Fairfax City Council

Fairfax City Council unanimously updates noise restrictions, adds criminal penalty

Published June 10, 2026 at 3:45PM

Traffic on North Street in Fairfax City passes the clock in Old Town Square (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax City Council has unanimously approved an updated noise ordinance that clarifies the maximum possible sound levels, tweaks the hours the law is applicable, and gives the city more ability to enforce noise violations — including a new criminal penalty intended for rare cases.

Passed at yesterday’s city council meeting, the ordinance expands prohibitions on certain noises that are currently banned from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Starting July 15, restrictions will change to be in effect from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily.

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Fairfax City may tweak planned pathway impacted by cancellation of George Snyder Trail

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published May 29, 2026 at 9:15AM

Existing Wilcoxon Trail head at Fairfax Blvd in Fairfax City (via Google Maps)

Fairfax City is eyeing a potential solution to fix a trail project that was approved and fully funded while minimizing financial penalties as a result of the city council canceling a different planned extension earlier this year.

During a council work session on Tuesday (May 26), staff proposed that the project — previously called the George Snyder Trail Extension — be renamed the Wilcoxon Trail Extension, and add on-street paths along Draper Drive, instead of connecting to existing trails by cutting through parkland.

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Fairfax City seeks to reduce waste, increase recycling with updated trash management plan

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published May 18, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated May 18, 2026 at 3:25PM

A Lime electric scooter leans against a trash can along University Blvd in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax City Council recently approved an updated waste management plan that it says is needed due to projections that landfills across Virginia may reach capacity in less than 20 years, a rising population, and soaring costs for disposing of municipal waste.

Council members unanimously voted May 12 to accept the 87-page plan with 54 actions planned across two decades. The plan emphasizes developing effective government systems; education and outreach to city residents; reducing waste overall and emphasizing reuse; increasing the amount and quality of items recycled; and resource recovery for food and yard waste.

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Fairfax City Council signals support for raising members’ pay

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published May 14, 2026 at 1:45PM

Fairfax City Hall sign (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The last time the Fairfax City Council approved a pay raise for its members, the year was 2015. The amount was $12,000 for council members, and $13,000 for the mayor.

During a work session on Tuesday (May 12), council members unanimously agreed it’s time to raise their own salaries — potentially up to the maximum allowed by Virginia law. For cities with a population between 20,000-34,999 people, that’s up to $24,000 for mayors and $22,000 for council members.

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Divided Fairfax City Council moves forward with public hearing on accessory housing units

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published May 13, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated May 13, 2026 at 4:09PM

Depiction of an accessory dwelling unit in the backyard of a house (via City of Fairfax)

It’s not clear yet if many Fairfax City homeowners will have the option one day to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — more commonly known as “granny pods” or “in-law suites” — in their yards. But despite some hesitation expressed during a May 12 work session, Fairfax City Council members are ready to hear public comments on the issue.

In a presentation to the council, city staff laid out the implications of a new zoning ordinance that would let significantly more homeowners build detached accessory units in their yards.

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Fairfax City leaders ratify county partnership for health, community center complex

By Scott McCaffrey

Published April 30, 2026 at 8:30AM

Updated design of Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center (via City of Fairfax)

Fairfax City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday night (April 28) to move forward with a plan for construction of a combined $127.2 million Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center.

The city government will cover about $54 million in construction costs, with the Fairfax County government paying the rest. The two will also split operating costs once the facility opens, based on usage rates.

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Fairfax City considers criminal penalties for violations of revised noise rules

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 26, 2026 at 1:45PM

Fairfax City Council member Thomas Peterson (screenshot via City of Fairfax)

City of Fairfax officials will take six more weeks to gather input and consider options before enacting changes to the city’s noise regulations.

A final vote was delayed until May 12 after council members heard public testimony and discussed the matter among themselves on Tuesday (March 24).

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Fairfax City Council member named a ’40 Under 40′ honoree for N. Va. leadership

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 20, 2026 at 3:45PM

Fairfax City Council member Anthony Amos (via campaign website)

A member of the Fairfax City Council has been named one of Northern Virginia’s “40 Under 40” for 2026 in honor of his professional and civic contributions.

Anthony Amos will be among those celebrated at two events set for April 14, jointly sponsored by Leadership Fairfax and the Leadership Center of Arlington.

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Fairfax City manager proposes 4.5% budget increase to address schools, staff costs

By Scott McCaffrey

Published March 2, 2026 at 10:20AM

Fairfax City Hall sign (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Rising education and debt-service costs and the desire to retain a competitive pay scale have contributed to a proposed 4.5% increase in the City of Fairfax’s budget.

City Manager Daniel Alexander detailed a $207.5 million fiscal 2027 year spending package on Feb. 24 that includes a host of tax increases but no new or expanded programming.

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Fairfax City Council weighs revised shopping center overhaul, office redevelopment

By Emily Leayman

Published February 27, 2026 at 9:15AM

Courthouse Plaza Shopping Center proposal at full buildout (courtesy of Combined properties via City of Fairfax)

The Fairfax City Council was briefed Tuesday (Feb. 24) on two proposed redevelopments — a revised pitch for the Courthouse Plaza Shopping Center and an office-to-residential conversion.

Council members received pre-application presentations on the multi-phase mixed-use development for the Courthouse Plaza Shopping Center at 10300 Willard Way and 3922 Blenheim Blvd as well as a potential conversion of an office building into a six-story multifamily residential building at 10340 Democracy Lane.