TheVirginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA) is the state law governing access by citizens of Virginia, and representatives of the media, to public records and to meetings of public bodies.
VFOIA provides that, with some specific exemptions and exceptions, all meetings of public bodies shall be open to the public and all public records open for public inspection.
Fairfax County complies with theVirginia Freedom of Information Act and also maintains its own county policy.
Read the Rights of Requesters and the Responsibilities of Fairfax County Government under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to learn your rights and the County's responsibilities during a VFOIA request.
The FOIA Office provides a snapshot of data every year.
Prior year reports are included here for comparison:
Before submitting a VFOIA request to Fairfax County,it is recommended that you first conduct a search of Fairfax County’s website.
Conducting a search of the county’s website may also assist the requester in identifying thecounty department or agencythat has the type(s) of records sought.
The types of records held by Fairfax County agencies include, but are not limited to:
Members of the mediashould contact the Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551, Fairfax, VA 22035, e-mailFOIA@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-324-3187.
Members of the publicshould contact the agency, department or entity that may have the records sought.
Please refer to the list below or visit theFairfax County Department & Agencies List.
Fairfax County Agency | Contact Information |
|---|---|
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 1016 Code Compliance FOIA Form | |
12099 Government Center Parkway Fire and Rescue FOIA Form Fire Marshal FOIA Form (PDF) | |
10777 Main Street Health Department FOIA Form (PDF) | |
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 270 | |
12055 Government Center Parkway Land Development Services FOIA Form | |
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 927 Park Authority FOIA Form (PDF) | |
12055 Government Center Parkway, 7th Floor | |
12099 Government Center Parkway | |
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 427 Email: DPMM@fairfaxcounty.gov | |
4890 Alliance Drive Public Safety Communications FOIA Form | |
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 448 Email: dpwesFOIA@fairfaxcounty.gov | |
Transportation | 4050 Legato Road, Suite 400 |
Fairfax County Government isnotthe record custodian for records held by the entities listed below:
Entity | FOIA Contact Information |
|---|---|
Fairfax County Circuit Court | |
Fairfax County General District Court | |
Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court | |
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) | |
Fairfax County Sheriff's Office | |
Economic Development Authority (EDA) | |
Office of the Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney | |
Virginia Department of Health (VDH) | |
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) |
Office of Public Affairs | Countywide FOIA Officer: Molly Shannon 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551 Email:FOIA@fairfaxcounty.gov |
Fairfax County Agency | Record Types / Contact Information |
|---|---|
Please contactCodecompliance@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-324-1300. | |
Please contactFire.FireMarshalFOIA@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-246-4803. | |
Please contactHDEHD@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-246-2201. | |
Please contactLDSFOIA@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-324-1895. | |
Please contactDPDFOIA@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-324-1380. | |
Please contactdpwesFOIA@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-324-5033. |
All meetings of public bodies,as defined in VFOIA, are generally required to be open meetings, subject to certain exceptions spelled out in VFOIA.
For there to be a "meeting" subject to the Act, there must be at least three members of the body, or a quorum of the public body if less than three, present for the purpose of discussing or transacting public business. A gathering of public employees is not a meeting under VFOIA.
Anopen meeting is a meeting open to members of the public. During the course of apublic meeting, a public body may go into aclosed meeting to discuss certain specific types of matters set forth in VFOIA. In order to do so, the public body must follow the specific procedures set forth in VFOIA to go into, and come out of, closed session.
VFOIA permits members of the public tophotograph or record (audio, visual, or audio-visual) public meetings. It also permits public bodies to adopt reasonable rules concerning the use of cameras and recorders, designed to prevent disruption.
Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council
More information aboutVFOIA can be found through theVirginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council. The Freedom of Information Advisory Council has anonline public comment form allowing any FOIA requester to comment on the quality of assistance provided by Fairfax County.