Division of Environmental Health

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our Environmental Health Services office at 10777 Main Street in Fairfax is open during regular business hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. Clinic services are not offered at this location.
703-246-2201 TTY 711
10777 Main Street
Fairfax, VA 22030
Pieter A. Sheehan, REHS
Director, Division of Environmental Health

Department Resources

Related Resources

Permitted Facilities

Tourist Establishments: Hotels, Bed & Breakfast Facilities, Campgrounds and Summer Camps

Fairfax County Health Department conducts inspections and complaint investigations for general sanitation, infestations and health/safety hazards of hotels, bed and breakfast facilities, campgrounds and summer camps (overnight only) (known as "tourist establishments").

Permitting Details

The tourist establishments defined below are required to obtain a health permit before opening to the public.

  • Annual renewal deadline: January 1
  • Commonwealth of Virginia permit fee: $40 (There is no Fairfax County permit or fee.)
  • Permits are not transferable to new owners.
  • Read the Virginia Tourist Establishment code.

Definitions of Tourist Establishments

Any place offering to the public for compensation transitory lodging or sleeping accommodations, overnight or otherwise, including but not limited to facilities commonly known as hotels, motels, travel lodges, tourist homes, or hostels and similar facilities by whatever name called which consist of two or more lodging units. Read the Commonwealth of Virginia statutes that govern hotels.

A residential type establishment that provides two or more rental accommodations and food service on any single day to a maximum of 18 transient guests for a period of five or more days in any calendar year or any residential type of facility providing at least one rental accommodation for transient guests and food service for a total of 30 or more days in any calendar year.

Refers to but is not limited to tourist camps, travel trailer camps, recreation camps, family campgrounds, camping resorts, camping communities or any other area, place, parcel or tract of land, by whatever name called, on which three or more campsites are occupied or intended for occupancy, or facilities are established or maintained, wholly or in part, for the accommodation of camping sites for periods of overnight or longer, whether the use of the campsite and/or facilities is granted gratuitously, by a rental fee, by lease, by conditional sale or by covenants, restrictions and easements.

This definition is not intended to include summer camps, and migrant labor camps, construction camps, permanent mobile home parks, or storage areas for unoccupied camping units nor property upon which the individual owner may choose to camp and not be prohibited or encumbered by covenants, restrictions and conditions from providing his sanitary facilities within his property lines. Read the Commonwealth of Virginia statutes that govern campgrounds.

Any building, tent or vehicle or group of buildings, tents or vehicles, operated as one place or establishment, or any other place or establishment, public or private, together with the land and waters adjacent thereto, which is operated or used in the Commonwealth for the entertainment, education, recreation, religious instruction or activities, physical education, or health of persons under eighteen years of age who are not related to the operator of the Summer Camp, if twelve or more such persons at one time are accommodated gratuitously or for compensation, overnight and during any portion of more than two consecutive days. Read the Commonwealth of Virginia statutes that govern summer camps.

Information on Human Trafficking

For Hotels, Motels, Inns, and Bed-and-Breakfasts

Spot + Stop Human Trafficking graphicThe Code of Virginia (§ 35.1-15.1.) and the Sanitary Regulations for Hotels (12VAC5-431-490) requires all hotel proprietors and their employees to complete online training provided by Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) on how to recognize and report instances of suspected human trafficking. 

The law requires that every hotel proprietor require its employees to complete the human trafficking training within six months of being employed by a hotel and thereafter at least once every two years, for as long as the employee is employed by the hotel. 

The law also provides that the online course be provided at no cost to hotel proprietors and their employees. The law has an effective date of January 1, 2023. The Fairfax County Health Department will begin enforcing these requirements starting July 1, 2023. 

Human Trafficking Awareness for Hotels is a free online training course for hotel proprietors and their employee. This course is available through a new online learning management system, Benchmark Analytics. To complete the training, create a training account by clicking on “Log In” on the left menu. Then click “Create an account” and enter the required information. For additional help creating an account, see this guide.

Additional Resources

Marinas

The Health Department’s Marina Program regulates onshore facilities for boating establishments. This includes restrooms, sewage pump-out stations and sewage dump stations.  The Marina Program’s mission is to protect both public health and the environment through regulation, education, and inspection. Our primary focus is making sure that sewage from recreational boaters is disposed of properly and that facilities for marinas and other places where boats are moored are adequate. 

The Fairfax County Health Department issues permits to marinas and conducts inspections of marinas annually, typically between May and September. There are no fees for permits or inspections.

To apply for a permit, please use PLUS.

Marinas Code
Commonwealth of Virginia Sanitary Regulations for Marinas and Boat Moorings

Resources 
Virginia Department of Health Marina Program
Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Grant
Marina Program Frequently Asked Questions
 

Tattoo Establishments

The Health Department permits Tattoo Establishments and conducts annual inspections to ensure sanitary conditions. Tattoo establishment permits must be renewed on an annual basis.  To apply for or renew a permit, please use the Planning and Land Use System. There are no Health Department fees for Tattoo Establishment permits, renewals, or inspections.

To apply for a new Tattoo Establishment or renewal permit, a Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) from the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration is required. All tattoo establishments and tattoo practitioners must also be licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation Board for Barbers and Cosmetology.

Complaints about practitioners must be directed to the appropriate VA DPOR board as the Fairfax County Health Department permits the physical facilities and does not permit, register, or license practitioners.  

Tattoo Establishments Code
Chapter 35- Tattoo Establishments

Apply For or Renew a Permit

PLANNING AND LAND USE SYSTEM - PLUS

Use the Planning and Land Use System (PLUS) to apply for permits, track the status of your application, update information, upload documents, pay fees, and search property information.

If you have any questions, please call us at 703-246-2201.

Training materials and videos are available to help you get started. 

Visit PLUS

Apply for a New Permit

  1. If you do not already have a user account on the Planning and Land Use System (PLUS), create an account. Once you create your account, you MUST be logged in to access applications.   
  2. Once you log into your PLUS account, you may proceed to the Environmental Health tab and click on Create an Application in the blue ribbon. You’ll need to read and accept the Terms and Conditions of Use. Select the appropriate permit type and follow the steps. 

Submit Your Renewal Application

  1. If you do not already have a user account on the Planning and Land Use System (PLUS), create an account. Registration is required so that you can access your record information and renew online.  
  2. Once you create your account, you may proceed to the My Records tab and see your Establishment(s) listed under Environmental Health. If you are renewing your permit, please do not create a new application.
  3. Within your record in PLUS, click on Renew Application under the Action column and follow the steps.
  4. If you do NOT have a listing of your establishment under your record list or have any questions, please contact us at 703-246-2201, option 2.

 

Additional Resources

Complaints may be reported to the Health Department through the county's Planning and Land Use System.


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