Green Building Policy
The Fairfax City Green Building Policy applies green building standards to 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 comprehensive, 20-year roadmap for stewardship of its urban forest. Development began in May 2024 and proceeded through two Steering Committee meetings, two public open houses (July and October 2024, with a third in October 2025), stakeholder interviews, a public survey, and ongoing presentations to the Planning Commission, PRAB, Environmental Sustainability Committee, and City Council.
- 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 potential multifamily residential redevelopment project currently in the pre-application stage. The proposal involves constructing a 6-story multifamily residential building on approximately 3.22 acres, replacing roughly 59,983 sq ft of existing office space with 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 the City of Fairfax's rolling planning and prioritization mechanism for transportation projects, through which candidate projects are advanced for concept development, feasibility study, and funding applications. It serves as a critical bridge between adopted policy documents (such as Small Area Plans, the Bicycle Master Plan, and the Comprehensive Plan) and active project delivery.
- 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 concerns a proposed new Taco Bell restaurant with a drive-through at 10120 Fairfax Boulevard, specifically on Parcel D — a 0.66-acre vacant pad site within an existing shopping center (larger Parcel A is 2.4 acres) that was previously approved under a 2017 general development plan and 2008 proffers. The shopping center contains approximately 119 shared parking spaces with no dedicated parking for any individual tenant.
- 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 aimed at improving the intersection of Chain Bridge Road and Eaton Place. The project was first surfaced publicly in a City Council work session on October 8, 2024, where a presentation and update were provided but no formal action was 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 developed by the City of Fairfax. Planning 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 redevelopment project at 3740 and 3750 Blenheim Boulevard, replacing existing facilities with a new health, wellness, and recreation center featuring an underground parking garage, rooftop amenity space, fenced outdoor playgrounds, and a bridge connection to the existing Stacey C. Sherwood Community Center.
- 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 began in 2020 when City Council directed staff to initiate it, with formal stakeholder committee formation in 2023. Staff worked with consultant Cadmus, George Mason University, and participated in the U.S. Green Building Council's Green Building Policy Accelerator cohort, drawing on peer jurisdiction research, Virginia building codes, and nationally recognized rating systems.
Multiple City Council work sessions were held (July 2024, February 2026), and presentations were made to the Planning Commission, PRAB, and the public before a public hearing on June 23, 2026, at which the policy was adopted. Key features of the adopted policy include LEED Silver-or-equivalent base standards for private development; incentives (originally proposed as tax abatements for LEED Gold or higher) were ultimately excluded from this iteration for further study. A new full-time energy programs manager position — approved by the city manager and anticipated to be hired in fall 2026 — will be responsible for implementing the policy.
Public sector green building standards became effective upon adoption, while the private sector standards launch is anticipated for July 2027 following a pre-launch preparation period in FY27.