Urban Agriculturein progress
Status set at the City Council Regular Meeting on Jul 9, 2024 · watch the moment
Urban Agriculture refers to a proposed and now partially enacted set of zoning text amendments to Chapter 110 of the Code of the City of Fairfax, Virginia, governing the cultivation, retail sale, and distribution of agricultural products within fully enclosed structures or on rooftops.
The process began in July 2024 with concurrent work sessions at both the Planning Commission (July 8) and City Council (July 9), with no formal action taken at either. On July 22, 2024, the Planning Commission voted 5:0 to initiate amendments and schedule a public hearing. On September 9, 2024, the Planning Commission recommended City Council approval of the ordinance 6:1, with Mr.
Cunningham dissenting. City Council subsequently held a public hearing and took action on September 24, 2024, at which the motion passed unanimously; notable discussion at that meeting included whether to explicitly exclude cannabis cultivation from the definition of urban agriculture and interest in aquaculture. As of early 2026, the Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC) has identified urban agriculture as a key area of focus, with efforts underway to compile a city gardener database, expand community garden access, and review further regulatory opportunities — signaling that the enacted ordinance is viewed as a first step rather than a final resolution.
Still open
- Whether cannabis cultivation will be explicitly excluded from the definition of urban agriculture by ordinance amendment (discussed but not conclusively resolved at the September 24, 2024 Council meeting).
- Whether aquaculture (fish/eel cultivation) will be incorporated into future urban agriculture regulations, as raised during the September 24, 2024 Council meeting.
- Whether SUP (special use permit) processes will be introduced for alcohol and tobacco/vape establishments in connection with the broader urban agriculture conversation, as encouraged by at least one council member.
- Whether the Environmental Sustainability Committee's planned review of regulatory opportunities to expand urban agriculture will result in additional zoning or policy changes, including expansion of community gardens with existing waitlists.
- Whether a city database of gardeners will be compiled as a resource for the broader community, per ESC plans discussed February 3, 2026.
- Whether the ESC will formally take up 'yardins' and home-based urban agriculture as a follow-on action item, as suggested in July 2025 remarks.
What members have said
Mr. 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 commentary from him is available in the material.
Ms. Lockhart made the motion at the September 9, 2024 Planning Commission meeting to recommend City Council approve the proposed ordinance amending Chapter 110 pertaining to urban agriculture.
Mr. Denton seconded Ms. Lockhart's motion at the September 9, 2024 Planning Commission meeting to recommend City Council approve the proposed ordinance.
- Staley
At the September 24, 2024 City Council meeting, Councilmember Staley was referenced by another speaker as sharing the view that the ordinance represents a first step, with openness to further expansion. Staley also expressed interest in an aquaculture lens on urban agriculture but acknowledged the 'go slow and build forward' approach, noting the ordinance at least 'opens the door' for some fish/eel-related activity tied to growing operations.
Councilmember Peterson was noted in a February 3, 2026 ESC discussion as having been the committee chair when urban agriculture first became a concern of the Environmental Sustainability Committee.
At the July 22, 2025 City Council meeting, Councilmember Bates was recognized but offered no comments on the urban agriculture discussion initiated by a colleague.
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.