The Easement Application Checklist is the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) list of items that must reach the Park Authority before it can grant an easement on its parkland. It covers the application form, fees, maps and plans, the Deed of Easement and the easement plat. Applicants whose projects involve utility installation, construction or access on FCPA property use it to confirm the package is complete. On this page you can fill out the checklist online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; FCPA publishes the form at fairfaxcounty.gov.
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What is Easement Application Checklist – Fairfax County, VA?
The Easement Application Checklist is the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) checklist of the five items it must receive before an easement can be granted: the application form, fees, maps and plans, a Deed of Easement and an easement plat.
FCPA is a separate agency within Fairfax County. Through its Easement and Permit Program it manages the use of its 23,000 acres of parkland. The agency describes an easement as a legal, recorded agreement that gives temporary or permanent access to, or use of, FCPA parkland for a specific purpose, such as utility installation, construction or access. Common types include sanitary sewer, storm drainage, general utility, trail, temporary grading and clearing, and conservation easements.
The checklist itself lists what the package contains:
- Form: the complete application form.
- Fees: an invoice is sent after FCPA reviews the application.
- Maps & Plans: detailed plans or drawings of all planned work, showing the limits of the proposed easement(s) on FCPA property.
- Deed of Easement: prepared in a form acceptable to the Office of the County Attorney.
- Easement Plat: submitted under Fairfax County's Easement Plat standards.
The checklist is not the application and grants nothing. Its disclaimer says it is an application only and does not give permission to conduct any special activity in the park; the information is used to decide whether an easement will be granted. An easement is also different from a permit, which is a temporary authorization for specific work on parkland.
Who needs to file Easement Application Checklist – Fairfax County, VA?
Anyone asking the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) for an easement on its parkland uses this checklist to assemble the package. FCPA says easements are for projects that need County plan review or permanent installations on park property, such as utility installations, access roads or communication lines, and for activities involving construction, recurring use or permanent modifications.
- Applicants for temporary work: if you only need to enter park property for work with a specific start and end date, such as surveying or an environmental investigation, FCPA says you need a permit, not an easement.
- Easement holders: having an easement does not authorize every activity. A permit is still required for construction or other work within the easement area.
- Telecommunications and wireless projects: if a project such as a cell tower needs utility access, a separate utility easement or access easement is required in addition to any license agreements.
If you are unsure whether your project needs a permit or an easement, FCPA asks you to contact it. The checklist does not say who may sign for an applicant.
When to file Easement Application Checklist – Fairfax County, VA
Submit the checklist items when you apply for an easement, because FCPA can grant an easement only after it has received all of them. The checklist prints no separate deadline.
Fees follow the review rather than the submission: an invoice is sent after FCPA reviews the application. FCPA says standard easement reviews typically take 60 to 90 days, and requests with extensive environmental, legal or public-use considerations may take longer. Incomplete applications delay the review, and applications may be denied if documentation is insufficient.
An easement is not the last step. Once it is granted, a permit is still needed for any construction or work activity on FCPA property.
Documents you need
- Complete application form for the easement: the first item on the checklist.
- Maps and plans: detailed plans or drawings of all planned work, clearly showing the limits of the proposed easement(s) on FCPA property.
- Deed of Easement, prepared in a form acceptable to the Office of the County Attorney.
- Easement plat, submitted in accordance with Fairfax County's Easement Plat standards.
- Tree Preservation Plan and/or Mitigation Plan, if the work will affect trees, including root systems or canopy; a tree inventory and condition analysis is required for trees 6 inches in diameter and larger within the limits of disturbance and 25 feet outside them.
- Scaled engineering drawing for telecommunications or wireless facilities needing utility access, showing existing park features, historic overlays, Resource Protection Areas (RPAs), access routes, utility alignments and proposed telecommunications features.
How to fill out Easement Application Checklist – Fairfax County, VA
Confirm you need an easement
Easements cover construction, recurring use or permanent installations on FCPA parkland; short work with set start and end dates needs a permit instead. Contact FCPA if you are unsure.
Complete the application form
Check the Form item once the complete application form is ready. The checklist is a companion to that form, not a replacement.
Note the fees item
The Fees item says an invoice is sent after review, and that review and impact fees may apply depending on the project. No payment is entered on the checklist.
Prepare maps and plans
For Maps & Plans, gather detailed plans or drawings of all planned work. They should clearly show the limits of the proposed easement(s) on FCPA property.
Prepare the Deed of Easement
For Deed of Easement, have the deed prepared in a form acceptable to the Office of the County Attorney.
Prepare the easement plat
For Easement Plat, follow Fairfax County's Easement Plat standards. More information is at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/landdevelopment/permit-library/easement-plat.
Add tree or telecom plans if needed
If the work affects trees, add a Tree Preservation Plan and/or Mitigation Plan. For telecommunications facilities, add the scaled engineering drawing FCPA describes.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that every item you are submitting is marked, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and send it with the documents as described under How to submit.
How to submit Easement Application Checklist – Fairfax County, VA
Return the completed application form and the other documents by email or by mail to the FCPA Stewardship and Planning Division.
- Email: [email protected]
- Mail: Stewardship and Planning Division, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 421, Fairfax, VA 22035
The checklist names no other channel. For questions, FCPA lists 703-324-8511 (TTY 711), with the office open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Fees are not paid with the submission. An invoice is sent after the application is reviewed, and fees may be paid by credit card, ACH or check. FCPA says easement fees depend on the land value and the scope and impact of the request; check the fee schedule in the easement application packet for amounts.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending the package without the Deed of Easement, or with one not prepared in a form acceptable to the Office of the County Attorney.
- Submitting an easement plat that does not follow Fairfax County's Easement Plat standards.
- Providing drawings that do not clearly show the limits of the proposed easement(s) on FCPA property.
- Treating the checklist as permission to work in the park; its disclaimer says it is an application only and grants no permission for any special activity.
- Assuming a granted easement replaces a permit; a permit is still required for construction or other work within the easement area.
- Leaving out a Tree Preservation Plan and/or Mitigation Plan when the work will affect trees.
- Expecting to pay fees at submission; FCPA sends an invoice after reviewing the application.
- Omitting the scaled engineering drawing for a telecommunications project that needs utility access.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Fairfax County Park Authority Easement Application Checklist?
It is the FCPA list of items that must be received before an easement on parkland can be granted: the application form, fees, maps and plans, a Deed of Easement and an easement plat. It is not the application itself and grants no permission to work in the park.
Do I need an easement or a permit from FCPA?
Request an easement for construction, recurring use or permanent installations such as utility lines or access roads. Request a permit for temporary work with a specific start and end date, such as surveying. Even with an easement, a permit is still needed for construction or other work on FCPA property.
Where do I send the easement application checklist and documents?
Email [email protected] or mail the Stewardship and Planning Division, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 421, Fairfax, VA 22035. The checklist names no other channel. FCPA's phone number is 703-324-8511, open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Is there a fee for an FCPA easement, and when do I pay?
Yes. Review and impact fees may apply, depending on the project. FCPA sends an invoice after reviewing the application, and fees may be paid by credit card, ACH or check. Amounts vary with land value, scope and impact; see the fee schedule in the easement application packet.
How long does an FCPA easement review take?
FCPA says standard easement reviews typically take 60 to 90 days. Requests with extensive environmental, legal or public-use considerations may take longer, and incomplete applications delay the review. Applications can also be denied, in which case staff provide feedback to help you revise the request.
What does the Deed of Easement need to look like?
The checklist says the deed must be prepared in a form acceptable to the Office of the County Attorney. The easement plat is separate and must follow Fairfax County's Easement Plat standards, which are described at fairfaxcounty.gov/landdevelopment/permit-library/easement-plat.
Do I need a tree plan with my easement application?
If the work will affect trees, including root systems or canopy, FCPA says to include a Tree Preservation Plan and/or Mitigation Plan. A tree inventory and condition analysis is required for trees 6 inches in diameter and larger within the limits of disturbance and 25 feet outside them.
Can I fill out the Easement Application Checklist online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not submit it to FCPA; you send it to the Park Authority by email or mail.
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