Fairfax City | FFXnow

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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Funding awarded for Pickett Road safety study, but not Kingstowne improvements

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 5, 2026 at 2:45PM

A pickup truck passing a pedestrian crossing on Pickett Road in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax City has received funding for a study to identify potential safety improvements along heavily used but crash-prone Pickett Road.

The city was awarded $80,000 for the planned roadway safety audit by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), which approved a total of $980,000 in grants last month for 12 different local transportation consulting projects in Virginia and Maryland.

Around Town

Fairfax area to celebrate Pride Month with festivals, art, and color run

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published June 4, 2026 at 12:30PM

A heart decorated with rainbow colors for Pride Month in 2024 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Pride Month has arrived, and with it comes a range of celebrations throughout the D.C. region, from festivals to bike rides.

While RestonPride announced earlier this year that it will not hold its annual festival this year due to “critical” capacity and organizational challenges, Fairfax County will still have quite a few other events to uplift the LGBTQ community.

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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.

Around Town

Old Town Fairfax celebrates Asian food and culture with festival’s return

By Tadi Abedje

Published May 8, 2026 at 10:00AM

Lion dance at the 2025 Asian Festival on Main in Fairfax City (courtesy Old Town Fairfax Business Association)

The Asian Festival on Main will be coming back to Old Town Fairfax for a sixth consecutive year next week in commemoration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

The free festival, which claims to be one of Virginia’s biggest cultural events, will take place on Sunday, May 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., spanning Main Street, University Drive and Sager Avenue.

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Fairfax County board agrees to split costs with city for joint health and community center

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 6, 2026 at 8:30AM

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

Fairfax County leaders have joined their Fairfax City counterparts in backing an overhaul of their adjacent health and community facilities.

The county’s Board of Supervisors ratified an agreement yesterday (Tuesday) with the Fairfax City Council to move forward with construction of a new $127.2 million Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center in the 3700 block of Blenheim Road in the City of Fairfax.

Around Town

Fairfax City’s Mamma Lucia closes for good after 39 years

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 4, 2026 at 9:15AM

Mamma Lucia on its last weekend of business at Fair City Mall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Mamma Lucia served its final pizza last night (Sunday) after nearly four decades in Fairfax City.

The humble but beloved institution announced on Friday (May 1) that it would permanently close on Sunday, May 3, a difficult decision necessitated by health challenges facing its owner, Rosa.