exempts concrete and masonry walls that do not exceed six feet in height.
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Sources
- fence — permit rules ↗verified August 2026
Other permits Fairfax County publishes rules for
Listed because the city publishes a separate rule for each type — not because this project necessarily triggers one. Whether it does depends on your scope of work.
- Deck permit checklist
- Shed permit checklist
- Water heater permit checklist
- Re-roof permit checklist
- Retaining wall permit checklist
- Electrical work permit checklist
- General building work permit checklist
BuildSpec is a reference, not the authority having jurisdiction. Confirm requirements with Fairfax County before you build.