Fences, sheds and decks in Fairfax CountyHow tall, how close to the line, and when you need a permit
Pick your project. See where it can go on a lot, and whether it needs a permit.
Front yard: a fence up to 4 feet· Centreville, Fairfax County
Rules: Fairfax County’s own pages and Zoning Ordinance, October 30, 2026. Pictures: artist’s renderings of real places.
The planner
What can I build in my yard?
Fairfax County rules for a conventional lot. Cluster lots, planned communities (PDH) and proffers can set other lines: your house plat shows them. Nothing you pick is saved or sent.
Pick the project. See where it can go on a lot, and whether it needs a permit.
Updated October 30, 2026Rules read on Fairfax County’s pages and Zoning Ordinance, October 30, 2026A 30-second planner, plus a 5-minute read
Quick answer
In Fairfax County a fence can be 4 feet tall in the front yard and 7 feet in the side and back yards, and it needs no building permit unless it guards a pool.1,2 A shed needs a permit only over 256 square feet, but it can’t go in the front yard, and the taller it is, the farther it sits from the lot lines.1,2 Every deck needs a building permit; an open deck 4 feet high or lower can reach 20 feet into the rear setback.3,5 Your HOA can be stricter, and the county doesn’t enforce it for you.1 Use the planner above to see it on a lot.
Yard projects in Fairfax County, in six numbers
County rules, 2026
For a house lot in a conventional subdivision; read October 30, 2026.
At a glance
Seven yard projects, one table.
Height, place and permit, from the county’s own pages.
In shortFences and patios: no permit. Sheds: a permit over 256 sq ft. Decks: always a permit.
Except a pool barrier.
Or more than one story.
It is an addition.
On-grade pavers, concrete, wood.
Or a load on top, or tiers.
Up to 6 ft, no permit.
Zoning still applies.
Fences
How tall can a fence be?
Front yard, side yard, back yard and corner lots.
In short4 feet in front, 7 feet on the sides and in back. A corner lot has two front yards.
Lots that back to or sit near some major roads have limited exceptions to these heights, and a retaining wall or a garden wall counts like a fence where it sticks up above the ground.1
Sheds
Where can a shed go?
The taller the shed, the farther from the lot lines.
In shortNever in the front yard; up to 8½ feet tall, right up to the side and rear lines.
Decks
How far can a deck reach?
Into the rear setback, by height and roof.
In shortEvery deck needs a building permit; how far it reaches depends on its height and roof.
Low and open: 20 feet
On a house, an open deck 4 feet high or lower can go 20 feet into the rear setback, 5 feet into a side setback and 6 feet into the front setback, never closer than 5 feet to a side or rear line (14 feet in front).3
Higher, or roofed: 12 feet
An open deck over 4 feet, or a roofed or screened one 4 feet or lower, can go 12 feet into the rear setback only. A roofed deck over 4 feet can’t go into any setback.3
Townhouses: the 3-foot line
Open and 3 feet high or lower, an interior unit’s deck can reach the rear lot line; an end unit stays 5 feet back. Higher or roofed: 12 feet into the rear setback, no closer than 5 feet.3
Setbacks
The lines a house stays behind, by district.
Minimum setbacks for a house in a conventional subdivision.
In shortThe setback is the line a house must stay behind; small things like fences, sheds and decks get their own rules.
FrontSideRear
Conventional subdivisions. Cluster lots and planned communities have smaller lines or lines set by the approved plan, and a proffer can change them: your house plat shows yours.
Before you build
Before you dig or build.
Six checks that save a do-over.
In shortCheck the HOA, the easements and the stream buffer, and call 811 before you dig.
Your HOA first
Covenants are private agreements the county does not enforce, and an HOA can be stricter on height, material and color. Get its approval in writing before you build.1
Easements: keep off
No structure may sit in or over a county easement. On a storm drainage easement that includes decks and some fences. Your plat shows them, and so does the Lot Check.1,7
The stream buffer
In a Resource Protection Area, a new shed, patio or pool needs an exception with a public hearing; a fence is fine if water can flow through or under it.6
Call 811
Virginia 811 needs at least 3 working days’ notice before any digging, fence posts and deck footings included. The marking is free.8
Your free plat
The county’s Zoning Property File has house location plats for many homes: it shows the lot lines, the house and often the easements.1
A pool fence is different
A fence that serves as the barrier around a swimming pool needs a building permit, unlike other fences.2
Questions
What people ask about fences, sheds and decks.
How tall can a fence be in Fairfax County?
On most house lots, 4 feet in the front yard and 7 feet in the side and back yards. On a corner lot, both yards that face a street count as front yards, so the 4-foot limit applies on both street sides.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Fairfax County?
Usually not. Land Development Services lists fences among the projects that need no building permit, except a fence that serves as the barrier around a swimming pool. The height limits still apply, and so do your HOA's rules.
Do I need a permit for a shed in Fairfax County?
Not for a detached storage shed of 256 square feet or less and one story. A bigger shed, or one attached to the house, needs a building permit. Either way, the zoning rules on where it can go apply.
How close to the property line can a shed be in Fairfax County?
It depends on the height. A shed 8.5 feet tall or less can go anywhere in the side or back yard. Between 8.5 and 12 feet, it must be at least 5 feet from the side and rear lot lines. Taller than 12 feet, it must be as far from the rear line as it is tall, and the full side setback from the side line. No shed in the front yard on a lot of 36,000 square feet or less.
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Fairfax County?
Yes. A deck is an addition to the house and needs a residential building permit, applied for in PLUS. An on-grade patio does not.
How far can a deck go into the rear setback in Fairfax County?
For a house, an open deck 4 feet high or lower can go 20 feet into the rear setback, but no closer than 5 feet to the rear lot line. A higher deck, or a roofed one, can go 12 feet in. A roofed deck over 4 feet high can't go into the setback at all.
Does the county enforce my HOA's fence rules?
No. Covenants and deed restrictions are private agreements between owners, and the county does not enforce them. Your HOA can be stricter than the county, so check its rules before you build.
Do I have to call 811 before putting in fence posts?
Yes. Virginia 811 asks for notice at least 3 working days before any digging, fence posts and deck footings included. The marking is free.
Your next step
Buying a house with plans for the yard?
Tell me what you want to add: a fence for the dog, a shed, a bigger deck. Before you offer, I will pull the plat and check the zoning, the easements and the HOA rules with you, so the yard you picture is the yard you can build. English or Arabic, real answers, not a pitch.
اقرأ دليل شمال فرجينيا بالعربية ←
وكيلك العقاري الموثوق في شمال فرجينيا.
Keep exploring
Your next pages.
Fairfax Lot Check
Type an address: zoning, easements, the stream buffer and more.
ToolHardware stores near you
Where to get the posts, lumber and gravel.
ToolIn-law suites in Fairfax County
A backyard cottage follows its own rules.
CheckWhat to fix before selling
A permit for that deck matters at sale.
Keep reading
- ToolFairfax Lot CheckType a Fairfax County address: the stream buffer, marine clay, easements, historic district, zoning and sewer or septic for that lot, from the county's own maps.
- ToolHardware stores near youType an address: hardware stores within 3 to 5 miles, then the first 2 weeks in a new home by the year it was built, and DIY vs. a pro.
- ToolIn-law suites in Fairfax CountyCan your house have an in-law suite or a backyard cottage? Fairfax rules and the November 17, 2026 vote, plus Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington.
- ToolWell and septic in Fairfax CountyBuying or owning a Fairfax home on a well or septic tank? When the tank is due for a pump-out, when to test the water, what to check before you buy, and when sewer is required.