Fairfax Streamlines Medical Structure Permitting For Coronavirus

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County has developed streamlined regulations for medical facility owners that want to build temporary medical structures next to existing medical facilities. Before hospitals and other medical facilities reach capacity, the county is hoping to increase medical service capacity for the community in response to the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, crisis, the county said Tuesday.

The county said it wants to facilitate "the quick and safe setup of these needed structures." Any structures that are erected under these new rules will be considered temporary with a duration that extends through the state of emergency declared by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.

The Virginia Department of Health reported 1,250 cases of the coronavirus Tuesday, an increase of 230 cases from Monday. The number of deaths in the state now stands at 27 compared to 25 on Monday.

Of the total positive cases in Virginia, 165 people are hospitalized. Fairfax County continues to report the most cases — 245. The next largest numbers are 104 in Arlington County, 103 in Prince William County (including Manassas and Manassas Park), 89 in James City County and 87 in Loudoun County. There are coronavirus cases in 96 Virginia cities and counties.

Northam said last Friday that his administration has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers to identify excess hospital bed capacity in the state in case the current supply of beds begins to run low.

In Fairfax County, medical providers should contact the Fairfax County Fire Marshal’s Office at 703-246-4800 to set up a time for an on‑site meeting to discuss any proposal to build a temporary medical structure so that minimum fire protection measures can be verified.

The Fire Marshal’s staff will make every effort to meet within 24 hours, with the goal of approving the structure and the location at the on-site meeting. No building or land disturbance permit will be required for such temporary structures, the county said.

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An applicant must ensure any permissions from the property owner have been obtained for construction of the structures. Disabled access must be provided at the temporary facilities. Applicants also must ensure utility services such as electricity, natural gas, water and telecommunications are not obstructed during erection of the facilities.

Minimal processing fees will be coordinated with the applicant at a later date and will not delay the erection of the temporary structure, the county said.

Any intended use of these structures beyond the state of emergency would require the issuance of building permits and all other approvals necessary to secure a non-residential use permit.

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