Arlington County, Virginia - County Development Fees
Arlington County | County | Northern Virginia / Inner Beltway | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA | FIPS 51013
Arlington County is the smallest self-governing county in the United States by area, entirely urbanized, in inner-Beltway Northern Virginia. The Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development (CPHD) administers Site Plan, Use Permit, rezoning, subdivision, BZA, building permit, and Form Based Code application fees through the FY2026 Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule effective July 19, 2025. The Arlington County Department of Environmental Services (DES) Development Services Bureau administers water and sewer Service Connection Charges, Infrastructure Availability Fees, drainage fixture unit inspections, and right-of-way fees through the FY2026 DES Consolidated Development-Related Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2025. Arlington does not impose statutory road impact fees under Va. Code 15.2-2317 and does not maintain a per-unit cash proffer schedule under Va. Code 15.2-2303.
Recent Fee Changes
FY2026 Arlington County fee schedules now in effect: CPHD Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule effective July 19, 2025; DES Consolidated Development-Related Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2025. The Planning and Zoning schedule applies a 10 percent Automation Enhancement Fee on the total of fees charged. The DES schedule applies a 10 percent Automation Enhancement Fee surcharge on Infrastructure Availability Fees and Service Connection Charges (asterisked items). Arlington Site Plan review remains a multi-departmental process - Site Plan fees combine CPHD planning fees and DES fees on the same application.
Fee Summary
| Fee Type | Status | Top-Line Figure | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoning Application Fees (Rezoning, Site Plan, Use Permit, BZA, Subdivision, Building Permit, Form Based Code) | Confirmed | Final Site Plan All Other $41,527 + $22,464 DES + per-area + per-unit; Use Permit Type I $7,227; BZA Variance Other Uses $5,779 + $1,157 each addl subsection; Rezoning by district $4,931 to $16,791; 10% Automation Enhancement Fee on total | July 19, 2025 (FY2026) |
| Utility Tap / Water and Sewer Service Connection (DES) | Confirmed | 1 inch service (3/4 meter) $5,295 / dev alt $410; 1.5 inch $6,915 / $1,020; 2 inch $8,300 / $1,360; 3-6 inch At-Cost / $2,970-$5,560; Infrastructure Availability per DFU water+sewer $305 / water-only $120 / sewer-only $185; 10% automation surcharge applies | July 1, 2025 (FY2026) |
| Statutory Road Impact Fees (Va. Code 15.2-2317) | Not applicable | Arlington is not a designated high-growth locality / urban transportation service district under Va. Code 15.2-2317; no road impact fee program adopted | - |
| Per-Unit Cash Proffers (Va. Code 15.2-2303.4) | Not applicable | Cash proffer applicability under Va. Code 15.2-2303.4 (post-2016 HB 770) is statutorily narrowed and does not extend to inner-Beltway urban counties for new residential construction; AHIF and Site Plan community-benefit conditions used in lieu | - |
| Special District Fees (CDA / TIF) | Does not apply | No Community Development Authority under Va. Code 15.2-5152 or equivalent development-side service-district fee schedule. Existing Rosslyn / Crystal City / Ballston / Columbia Pike BIDs are ongoing member assessments, not one-time development fees | - |
Utility Tap, Service Connection, and Infrastructure Availability Fees (DES, FY2026)
The Arlington County Department of Environmental Services Development Services Bureau publishes water and sewer connection-side charges in the FY2026 DES Consolidated Development-Related Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2025. Service Connection Charges are published per service size with both a County Connection rate and a developer-installed alternative. Infrastructure Availability Fees are charged per drainage fixture unit (DFU). A 10 percent Automation Enhancement Fee surcharge applies to all asterisked Infrastructure Availability and Service Connection items. Administered by: Arlington County Department of Environmental Services - Development Services Bureau under Arlington County Code Chapter 26 (Utilities).
Service Connection Charges by Service Size
| Service Size | County Connection Charge | Developer-Installed Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch service (3/4 inch meter) | $5,295 | $410 |
| 1 1/2 inch service | $6,915 | $1,020 |
| 2 inch service | $8,300 | $1,360 |
| 3 inch service | At-Cost | $2,970 |
| 4 inch service | At-Cost | $3,950 |
| 6 inch service | At-Cost | $5,560 |
Infrastructure Availability Fees per Drainage Fixture Unit (DFU)
| Service Type | Fee per DFU |
|---|---|
| Water and sewer (combined) | $305.00 |
| Water only | $120.00 |
| Sewer only | $185.00 |
Other DES Connection-Side Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Establishment of new water service | $40.00 |
| Reactivation of service | $25.00 |
| Drainage fixture unit inspections (1-24 fixtures) | $175.00 |
| Drainage fixture unit inspections (25 or more fixtures) | $275.00 |
| Fire flow test | $300.00 |
| Fire hydrant permit (3 months or any portion) | $480.00 |
Source: Arlington County Department of Environmental Services FY2026 Consolidated Development-Related Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2025, SHA-256 51d19eda35dfc3d48a55117e5ddf9cb26bc9a28084cb80ba1941bd5c4fbb0be7, accessed 2026-05-09. A 10 percent Automation Enhancement Fee surcharge applies to all asterisked Infrastructure Availability Fees and Service Connection Charges.
Planning and Zoning Application Fees (CPHD, FY2026)
The Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development (CPHD) Planning and Zoning Divisions publish FY2026 application fees in the Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule effective July 19, 2025. Site Plan fees combine CPHD planning fees and DES fees on the same application because Arlington Site Plan review is multi-departmental. A 10 percent Automation Enhancement Fee is assessed on the total of fees charged. Administered by: Arlington County CPHD - Planning and Zoning Divisions.
Rezoning Fees by Zoning District
| Site Area | Zoning District | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 25,000 sq ft or less | R Districts | $4,931 |
| 25,000 sq ft or less | RA Districts | $4,931 |
| 25,000 sq ft or less | RA-H, R-C, RA-H-3.2, RA4.8 Districts | $11,202 |
| 25,000 sq ft or less | S, C, M, CP-FBC, MU-VS Districts | $8,161 |
| 25,000 sq ft or less | CO Districts | $16,791 |
| more than 25,000 sq ft | R Districts | $6,544 |
| more than 25,000 sq ft | RA Districts | $8,161 |
| more than 25,000 sq ft | RA-H, R-C, RA-H-3.2, RA4.8 Districts | $16,791 |
| more than 25,000 sq ft | S, C, M, CP-FBC, MU-VS Districts | $11,393 |
| more than 25,000 sq ft | CO Districts | $16,791 |
Site Plan Fees
| Site Plan Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Final Site Plans / Major Site Plan Amendments - All Other Site Plans (most common) | $41,527 base + $22,464 DES fee + $32 per 100sf new office/commercial + $132 per new dwelling/hotel unit |
| Final Site Plans - R/RA/C-2/VCHPDD Districts under 25 Units | $13,658 base + $6,561 DES fee + $32 per 100sf + $132 per dwelling/hotel unit |
| Phased Development Site Plan | $39,547 base + $21,367 DES fee + $143 per acre |
| Minor Site Plan Amendments | $10,950 base + $5,059 DES fee + per-100sf and per-unit add-ons |
| Conceptual Site Plan | $16,631 + $1,417 DES fee |
County Board Use Permits
| Use Permit Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Type I (commercial and non-commercial conditional uses, except Type II) | $7,227 |
| Type II (live entertainment and food delivery services) | $1,844 |
| Type III (substantial alteration; drive-through; vehicle service; new buildings under Use Permit) | $14,069 + $6,207 DES fee |
General Land Use Plan (GLUP) Amendments
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| GLUP Amendments - Base | $38,226 + $5,228 DES fee; if a Special GLUP Study is completed add $1,179 + $104 DES fee |
| Special GLUP Study Fee - Initial Review | $18,762 |
| Special GLUP Study Fee - Study Fee | $75,057 + $609 DES fee |
Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) Variance and Use Permit
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| BZA Variance / Use Permit - New One-Family Dwelling (1st subsection) | $4,179 + $835 each additional subsection |
| BZA Variance / Use Permit - All Other Uses (1st subsection) | $5,779 + $1,157 each additional subsection |
| BZA Variance / Use Permit - Modification to Existing One-Family Residential | $805 + $163 each additional subsection |
| BZA Variance - Building Location Error | $7,496 |
Subdivision, Plat, and Letter Fees
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Subdivision Plat Review | $225 + $123 per lot |
| Residential / Commercial Condominium Plat - 9 or fewer units | $225 |
| Residential / Commercial Condominium Plat - 10 or more units | $445 |
| Accessory Dwelling Permit | $565 + $376 DES Parking Survey fee (if required) |
| Buildability Letter / Zoning Compliance Letter / Determination Letter | $773 each |
Building Permit Fees (Zoning Review Component)
| Permit Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Building Permit - New Single-Family / Town House / Duplex (per dwelling unit) | $1,017 |
| Building Permit - By-Right Development (Apartments, Retail, Offices) | $862 + $436 per 10,000sf GFA or fraction |
| Building Permit - All Special Exception Projects | $2,708 + $552 per 5,000sf GFA or fraction |
| Master Certificate of Occupancy - New Apartments / Office / Commercial / Hotel | $3,552 + $29 per unit |
Source: Arlington County FY2026 Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule effective July 19, 2025, SHA-256 d9fe206a8ee5316e17026d5a255974d0328112ca618c05bf7e2f410ce6b0b0da, accessed 2026-05-09. A 10 percent Automation Enhancement Fee is assessed on the total of fees charged.
Coverage Notes - What This Page Does Not Cover
Per ZoneFee's Partial-Verified Publication Standard, the items below were closed via official-source review without finding an applicable fee schedule. They are disclosed here rather than estimated or omitted silently.
Statutory Road Impact Fees (Va. Code 15.2-2317)
Virginia road impact fees under Va. Code Section 15.2-2317 are restricted to localities formally designated as urban transportation service districts or high-growth localities. Arlington as a fully urbanized inner-Beltway county with negligible greenfield capacity is not a designated road-impact-fee locality. The County uses density bonuses, Site Plan community-benefit conditions, and FAR-bonus-linked affordable housing contributions in lieu of impact fees. Neither the FY2026 Planning and Zoning fee schedule nor the FY2026 DES fee schedule lists a road or transportation impact fee category. Closed-search outcome: this fee family does not apply to this jurisdiction.
Per-Unit Cash Proffer Schedule (Va. Code 15.2-2303.4)
Cash proffer applicability under Va. Code Section 15.2-2303.4 (post-2016 HB 770) is statutorily narrowed and does not extend to inner-Beltway urban counties like Arlington for new residential construction. Arlington uses Site Plan-attached community benefit conditions, voluntary AHIF (Affordable Housing Investment Fund) contribution commitments, and FAR-bonus-linked density-bonus public-benefit packages negotiated through Site Plan / Special Exception review under the Zoning Ordinance. Closed-search outcome: this fee family does not apply to this jurisdiction.
Special District Fees
Arlington County does not administer a Community Development Authority under Va. Code Section 15.2-5152 or any equivalent development-side service-district fee schedule. Existing geography-bounded Business Improvement Districts (Rosslyn BID, Crystal City BID, Ballston BID, Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization) operate as ongoing member assessments under the BID statute, not as one-time development fees with a published per-unit schedule. The FY2026 Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule and FY2026 DES Consolidated Fee Schedule list no special-district development fee category. Closed-search outcome: this fee family does not apply to this jurisdiction.
Inspection Services Division (ISD) Building Permit Fee Schedule
The Inspection Services Division publishes a separate FY2026 fee schedule covering full building/electrical/plumbing/mechanical permit fee detail (6.8MB PDF located during the 2026-05-09 source review and captured at SHA 793c893e6184ad6890c0767cd9a849a7fffcde4c935dcffa559c785ec93f3f7b) but was not parsed for jurisdiction-master scope on this page. Building Permit zoning-review components covered above derive from the Planning and Zoning fee schedule; full ISD trade-permit fees are out of scope for this page.
Fee Authorities
| Authority | Fee Types | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development (CPHD) - Planning and Zoning Divisions | Site Plan, Use Permit, Special Exception, Rezoning, Subdivision, BZA, building permit zoning review, Form Based Code, GLUP Amendment, Conceptual Site Plan, Phased Development Site Plan, Accessory Dwelling Permit, zoning compliance/determination letters, Master Certificate of Occupancy | arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Building/Permits/Fee-Schedules |
| Arlington County Department of Environmental Services (DES) - Development Services Bureau | Water and sewer Service Connection Charges, Infrastructure Availability Fees, Drainage Fixture Unit inspections, Right-of-Way fees, Stormwater fees, Civil Engineering Plan Review, Subdivision Plat Review, Land Disturbing Activities | arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Building/Permits/Fee-Schedules |
Sources
| Document | Agency | Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| FY2026 Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule effective July 19, 2025 (9 pages, 251 KB) | Arlington County CPHD - Planning and Zoning Divisions | 2026-05-09 |
| FY2026 DES Consolidated Development-Related Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2025 (8 pages, 251 KB) | Arlington County Department of Environmental Services | 2026-05-09 |
| Permit Arlington Center Fee Schedules landing | Arlington County CPHD | 2026-05-09 |
Last verified by ZoneFee: 2026-05-09. Fee schedules are subject to change. Verify current rates directly with the Arlington County CPHD and DES before relying on this data for any financial decision.
This page reflects fee data sourced from the Arlington County FY2026 Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule effective July 19, 2025 and the FY2026 DES Consolidated Development-Related Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2025 (both verbatim PDFs). ZoneFee does not guarantee that fee amounts are current at the time you read this page. Fee schedules change. A 10 percent Automation Enhancement Fee is assessed on the total of fees charged under the Planning and Zoning schedule, and a 10 percent Automation Enhancement Fee surcharge applies to asterisked Infrastructure Availability Fees and Service Connection Charges under the DES schedule. Site Plan fees combine CPHD planning fees and DES fees on the same application because Arlington Site Plan review is multi-departmental. Virginia road impact fees under Va. Code Section 15.2-2317 do not apply to Arlington (not designated as a high-growth locality / urban transportation service district). Per-unit cash proffers under Va. Code Section 15.2-2303.4 do not apply to Arlington as an inner-Beltway urban county for new residential construction. No Community Development Authority, TIF zone, or service-district development-side fee schedule exists on the official County website; Rosslyn / Crystal City / Ballston / Columbia Pike BIDs operate as ongoing member assessments. Full Inspection Services Division building/electrical/plumbing/mechanical trade-permit fees are administered through a separate FY2026 ISD fee schedule and are out of scope for this page. Verify all current rates with Arlington County CPHD and DES before relying on this data for land acquisition, project budgeting, or any financial decision. This page is for research and due diligence reference only - it is not legal or financial advice.