Roofing for the City of Fairfax and Fairfax-Addressed Homes
Houses, townhouses and low-slope sections, with a plain answer about which building office applies to your parcel.
Is your roof in the City or in the county?
Fairfax is two places with one name. The City of Fairfax became an independent city in 1961, covers about six square miles and had 24,146 residents in the 2020 census. Around it, unincorporated Fairfax County also uses Fairfax addresses. Which office reviews your roof depends on the parcel, so we sort that out before anything else.
Reston Roof is based in Reston and serves Northern Virginia, Washington and the Maryland suburbs. In Fairfax we can look at roofs on both sides of the line, and this page leads with the City because that is where the confusion is greatest.
Talk to a roofer by phone
Phone ConsultationWho handles what, by parcel
| Question | City of Fairfax parcel | County parcel with a Fairfax address |
|---|---|---|
| Building permits and inspections | Code Administration, 10455 Armstrong Street, Suite 208, 703-385-7830 | Land Development Services, Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway, 703-222-0801 |
| Historic or design review | Board of Architectural Review through Community Development and Planning, 703-385-7930, only in historic overlay districts | The City board does not apply |
| Posted position on roofs | No City page found; the statewide code applies and the office interprets it | Lists shingle replacement as no permit; roof repairs, chimney repairs and solar panels as permit work |
| Places that fall here | Old Town Fairfax, Fairfax Circle, Kamp Washington, Old Town Hall | Mantua, Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax Station, the County Government Center, most of George Mason University |
The roofs the City actually has
The 2020 to 2024 census survey counts 9,313 housing units in the City with a median build year of 1967. Only 31 predate 1940, while about 5,345 were built before 1970. Roughly 54 percent are detached, 17 percent attached and 26 percent in larger buildings, and about 70 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Mosby Woods, where the first section was dedicated in 1961 and later sections followed through 1983, is a good picture of the typical single-family neighborhood. Country Club Hills has about 320 homes on the north side of Old Lee Highway. Check your own covenants before choosing a material.
What weather does to Fairfax roofs
The June 29, 2012 derecho produced a 71 mph gust at Dulles, and the National Weather Service report notes trees falling through roofs. A June 19, 2025 thunderstorm reportedly brought up to 66 mph at Dulles and left more than 70,000 county customers without power at its peak. On the night of September 3 to 4, 2026, gusts topped 60 mph and 607 City customers lost power.
Tree canopy covers about 40 percent of the City, up from 35 percent in 2012, which shades homes and also drops leaves and limbs on roofs and gutters. Heavy snow is rarer but real; Dulles logged 61.9 inches in the winter of 1995 to 1996, a preliminary regional figure.
Where to go for each kind of roof
Pitched house roofs, repairs and replacements are handled on our general pages. Flat and low-slope sections, and metal, each have a Fairfax page with the local details.
- TPO membrane for flat additions, townhouse sections and small commercial roofs.
- EPDM rubber for small flat garage, porch and deck roofs on houses.
- PVC membrane for roofs with grease, many vents or crowded penetrations.
- Metal panels for pitched houses, porches and outbuildings, including the Old Town review step.
- Full roof replacement and flat roof options for the bigger picture.
Needed a full roof replacement in Reston. Got three quotes. They weren't the cheapest but quality outstanding. Crew on time, worked fast, cleaned up perfectly.
Steven M., Google review
How a Fairfax job usually starts
- You call (571) 453-6515 or book a phone consultation and give us the street address.
- We check whether the parcel is in the City or the county.
- A roofer looks at the roof, the attic and the ceilings, and photographs what is found.
- You receive a written scope with the materials and any manufacturer guarantee terms.
- We confirm the permit position with the right office before work starts.
- After the job you get the photo set, and we document storm damage with photos for your claim when that applies.
Chain Bridge Road, Main Street, Fairfax Boulevard and Pickett Road all see steady traffic, so for larger jobs we agree on deliveries and parking with you in advance.
Fairfax roofing questions
How can I tell whether my Fairfax address is in the City of Fairfax or in Fairfax County?
The mailing address does not decide it; the parcel does. Fairfax Station, Mantua, Fair Oaks and most of George Mason University carry Fairfax addresses but are in unincorporated Fairfax County. Old Town Fairfax, Fairfax Circle and Kamp Washington are in the City. Send us your street address and we will look at the parcel, and the City's Code Administration at 703-385-7830 can also confirm.
Does a re-roof inside the City of Fairfax need a permit?
Sometimes. Virginia's statewide building code exempts many residential re-roofs, but decking repairs over 256 square feet, structural work and repairs that are not on the exempt list need a permit, and commercial replacement above 100 square feet is not exempt. Confirm each scope with Code Administration before work starts.
I own a house in Old Town Fairfax. Can I choose any roofing material?
Not always. Inside a historic overlay district, a material change visible from public places goes to the City's Board of Architectural Review, while like-for-like maintenance that does not change design, material or color may be exempt. The district is under an expansion survey, so its boundary may change. Community Development and Planning at 703-385-7930 can tell you whether your address is covered.
Which roofs does Reston Roof handle for Fairfax homeowners?
Our work is mostly houses and townhouses: replacement, repair, chimney leaks, small repairs, emergency storm repair and tarping, and roofs on gazebos and small structures. We also roof low-slope sections such as porches, additions and garages, and some commercial buildings. If a job needs something outside that list, that is flagged on the first call.
A tree came through my Fairfax roof overnight. What happens next?
Get everyone out of the damaged rooms and call your utility if wires are involved. Then call us at (571) 453-6515. We can tarp the opening to stop the water and photograph the damage for your claim, and a permanent repair is scheduled after that. The City reports about 40 percent tree canopy, and large trees can involve their own City rules, so check before cutting.
Related Services
Not sure which Fairfax you live in?
Call (571) 453-6515 and give us your street address. We will tell you which building office applies and what your roof may need.
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