Land Development Services announced on May 1 that it has made changes to speed up the review process for residential building permits. Staff have been reassigned to focus on the Fast Track building plan reviews, reducing the standard review time from five business days to just one.
The change aims to help residents begin home improvement projects more quickly and avoid lengthy delays. A similar evaluation of the commercial Fast Track program is currently in progress.
The Fast Track program offers homeowners a faster review when their construction plans are ready and the project is not too complex. County staff process applications in the order they are received. Residents are encouraged to call 703-222-0801 or email LDSBuildingPermits@fairfaxcounty.gov before submitting an application to confirm if their project qualifies for expedited review.
Projects that may be eligible for this program include one-story additions of 500 square feet or less, decks, finished basements, retaining walls up to four feet tall (excluding segmented and tiered retaining walls), garages and sheds of 500 square feet or less, minor interior changes, swimming pools, solar panels, and truss shop drawings. Single-story sheds under 256 square feet do not require a permit.
These adjustments reflect ongoing efforts by Land Development Services to improve efficiency in permitting processes for Fairfax County residents.
