What the report says about zoning in Fairfax County

Home occupation permit required:

Yes

Details:

Fairfax County requires a Home-Based Business Administrative Permit through PLUS for cottage food operations, plus the Home-Based Food Production Supplemental Form. Processing is about 14 calendar days; the administrative permit fee is $140 as of July 1, 2026 (paid in PLUS; credit-card payments add a 2.35% service charge). Submit a floor plan labeling rooms and the square footage of the business area (400 sq ft cap); interior photos of rooms/areas where the business will operate (not every room in the house); and exterior photos of all sides of the dwelling. FCHD reviews each food item; Chapter 43.2 Art. 5 requires annual cottage-food product registration. File BPOL within 75 days of starting. Zoning Permits: 703-222-1082 / [email protected]. Home occupation area limited to 400 sq ft; one non-resident employee only in a single-family detached dwelling, 7am–6pm. Sale and delivery of home-based food must be exclusively online or off-site — no porch pickup. A special permit cannot add on-site customers for food or small-scale production.

Home kitchen:

Fairfax County requires a Home-Based Business Permit with a Home-Based Food Production Supplemental Form for all home-based food operations. Small-scale food production is a permitted home-based use in residential districts, but sale and delivery must occur exclusively online or off-site (no on-site retail sales or customer pickup). The home occupation area cannot exceed 400 sq ft. Operators must also comply with VDACS (Va. Code §3.2-5130 as amended by HB 402) and Fairfax County Health Department cottage-food product registration (Chapter 43.2 Art. 5). Burke and other unincorporated addresses are in the County. The independent City of Fairfax (FIPS 51600) is not in the County — County HBB / PLUS / County Food Code do not apply there.

Last verified 2026-08-19. Not legal advice.