Fauquier County, Virginia - County Development Fees
Fauquier County | County | Northern Virginia outer Piedmont (Rappahannock-Rapidan / PD 9) | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA | FIPS 51061
Fauquier County is a county in the outer Piedmont of Northern Virginia, on the outer suburban fringe of the Washington metropolitan area, with Warrenton as its county seat. Its development-side fees come from the Department of Community Development, which publishes two annual fee schedules: a Land Development Fee Schedule (zoning, rezoning, special exception, subdivision, plat, site plan, and land-disturbing fees) and a Building and Inspections Fee Schedule (building permit, trade permit, and plan review fees). All amounts on this page are effective July 1, 2025 (Fiscal Year 2026). Water and sewer connection (tap) fees are not a county charge; they are administered separately by the Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority (FCWSA).
Recent Fee Changes and Surcharges
Land Development and Building & Inspections Fee Schedules effective July 1, 2025 (Fiscal Year 2026). Both schedules are published by the Fauquier County Department of Community Development.
A 10 percent technology surcharge is added to every Fauquier County fee transaction, and a separate 2 percent Virginia state fee levy applies to building permit fees. Both are in addition to the base amounts shown on this page. Re-check on or after July 1, 2026 for the FY2027 schedules.
On this page
Fee Summary
| Fee Type | Status | Top-Line Figure | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoning and Land Development Application Fees | Confirmed | Zoning permit $100; rezoning $550 to $5,000 + $150/acre; special exception $3,000 base; major site plan $5,000 + $400/disturbed acre | 2025-07-01 (FY2026) |
| Building Permit Fees | Confirmed | Residential new construction $0.18/sq ft ($200 min); commercial $0.22/sq ft first 5,000 sq ft; certificate of occupancy $50 | 2025-07-01 (FY2026) |
| Proffers (Conditional Rezoning) | Confirmed | Voluntary cash-and-in-kind; no fixed per-unit schedule; sworn voluntariness affidavit required for residential (VA Code 15.2-2303.4) | 2025-07-01 (FY2026) |
| Impact Fees (Va. Code 15.2-2317) | Not administered by this jurisdiction | Fauquier County has not adopted a transportation impact fee program | - |
| Utility Tap Fees | Separate authority (FCWSA) | Water and sewer connection fees set by the Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority, not the county | - |
| Special District Fees | Not applicable | The Marshall district levies an annual $0.025/$100 tax overlay, not a one-time development fee | - |
Note: A 10 percent technology surcharge is added to every fee transaction, and building permit fees also carry a 2 percent Virginia state fee levy. The amounts in the tables below are base fees before those add-ons.
Zoning and Land Development Fees (Effective July 1, 2025)
Source: Fauquier County Land Development Fee Schedule, Department of Community Development, effective July 1, 2025 (Granicus document ID 7192). Administered by: Fauquier County Department of Community Development (Planning and Zoning). The tables below present the principal development-relevant fees; the full schedule includes additional permit categories.
Zoning Permits and Determinations
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Zoning Permit | $100 ($200 if COD conformance review required) |
| Administrative Permit (public notice required) | $150 |
| Administrative Permit (no public notice) | $75 |
| Home Occupation Permit | $75 |
| Short Term Rental Permit | $150 ($75 annual renewal) |
| Zoning Compliance Letter/Form | $100 per parcel ($250 if proffers apply) |
| Zoning Determination Letter | $200 |
| Zoning or Subdivision Ordinance Text Amendment | $750 |
| Zoning Variance by BZA | $500 |
| Appeal of Zoning Administrator Determination | $500 (returned if appellant prevails) |
Rezoning, Special Exception, and Comprehensive Plan Fees
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Rezoning to RA/RC | $550 |
| Rezoning to standard residential/commercial/industrial districts | $3,000 + $150/acre |
| Rezoning to planned districts (PRD/PDMU/PCID/MU-Bealeton) | $5,000 + $150/acre + COD consultant fees |
| Rezoning Amendment | 50% of applicable rezoning fee |
| Special Exception (new or amendment) - base | $3,000 |
| Special Exception - each additional beyond first | $500 |
| Special Exception - Category 1 per-acre surcharge | $25/acre |
| Special Permit (new or amendment) - base | $1,000 |
| Comprehensive Plan Amendment (no rezoning required) | $1,600 |
Subdivision, Plat, and Site Plan Fees
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Administrative Subdivision (incl. GIS addressing) | $800 + $60/lot |
| Large Lot Division (>50 acres in RA/RC) | $800 + $110/lot |
| Preliminary Plat (first submission, with drainfield) | $2,900 + $198/lot |
| Preliminary Plat (first submission, with public sewer) | $2,500 + $120/lot |
| Final Plat (first submission) | $1,000 + $80/lot |
| Plat Amendment | $300 |
| Site Plan - Minor | $800 |
| Site Plan - Major (first submission) | $5,000 + $400/disturbed acre |
| Construction Plans (all other projects, first submission) | $5,000 + $250/lot or unit |
| Traffic Impact Analysis Review | $1,000 (+$1,000 if VDOT review) + consultant expense |
Building Permit Fees (Effective July 1, 2025)
Source: Fauquier County Building and Inspections Fee Schedule, Department of Community Development, effective July 1, 2025 (Granicus document ID 7063). Administered by: Fauquier County Department of Community Development (Building and Inspections). A 2 percent Virginia state fee levy and a 10 percent county technology surcharge apply in addition to the base fees below.
| Fee Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| New Construction - Residential 1 and 2 family (R5) | $0.18/sq ft ($200 minimum) |
| New Construction - Accessory Structures (R5) | $0.16/sq ft ($100 minimum) |
| New Construction - Commercial/Industrial (first 5,000 sq ft) | $0.22/sq ft ($200 minimum) |
| New Construction - Commercial/Industrial (5,001 sq ft and over) | $0.16/sq ft |
| Residential Alterations (R5) | $0.16/sq ft ($100 minimum) |
| Commercial Alterations (all other use groups) | $0.20/sq ft ($100 minimum) |
| Electrical - Residential (R5) circuits | $0.03/sq ft ($75 minimum) |
| Plumbing / Mechanical - Residential (R5) | $0.03/sq ft each ($75 minimum) |
| Plumbing / Mechanical / Electrical - Commercial | $0.04/sq ft each ($110 minimum) |
| Plan Review - Residential (R5) | $0.05/sq ft ($60 minimum) |
| Plan Review - Commercial (all other use groups) | $0.06/sq ft ($100 minimum) |
| Demolition (all or partial) | $90 |
| Certificate of Occupancy | $50 |
| Virginia State Fee Levy | 2% of permit fee |
Proffers (Conditional Rezoning)
Fauquier County uses a voluntary cash-and-in-kind proffer system for residential and mixed-use rezonings under Virginia conditional zoning (Virginia Code Sections 15.2-2298 et seq. and 15.2-2303.4). Under this system, a rezoning applicant may voluntarily offer proffered conditions - which can include cash contributions, land dedications, or design and phasing commitments - to address the impacts of the rezoning. There is no fixed per-unit proffer schedule; amounts are negotiated per project.
Virginia's 2016 proffer reform (Va. Code 15.2-2303.4) governs residential rezonings: every residential proffer submission in Fauquier County must include a sworn affidavit confirming that the proffer is entirely voluntary, reasonable, not suggested, requested, or demanded by the county, and directly attributable to the project's impacts. A Proffer Statement is a mandatory submission on the rezoning application. The county fee schedule confirms active proffer use by charging a higher Zoning Compliance Letter fee ($250 per parcel where proffers apply, versus the standard $100) - see the Fauquier County Zoning Ordinance, Article 13, Section 13-200.
Coverage Notes - What This Page Does Not Cover
Per ZoneFee's Partial-Verified Publication Standard, the items below were closed via documented searches rather than estimated or omitted silently.
Impact Fees (Va. Code 15.2-2317)
Fauquier County has not adopted a transportation impact fee program under Virginia Code Section 15.2-2317. No impact fee chapter appears in the county code or fee schedules. Developer contributions are handled through the voluntary proffer mechanism above. Closed-search outcome: not administered by this jurisdiction.
Utility Connection (Tap) Fees - Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority
Water and sewer connection (tap) and availability fees in Fauquier County are not a county charge. They are set by the Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority (FCWSA), an independent political subdivision organized under Virginia Code Section 15.2-5100 et seq. FCWSA is not a county department and publishes its own rate schedule at fcwsa.org. ZoneFee does not represent FCWSA availability fees as a Fauquier County fee on this page; contact FCWSA directly (7172 Kennedy Drive, Warrenton, VA 20187; 540-349-2092) for current adopted water and sewer availability fee rates. Closed-search outcome for the county: not administered by this jurisdiction (separate authority).
Special District Fees
The only special district identified in Fauquier County is the Marshall Electric Light and Business Improvement District, which levies an annual real estate tax overlay of $0.025 per $100 of assessed value. This is a recurring tax levy on property, not a one-time development fee. Closed-search outcome: not applicable (ongoing tax levy, not a development fee).
Fee Authorities
| Authority | Fee Types | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| Fauquier County Department of Community Development (Planning and Zoning) | Zoning, rezoning, special exception, subdivision, plat, site plan, and land-disturbing application fees | fauquiercounty.gov - Community Development |
| Fauquier County Department of Community Development (Building and Inspections) | Building permit, trade permit, and plan review fees | fauquiercounty.gov - Building and Inspections |
| Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority (FCWSA) - separate authority | Water and sewer connection and availability (tap) fees | fcwsa.org |
Sources
The Fauquier County fee schedule documents below are published on the county's Granicus-hosted Community Development site and are accessed through an active browser session; direct document URLs may require a session or expire. Use the county's Community Development Applications Center and Forms page to reach the current schedules.
| Document | Agency | Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| Land Development Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025 (Granicus document ID 7192; SHA-256 76828c06...) | Fauquier County, VA - Department of Community Development | 2026-06-26 |
| Building and Inspections Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025 (Granicus document ID 7063; SHA-256 4307768c...) | Fauquier County, VA - Department of Community Development | 2026-06-26 |
| Fauquier County Zoning Ordinance, Article 13 (Administration; Section 13-200 proffers; Granicus document ID 622; SHA-256 3341c299...) | Fauquier County, VA | 2026-06-26 |
| Community Development Applications Center and Forms (access point for current schedules) | Fauquier County, VA | 2026-06-26 |
Last verified by ZoneFee: 2026-06-26. Fee schedules are subject to change. Verify current rates directly with the Fauquier County Department of Community Development (and with FCWSA for water and sewer connection fees) before relying on this data for any financial decision.
This page reflects fee data sourced from the Fauquier County Land Development Fee Schedule (Granicus document ID 7192; SHA-256 76828c06...) and Building and Inspections Fee Schedule (Granicus document ID 7063; SHA-256 4307768c...), both effective July 1, 2025, and the Fauquier County Zoning Ordinance Article 13 (Granicus document ID 622; SHA-256 3341c299...). ZoneFee does not guarantee that fee amounts are current at the time you read this page. Fee schedules change. A 10 percent technology surcharge is added to every county fee transaction, and building permit fees carry an additional 2 percent Virginia state fee levy; the amounts on this page are base fees before those add-ons. Fauquier County has not adopted a Va. Code 15.2-2317 transportation impact fee and uses voluntary conditional-rezoning proffers under Va. Code 15.2-2303.4 with no fixed per-unit schedule. Water and sewer connection (tap) fees are administered by the separate Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority (FCWSA), not the county, and are not represented as county fees here. The Marshall district assessment is a recurring annual tax levy, not a development fee. Verify all current rates directly with the Fauquier County Department of Community Development and FCWSA before relying on this data for land acquisition, project budgeting, or any financial decision. This page is for research and due-diligence reference only - it is not legal or financial advice.