Land Development Services (LDS) in Fairfax County, Virginia issued 59,768 permits and reviewed 24,542 building plans in fiscal year 2017. LDS also conducted 158,289 building inspections and 58,461 site inspections while maintaining a 105% cost recovery rate. The annual report highlights increases in development applications and permitted construction value as well as LDS initiatives to improve customer service and streamline development processes through new technology and project management programs.

1. ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 2017
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/landdevelopment

2. Page 3LDS FY17 ANNUAL REPORT
Table of Contents
4 A Word from the Director
5 New Construction in Fairfax
6-7 Plan Review: Building & Site
8-9 Building & Trade Permits
10 Building and Site Inspections
11 Critical Structures & Elevators
12 Environmental Outlook
13 Financial Overview
14 Training & Certifications
Contact LDS
Director’s Office: 703-324-1780
Permit Application Center, Site Application Center, Facilitation
and Addressing Center, Bonds and Agreements: 703-222-0801
Building Plan Review and Inspections: 703-631-5101
Site Development and Inspections: 703-324-1720
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/landdevelopment

3. Page 4 LDS FY17 ANNUAL REPORT
A Word from the Director
In our role overseeing Fairfax County’s land development and building construction,
Land Development Services relies on partnerships with residents, business owners and
other customers to strengthen the work that we do. In every corner of the organization,
success depends on strong relationships:
• A county plan reviewer meets with an engineer to review site plans for a new office
building in Reston.
• On a job site in Vienna, a building inspector confers with the lead contractor for a
new house.
• In the Herrity Building, an engineer tech helps a customer fill out a permit application
to add a deck to her home.
Partnerships are also the cornerstone of the new Project Management Team, which
can be deployed in a variety of ways to streamline the development process. Project
managers partner with industry and county staff to find creative solutions to problems,
establish timelines and provide a common thread throughout a project. To learn more,
search “Project Management Program” at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.
Fairfax’s landscape is urbanizing, and the new development in places like Reston and
Tysons has increased the quantity and complexity of plan and inspection work in LDS.
This annual report demonstrates the results of our dedication to successful partnerships
– both in volume of plans reviewed and permits issued and in economic development
supported and environmental and safety regulations enforced. Our goal is to continue
to improve the speed, consistency and predictability of the reviews and inspections we
perform, while protecting the environment and the health, safety, and welfare of those
who live in, work in and visit Fairfax County.
William D. Hicks, P.E.
Director, Fairfax County Land Development Services

4. Page 5LDS FY17 ANNUAL REPORT
$2.2 billion
Assessed value of residential and
commercial construction in FY17
New Construction in Fairfax
2,221 New dwelling units constructed
49
New commercial buildings
completed
132Public improvement projects
completed
$41.7 millionTotal amount of bonds released

5. Page 6 LDS FY17 ANNUAL REPORT
83
63
59
49
43
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17
Average Site Plan Review Time (in days)
Plan Review: Building & Site
43Days, on average, to complete
a major site plan review (first
submission)
202Major site plans processed
969Infill plans processed
Infill: Development of a
small parcel of land which
is surrounded by already
developed land
Major Site Plan: Site plans
(excluding minor site plans),
subdivisions, and public
improvement plans
LDS Glossary

6. Page 7LDS FY17 ANNUAL REPORT
This year, LDS piloted the
ePlans program, which turns
plan review into a completely
paperless process.
Eleven site plans and two
new commercial buildings
entered the ePlan program in
FY17. This number will grow
exponentially during the next
few years.
8.3 days
39 days
2.6 days
27 days
New Single Family Homes
New Commercial Buildings
Alterations & Additions to Existing
Commercial Buildings
Commercial Walk-Through
24,542Number of building plans reviewed
ReviewTimes
Commercial Walk-Through:
Expedited review for
alterations to existing
commercial buildings.
LDS Glossary
Technological
Progress

7. Page 8 LDS FY17 ANNUAL REPORT
Building & Trade Permits
59,768Total building and trade
permits issued
44,214Trade permits issued
15,125
Electrical permits
6,908
Mechanical permits
11,992
Plumbing/gas permits
10,189
Household permits
30,487Permits issued online

8. Page 9LDS FY17 ANNUAL REPORT
15,494Building permits issued
14,517
15,523
15,034 15,112
15,494
14,000
14,200
14,400
14,600
14,800
15,000
15,200
15,400
15,600
FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17
Building permits issued
29,281Customers served by the
Customer and Technical
Support Center in the
Herrity Building
1,400
New building permits issued
(excluding masterfile permits)
14,094
Permits issued for alterations to an
existing building
43
1,357
non-residential
residential
4,566
9,523
non-residential
residential

9. Page 10 LDS FY17 ANNUAL REPORT
158,289Building inspections conducted
Building & Site Inspections
150,877
148,587
156,331
153,055
158,289
142,000
144,000
146,000
148,000
150,000
152,000
154,000
156,000
158,000
160,000
FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17
# of Building Inspections
58,461Site inspections conducted
48,319
45,475
47,784
45,096
58,461
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17
# of Site Inspections

10. Page 11LDS FY17 ANNUAL REPORT
Elevators
Critical Structures meetings: 362
Shop drawings reviewed: 1,678
Inspections performed: 8,506
# of Elevators/Escalators in County: 5,983
Permits issued: 325
Inspections Performed: 17,851
Critical StructuresCritical Structures:
Buildingprojectsthat,for
safety concerns, require
special inspections by
a Registered Design
Professional retained by
the owner. Most major
commercialprojectsand
multi-family residences
are considered Critical
Structures.
LDS Glossary

11. Page 12 LDS FY17 ANNUAL REPORT
Environmental Outlook
Acres of approved
land disturbance
816
Erosion and sediment
inspections performed
23,671 439Stormwater
inspections
performed
191Stormwater
facilities brought
online, treating
477.35 acres
Land disturbing
activities approved
783

12. Page 13LDS FY17 ANNUAL REPORT
105%Cost recovery rate
Land Development Services’ financial position was
strong at the end of fiscal year 2017. The Board
of Supervisors has an established goal for cost
recovery at a minimum of 90 percent. LDS revenue
has consistently outpaced that target, allowing for
additional investment in LDS services.
$0
$5,000,000
$10,000,000
$15,000,000
$20,000,000
$25,000,000
$30,000,000
$35,000,000
$40,000,000
$45,000,000
FY2015 FY2016 FY2017
Total Costs Total Revenue
104 % 105 % 105 %
Financial Overview
$39,609,849Total revenue for LDS
Outside of the general fund, the county continues
to invest in LDS, including providing significant
support for the new integrated technological
infrastructure known as PLUS (Public Land Use
System), along with other improvements as part of
the Fairfax First initiative.
These improvements support the county’s economic
development and revitalization goals, improve
development process timelines, and address rising
workload requirements to ensure that LDS continues
to meet customer expectations.

13. Page 14 LDS FY17 ANNUAL REPORT
Training & Certifications
Certification New Recertification
Joint Training Academy
106 employees completed Land Development 101 in FY17.
Certified Floodplain Manager 1 0
Dept. of Environmental Quality 22 4
(Stormwater Maintenance and Erosion & Sediment Control)
Professional Engineer 1 17
Va. Dept. of Housing & 96 0
Community Development

14. A Fairfax County, Va., publication | September 2017
Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county
programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon
request. For information, call 703-324-1780.
As members of the Land Development Services team, we accomplish our mission by embracing our
values in a work environment that protects the health and well-being of each other and the public.
Facilitate the safe and sustainable building of our communities.
Be the best partner in creating a thriving Fairfax County.
Values
Empowerment Accountability Collaboration
Respect Safety Integrity
Trust and support
employees to lead and
make decisions that
align with our mission
Fulfill your obligations
and expect others to do
the same
Work together towards
a common goal and
support innovation
Consistently
demonstrate
honesty, sincerity,
openness and moral
uprightness
Value others by
demonstrating fairness,
appreciation and
understanding
Adhere to safe working
practices on and off
the job
A Fairfax County, Va. Publication | May 2018
If accommodations or alternate formats are needed, please call 703-324-1780, TTY 711
Vision
Mission