Removing Trees Near Streams in Clifton, Fairfax Station & the Occoquan Watershed: RPA Rules

Reviewed by Edgar Reyes-Ramirez, ISA Certified Arborist® (MA-6043A).

Short answer: If your property in Clifton, Fairfax Station or along the Occoquan has a stream or wetland, part of it is probably a Resource Protection Area (RPA). You need county approval before removing trees or other vegetation there, even dead ones. Outside the RPA, normal county rules apply.

Why so much of this area is protected

In 1982 the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors rezoned roughly 41,000 acres of the Occoquan watershed to the R-C (Residential-Conservation) district, at a maximum of one home per five acres, to protect the Occoquan Reservoir from runoff. That’s why Clifton and much of Fairfax Station have large, wooded lots, and why many of them include stream valleys with RPA buffers.

What an RPA is

RPAs come from Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, carried out through county ordinances. Prince William County describes its RPA as the land “within 100 feet of a perennial stream bank or edge of wetlands adjacent to the perennial stream.” Fairfax County describes RPAs as “environmentally sensitive areas that protect water quality, filter pollutants, and prevent erosion.”

Fairfax County side (Clifton, Fairfax Station, Burke, Lorton)

Removing trees or any vegetation in an RPA is prohibited without a waiver. Request approval before removal from Land Development Services, 703-222-0801 (TTY 711).
Dead, dying or diseased trees can generally be removed by hand and may need to be replaced with similar vegetation. Call first.
To find out whether your lot has an RPA, use the county’s online property maps or ask Land Development Services.

Prince William County side (Lake Ridge, Occoquan area, Woodbridge)

In general, no land disturbance or vegetation removal is allowed in an RPA.
With Department of Public Works approval, owners may selectively remove vegetation, including “dead, dying or diseased trees and shrubs” and “noxious weeds or invasive exotic plants.” Limited water views are allowed if removed vegetation is replaced with lower-growing plants.
Not allowed in the buffer: clear-cutting, filling or grading, or placing sheds, pools or other accessory structures.
The county is emphatic: “You must call Public Works prior to any cutting or clearing!” For exceptions, the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Review Board is at 703-792-7070.

Town of Occoquan

The Town of Occoquan has its own tree rules. Under Town Code §155.088 (Tree Protection), a town permit is required to remove a native tree of four caliper inches or larger. The town considers the tree’s size, type, location and condition, the reason for removal, and a native replacement planting plan. Contact Town Hall at (703) 491-1918.

Town of Clifton

The Town of Clifton has its own government and a Historic Overlay District administered by an Architectural Review Board (ARB). The ARB focuses on exterior changes to structures, such as siding, roofing, windows and additions, rather than routine tree work on private lots. If your property is in the historic district and the tree is tied to a historic feature or a prior approval, check with the Town before cutting. The Fairfax County RPA rules above still apply inside the town.

Hazardous trees in an RPA

Neither county publishes a fast-track permit for hazardous private trees, so a dangerous tree in an RPA still needs a plan:

Make the area safe. Keep people, pets and cars out of the fall zone, and call your power company if lines are involved.
Document the hazard. Photograph the defect and have an ISA Certified Arborist record a tree risk assessment: how likely the tree is to fail, what it could hit, and the options.
Check with the county first. Call Fairfax County Land Development Services (703-222-0801) or Prince William County Public Works (703-792-7070), explain the hazard and share your documentation before any cutting.
Consider lower-impact options. Depending on the tree, pruning, cabling, or removing the hazard while leaving wood in place may be options the county can approve.

How King Tree Services helps

Edgar Reyes-Ramirez, ISA Certified Arborist® (MA-6043A), flags RPA and easement issues during the free estimate and can provide the risk documentation you need when you contact the county. Where heavy equipment would harm a buffer, we plan hand work, rigging, or lifting with our company-owned 75-ton crane and AlturnaMATS® ground protection. Call 571-778-0786 or request a free written estimate.

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the offices listed before starting work. Last checked October 2026.

Edgar Reyes

Edgar Reyes-Ramirez is the owner of King Tree Services, a family-run company serving Northern Virginia since 2010. An ISA Certified Arborist (Cert ID: MA-6043A, #213345) with over 15 years of experience, Edgar leads his fully insured team with a focus on safety, professionalism, and community care.