Reviewed by Edgar Reyes-Ramirez, ISA Certified Arborist® (MA-6043A).
Short answer: For a single tree on your own residential lot in Fairfax County, you usually don’t need a county permit. You do need approval if the tree is in a Resource Protection Area (RPA) or a conservation easement, or if the work disturbs more than 2,500 square feet. Your HOA may also have its own rules, and the City of Fairfax is a separate jurisdiction with its own permit.
When you generally don’t need a permit
Fairfax County’s Public Works department states that “there are no laws or regulations in Virginia that prohibit you from removing individual trees on your own property.” For most homeowners removing one or a few trees from a typical yard, no county tree permit applies.
When you do need approval
| Situation | What applies | Who to contact |
|---|---|---|
| The tree is in a Resource Protection Area (RPA) | Removing trees or any vegetation is prohibited without a waiver; you must request approval before removal | Land Development Services, 703-222-0801 (TTY 711) |
| The tree is in a conservation easement | The easement’s own restrictions apply; a waiver is needed for tree work | Records and Information, 703-324-1895; Forest Conservation Branch, 703-222-0801 |
| The work disturbs more than 2,500 sq ft | A Fairfax County land-disturbance permit is required | Engineer of the Day, 703-324-2268 |
| You live in an HOA | Covenants may restrict tree removal | Your HOA |
| Non-residential property with required screening or parking-lot trees | Zoning Ordinance landscaping obligations may restrict removal | Fairfax County zoning staff |
| Large-scale timber harvesting | Regulated by the Virginia Department of Forestry | Virginia Department of Forestry |
Dead, dying or diseased trees in an RPA
The county’s hazardous-trees page says dead, diseased or dying trees “can be removed from these areas by hand” and “may require replacement with similar vegetation.” Because the county also says you must request approval before removing vegetation from an RPA, call Land Development Services first, even for a dead tree.
What about a hazardous tree?
Fairfax County “has no legal authority to require the removal of hazardous tree(s)” on private property unless they threaten the public at large, such as a street or sidewalk. The county’s forestry staff don’t consult for homeowners; instead the county recommends a private certified arborist.
If the tree looks dangerous, the safest order of steps is:
- Keep people and cars away from where the tree or limb could fall, and call Dominion Energy if it is touching or threatening a power line.
- Document the hazard. Take photos of the defect (crack, lean, lifted roots, decay) and have a certified arborist record a tree risk assessment.
- Check with the county before cutting if the tree is in an RPA or conservation easement. Call Land Development Services at 703-222-0801, explain the hazard and share your documentation.
A dispute between neighbors over a tree is treated by the county as a civil matter.
Living in the City of Fairfax?
The City of Fairfax is a separate city. It runs its own tree removal permit process, with a $20 application fee for individual residential permits, and asks you to check with your HOA first. Contact the city’s Zoning Division before cutting.
How King Tree Services helps
Edgar Reyes-Ramirez, ISA Certified Arborist® (MA-6043A), checks whether a tree sits in an RPA or easement before quoting a removal. When approval is needed, we tell you up front and plan the work around it. Call 571-778-0786 or request a free written estimate.
Sources
- Fairfax County Public Works — Tree Removal
- Fairfax County Land Development Services — Hazardous Trees on Private Property
- City of Fairfax — How to Apply for a Tree Removal Permit (PDF)
This guide is general information, not legal advice. County rules change; confirm with the offices listed before starting work. Last checked October 2026.
