Commercial Vehicles in Westlawn

Our Community in Fairfax County, Virginia

By Dave Conway, April 2001

Do you park a commercial vehicle on your property or on the street in front of your home? Does your neighbor? Do you know what is allowed and what is against the law?

In Fairfax County where we live under zoning guidelines, each residence is allowed to have one commercial vehicle of a maximum size parked on the property and one on the street. It does not matter how many people live in a residence. One in the driveway, and one on the street.

That does not mean you can have two commercial vehicles parked in the driveway with none on the street, or vice versa. No more than one in the driveway and one on the street.

So what constitutes a commercial vehicle that is allowed? Commercial pick-up trucks, vans, and small-size trucks of most kinds, so long as the gross weight is less than 12,000 pounds. Dump trucks are too big, and so are large moving trucks. However, pick-up trucks and vans only count if they are routinely used as commercial vehicles. Just because you have tools in the back of your vehicle for odd jobs does not make it a commercial vehicle.

According to the Virginia Code, the definition of a commercial vehicle includes:

Any heavy construction equipment whether located on the highway or on a truck, trailer, or semitrailer;

Any trailer, semitrailer, or other vehicle in which food or beverages are stored or sold.

Any trailer or semitrailer used for transporting landscaping or lawn-care equipment whether or not such trailer or semitrailer is attached to another vehicle;

Any vehicle licensed by the Commonwealth as a common or contract carrier or as a limousine;

The following vehicles when having a registered gross weight equal or greater than 12,000 pounds: A) Any solid waste collection vehicle; B) Tractor truck or tractor truck/semitrailer or tractor truck/trailer combo; C) Dump truck; D) Concrete mixer truck; E) Towing and recovery vehicle.

Parking commercial vehicles in residential districts is prohibited under Section 82-5-7 of the Virginia Code. The definition of a zoned residential district: All areas of the county that have been zoned to a zoning classification that permits one or more residential dwelling units. For enforcement purposes of this section the center line of the highway shall serve as the boundary between areas zoned for residential use and the area zoned for another use. Exemptions include: A) One vehicle licensed as a taxicab or limousine per single family dwelling; B) Does not apply when picking up or discharging passengers; C) Does not apply when temporarily parked pursuant to the performance of work or service at a particular location. For similar state law, see 46.2-1224.

If you are unsure if your vehicle counts as a commercial vehicle, or if you are unsure about whether your commercial vehicle is too large to park in the neighborhood, call Zoning Enforcement at 703-324-1300.

If you suspect a neighbor is violating this ordinance, call the non-emergency number, 703-691-2131, or Supervisor Gross' office at 703-256-7717, or e-mail her at mason@co.fairfax.va.us with your concerns. You also can write me or e-mail me at dconway@his.com and I will contact Supervisor Gross without revealing your name. Please, be patient and keep an open mind. Unless you see an obvious violation, there is a good chance that what you see is not a violation.