April 24, 2026

LAND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Letters to Industry

Submittal and Inspections Requirements for Energy Storage Systems

Land Development Services received the following information from the Office of the Fire Marshal. Forwarding along these details for awareness.

As Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) technologies evolve, updated construction codes are being adapted to address the emerging and unique risks posed by these systems. The Office of the Fire Marshal has created a new fire installation record (FESS) in PLUS to facilitate the review and approval process for Energy Storage Systems as defined and regulated by the Virginia Construction Code (VCC). Though the architectural review on a Building record – Building Commercial New (BLDC) and Addition/Alteration (ALTC) - includes review of an Energy Storage System, several of the documents required by the code are not produced or available before the timeframe of the building permit’s issuance. Thus, the FESS record will be used to receive and review all required documents by code. To this point, with this being a child of a Building record, the relationship should not prevent the permit on a BLDC or ALTC from being issued before the FESS record is closed.

The new FESS record is available as of April 20th, 2026. Instructions for FESS record submission are outlined in the Energy Storage System.

The inspection for ESS installation should be managed through the Special Inspection Program and conducted by pre-approved third-party special inspection agencies. Refer to Fairfax County Special Inspection Program (SIP) Chapter 17 for more information about inspection requirements.

Facilities housing ESS with their Fire Prevention Code Permit (FPCP) due for reissuance will be required to create a FESS record and submit required documentation per Virginia’s Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC), Section 1207.

Contact the Office of the Fire Marshal with any questions at fire.ENGPlansReview@fairfaxcounty.gov.

April 23, 2026

LAND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Letters to Industry

Forest Conservation Plan Review Checklist

Land Development Services (LDS) recently published the Forest Conservation Plan Review Checklist as a resource to clarify Forest Conservation (FCON)-related plan requirements on site-related plans and entitlement plans. This checklist outlines the scope of elements reviewed by staff and is shared to improve consistency, transparency, and completeness in plan preparation and review. It does not establish new regulatory requirements or modify existing standards in Fairfax County Code Chapter 122 or Public Facilities Manual (PFM) Chapter 12. It is provided for informational purposes and is not a new submission document. This checklist is used by staff during their review of plans, so applicants are encouraged to refer to it during plan preparation to minimize plan deficiencies.

If you have any questions, please contact Adam Lipera, Chief, Forest Conservation Branch in the Site Development and Inspections Division at 703-222-0801, TTY 711

April 23, 2026

LAND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Letters to Industry

Adopted Amendments to the Public Facilities Manual (PFM) Regarding Sanitary Sewer and Editorial and Minor Changes

On April 14, 2026, the Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted miscellaneous amendments to the Public Facilities Manual. The amendments became effective at 12:01 a.m. on April 15, 2026.

The proposed sanitary sewer amendment updates Table 10.1 by reducing the recommended sewer design flow rates for single-family detached, multi-family, and office development and adding design flow rates for commercial and medical uses. The amendment also reduces the peaking factors for existing sewers and incorporates the peaking factors into the PFM in both graphic and tabular format for ease of use as shown in Plates 1-10 (Peak Flow Curve) and 2-10 (Peak Flow Chart).

The minor and editorial amendments include: 1) updating miscellaneous provisions to align with recent updates to the Erosion and Stormwater Ordinance (County Code Chapter 124.1) and the Virgina Stormwater Handbook, 2) incorporating the stacked townhouse unit to align with the Zoning Ordinance (County Code Chapter 112.1), 3) updating Plate 20-7 related to the construction of driveway entrances along existing streets to align with Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) standards, and 4) codifying current processes including showing the sump pump discharge locations on the plan for single-family detached developments.

For detailed information on the amendments, visit Public Facilities Manual and County Code Amendments | Land Development Services.

April 22, 2026

LAND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Letters to Industry

Proposed Amendments to the Public Facilities Manual (PFM) Regarding Streetlights

On April 14, 2026, the Board of Supervisors (Board) authorized public hearings on amendments to the PFM before the Planning Commission on May 13, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. and before the Board on June 9, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

The proposed amendment includes but is not limited to: (1) establishing streetlight waiver criteria and other update to Section 7-0801 (General Information), (2) revising, consolidating and simplifying the general requirements in Section 7-0802 (General Requirements), (3) revising technical standards and criteria in Section 7-0803 (Standards and Criteria), (4) relocating and updating the nonstandard streetlight provisions now in Section 7-0804 (Nonstandard Streetlights), and (5) relocating and updating the authorization and procedures now in Section 7-0805 (Authorization and Procedures). The amendment proposes revisions to Plates 23-7, 24-7, 25-7, 26-7, 28-7, 29-7, 29A-7, and 30-7, and removed Plate 27-7 from the PFM.

For detailed information on the proposed amendments and public hearing schedule, visit Public Facilities Manual and County Code Amendments | Land Development Services.