Guided by the city’s Urban Forest Master Plan, the day-to-day care and long-term stewardship of the urban forest is shared across three city departments: Community Development & Planning, Parks & Recreation, and Public Works.
City staff manage more than 11,000 public trees found in the public right-of-way, along sidewalks and trails, and in public parks and cemeteries. These trees alone provide approximately $1.2 million in ecosystem benefits to residents each year.
Urban forestry roles and responsibilities.
For tree hazards that pose an immediate risk to public safety, please call 911.
City Property, Parks, and the Public Right-of-Way
The city is responsible for the management of trees on public property, including near city buildings, in parks, and along trails, roads, streets, and sidewalks in the public right-of-way.
To confirm tree ownership, please view the Interactive City Planning & Property Map.
- Located in Fairfax County? Find the right contact on the county's website.
- On a road or street outside of Fairfax City? Contact the Virginia Department of Transportation at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623) or via VDOT’s online reporting form.
Maintenance or Tree Removal Requests
To report a tree-related concern on public property, please submit a maintenance request through Fairfax City Resolve at fairfaxva.gov/resolve.
Tree Planting Requests
City street trees are planted in the right-of-way along public roads, usually the first 8-20 feet from the edge of the roadway to the start of private property. To request a street tree be planted in the city right-of-way, please email trees@fairfaxva.gov
City staff will review the request and contact you once we determine if the location is right for a tree. Priority planting locations include locations of past tree removals and neighborhoods with low tree canopy coverage.
School Property
Trees located on Fairfax High School, Katherine Johnson Middle School, Daniels Run Elementary School, and Providence Elementary School properties are managed by Fairfax County Public Schools.
Please contact Fairfax County Public Schools Facility Management at 703-764-3500 or visit the Fairfax County Public Schools website.
Utility Easements
To report downed trees affecting power lines and roadways, or to request pruning along power lines:
Never attempt to remove hazardous trees or branches near power lines on your own—it can put yourself and others in danger. For downed power lines, stay at least 100 feet away and call the power company immediately. Trees touching downed lines conduct electricity and should be considered extremely dangerous!
Fairfax City’s current (2021) tree canopy cover is estimated at 40%—an increase from 35% in 2012.
Public Tree Inventory
Public tree inventories provide information for the planning, design, planting, maintenance, and removal of community trees. View the city’s interactive tree map and inventory.
Tree Canopy Assessment
A tree canopy assessment uses aerial imagery to determine how much land area is covered by trees. It provides a snapshot of the “green cover” across a city, town, or neighborhood and is typically reassessed every 4-6 years.
Tree canopy assessments help communities:
- Identify where trees are and where they are lacking
- Prioritize areas for tree planting and preservation
- Understand environmental benefits, such as cooling, air quality improvement, and stormwater management
- Advance equity goals by targeting tree planting in underserved or hotter neighborhoods
Want to learn more? Understanding Tree Canopy Assessments(PDF, 2MB)
Tree Inventory Summary (2023)
The Tree Inventory Summary (2023) analyzes 13,444 total sites (11,487 trees, 1,761 planting sites, and 196 stumps) to determine the state, characteristics, and trends of the city’s urban forest.
Urban Tree Canopy Assessment (2023)
The Urban Tree Canopy Assessment (2023) analyzes 2021 land cover imagery to map the City of Fairfax's urban tree canopy extent, possible planting areas (PPAs), and how they are distributed throughout the city within six geographic boundaries (city boundary, zoning districts, land use types, census blocks, resource protection areas, and parks). Report includes the data analyzed and key findings.
Street Tree Assessment Report (2015)
Street Tree Assessment Report (2015) uses survey information from 2007 and 2011 to assess tree abundance, population composition, functional benefits, and the monetary value of the city's publicly owned street trees. The street tree inventory data was analyzed using i-Tree Streets, an assessment software developed by the U.S. Forest Service.
The City of Fairfax has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation since 1986. To receive annual recognition, a community must meet four core standards: Form a Tree Board of Department, Establish a Tree Care Ordinance, Maintain a Community Forestry Program with an Annual Budget of at least $2 Per Capita, and Proclaim and Observe Arbor Day.
The city's Environmental Sustainability Committee serves as the city's tree board, and the city celebrates Arbor Day each year during the month of April.
2025 Arbor Day celebration at Katherine Johnson Middle School.
Note: This summary of the city's key tree protections and landscaping regulations is for informational purposes only. For official requirements, consult the City Code or speak with City staff.
Urban Forest Master Plan
Following guidance from the city's 2035 Comprehensive Plan (NE 1.4.1), the City Council adopted the (PDF, 9MB)Urban Forest Master Plan in February 2026. The plan establishes a 20-year vision for the city's urban forest, including implementation objectives, strategies, and actions over mid- to long-term planning horizons that speak to the plan's five key objectives: Protect, Regulate, Grow, Manage, and Engage.
- The entire city is a Resource Management Area, which requires a Tree Conservation Plan when disturbing more than 2,500 square feet of land.
- Land within 100 feet of a water body or wetland is a Resource Protection Area (RPAs) and should be fully vegetated with tree removal minimized to the maximum extent possible.
- A permit is required to remove trees over 5 inches in Diameter at Standard Height (DSH) in the RPA and in any other area defined by §6.10 Tree Removal Permits.
Tree Removal Permits (§6.10)
- A permit is required to remove trees over 5 inches Diameter at Standard Height (DSH) in RPAs, residential zoned properties greater than ½ acre in size, and in all other zoning districts.
- A permit is required regardless of the species or condition, including dead trees.
- If a tree is imminently threatening public safety or property, then it may be removed without a permit, but a permit should be applied for after the fact, per city code.
Tree Canopy Requirements & Planting (§4.5)
- Sites must meet 10-year tree canopy coverage requirements when disturbing more than 2,500 square feet, which vary by zoning district.
- When development plans are required, a Tree Conservation and Landscape Plan must be reviewed and approved by the City’s Urban Forester or designee before construction begins.
- Additional tree preservation and landscaping standards are found in the city’s Public Facilities Manual.
The PFM includes a Tree Preservation and Landscaping Guide for:
- Tree preservation practices and details
- Landscaping requirements and details
- Approved plant lists
- Minimum planting sizes, soil volume amounts for planting, and replacement rates
Property owners must:
- Address diseased or hazardous trees that threaten public safety.
- Prevent yard waste from accumulating in ways that create health or safety issues.
- Cut weeds and grass when they reach 6 inches or taller.
Permits and Enforcement
- If a tree is imminently threatening public safety or property, then it may be removed without a permit, but the Zoning Administrator shall be notified after the fact, and they may require additional actions per city code.
- For tree permit information, see Zoning Ordinance §6.10 Tree Removal Permits.
- This section code is enforced by the city’s Code Administration, any city law enforcement officer, or a duly designated sworn police officer.
City Tree (Public Tree)
Any tree located on publicly owned land or maintained by a public entity, including those in parks, landscape strip, medians, or municipal properties.
Climate-Resilient Species
Tree or plant species identified as able to withstand projected climate changes, including extreme fluctuations in heat, drought, flooding, and pests.
Conservation Easement
Legal agreements, voluntarily entered by landowners and held in partnership with an easement holder, that limit future development and protect the conservation values of a property in perpetuity. Easements held by government entities in Virginia must meet the requirements of the Virginia Open-Space Land Act and are primarily held to protect land and guide long-term natural resource stewardship.
Ecosystem Services
The benefits that people receive from nature, such as air and water filtration, shade, stormwater absorption, and carbon sequestration.
Forest Fragment
A remnant patch of forest reduced or segmented by developed or disturbed land.
Forested Areas (alternatively called woodland, woodlots, wooded parcels, or natural areas)
A type of natural area dominated by trees, generally smaller or less dense than a forest but ecologically significant.
Green Infrastructure
Natural and semi-natural systems (e.g., trees, rain gardens, bioswales) engineered to manage stormwater and provide environmental benefits.
Greenspace
An umbrella term encompassing all vegetated areas in an urban setting, including parks, lawns, natural areas, and landscaped zones.
ISA Certified Arborist
A professional credential issued by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) that recognizes individuals with proven knowledge and experience in the care and management of trees. Certified Arborists adhere to industry standards and continuing education requirements to ensure best practices in arboriculture.
Landscape Tree
A tree intentionally planted or preserved to enhance the visual appeal, environmental quality, or functional use of a site. Landscape trees are typically located in developed or maintained areas such as yards, parks, streetscapes, campuses, and commercial properties.
Low Canopy Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods where the percentage of tree canopy cover is significantly below the citywide average or below a defined threshold necessary to provide adequate environmental, social, and health benefits. These areas often experience higher surface temperatures, greater stormwater runoff, and reduced access to tree benefits. Low canopy neighborhoods may also overlap with communities that are historically underserved or more vulnerable to climate impacts, such as those vulnerable to extreme heat, making them priority areas for tree planting, investment, and engagement.
Natural Area
Land that remains in a relatively undeveloped state and supports native vegetation, wildlife habitat, and ecological processes.
Native Species
A species that naturally occurs within a defined geographic context. For the City of Fairfax, the Chesapeake Bay watershed is the geographic area used. Locally native refers to the Piedmont region of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, regionally native refers to the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed, and non-native refers to any area outside of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Non-Native Species
A species that does not naturally occur within a defined geographic area but has been introduced deliberately or accidentally. A non-native species may not cause harm or prevent the survival of native species or ecosystems unless it’s also considered invasive.
Non-Native Invasive Species
Non-native plants or organisms that spread rapidly and disrupt native ecosystems or tree health.
Open Space
Land that is undeveloped or primarily developed with non-structural improvements that support outdoor active or passive recreation, gathering, or natural resources, and is often publicly accessible, which may be green (vegetated) or gray (hardscaped), and may or may not include tree canopy.
Protected Tree
A tree that meets criteria (e.g., size, species, location) established by ordinance or policy for preservation or mitigation during development.
Riparian Forest
A forested area adjacent to a body of water, such as a stream, river, or wetland.
Street Tree
A tree planted along a street, usually within the right-of-way or a landscape strip, and often subject to municipal management. The definition may vary from city code.
TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification)
A specialized ISA credential that certifies arborists to assess and communicate tree risk using standardized methods. TRAQ-qualified professionals evaluate tree health, structural stability, and potential hazards to guide management and safety decisions.
Tree Inventory
A comprehensive database documenting the location, species, condition, and maintenance needs of a defined set of trees (typically public and in maintained, landscaped areas).
Urban Forest
The collective of all trees, vegetation, and associated ecosystems within an urban area, including trees on public and private land.
Urban Tree Canopy (UTC)
The layer of leaves, branches, and stems of trees that cover the ground when viewed from above.
Utility Easements
A legal agreement that allows utility companies and their designees to access and perform maintenance, repairs, and inspections of utility systems. This may include permission to prune or remove trees when necessary to gain access or to complete the utility maintenance. Tree ownership and responsibility remain with the private property owner.