COMING TO
A NEIGHBORHOOD
NEAR YOU!
Which EHO permits have been approved?
Nearly 50 permits approved
Arlington’s EHO Tracker
https://my.arlingtonva.us/map/permit
Click on “approved” on the website and you can search the list of permits. While many permits have been approved, some developers abandoned their EHO housing plans because of homeowners' lawsuits. There are few new EHO permits submitted & approved almost every month.
WHAT TO DO IF IT'S IN
YOUR BACKYARD
Our Neighborhood Wach Role
Neighbors for Neighborhoods seaches the EHO Tracker and posts public notices across the County to alert residents to pending permit approval and how to appeal. The County – with its cozy relationship with developers – never notifies impacted streets and in some cases (14th St N.) neighbors discovered a six-plex was being built when they heard the construction noise.
No County Transparency
Our grassroots efforts of going door-to-door handing out fliers has mobilized residents to take action. In many cases – when permits are out in the daylight – developers have pivoted from multiplexes to single-family homes. Our recent fliers for 11 St N & 18 Rd N are posted below. You can click to read the pdf.
No County Notification
Recent Permits
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Form a Neighborhood Group
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Email us to get assistance. info@neighborsforneighborhoods.org
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Sneak-Attack Zoning: Contact the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA)
From the date of approval, you have 30 days to file a zoning appeal here.
Applications cost $1200 and will not be accepted past 30 days. Of course, without any County notification, how are you supposted to know an EHO permit has been approved. The County never notifies residents. It's their trick to bypass neighborhood opposition and help developers.
Megan Ryan, BZA Associate Planner
mryan1@arlingtonva.us
703-228-0538
Zoning Administration
2100 Clarendon Blvd,10th Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
contactzoning@arlingtonva.us
703-228-3883
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Contact the County Board (make noise)
Matt Ferranti, Chairman
Email: mdeferranti@arlingtonva.us
Email staffer, Graham Weinschenk
Ph #: 703-228-0328
Susan Cunningham
email: scunningham@arlingtonva.us
Aide Ph #: Flora – 703-228-3128
Maureen Coffey
Aide Ph #: 703-228-3139
J.S. Spain
Aide Ph #: Karo 703-228-3125
Takis Karantonis
Aide Ph#: Sandra 703-228-8726
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Register for County Board "Open Door Mondays"
Visit a County Board Member: Register here
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Speak at a County Board Meeting
Public comments lasting no longer than :2-min. are heard at the beginning of Saturday County Board meetings at 9am once month. Check website for dates. Note that only one person may speak per topic during this time. Register here.
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Check Deed for Convenant
Check your deed filed with the County to see if there’s a neighborhood covenant stipulating single-family building restrictions. If you’re lucky to have one, Judges have consistently ruled in favor of covenants. Once again, the County never voluntarily informs you of existing covenants. It’s up to you to take the offensive. Zoning lawyers should have access to this data base.
Filing a FOIA
To View the Building Plans
The County does not provide access to the building plans that have been submitted for development without filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). It's another obstical to fight. Arlington County forces you to file a Freedom of Information Act Request (FOIA). It can cost a min of $20/hr.
How to file a FOIA
lnformation on filing a FOIA request for the EHO permits is found here: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/FOIA/Requests
Rachel Healy, FOIA Officer
Arlington County - Office of the County Attorney
2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 403 Arlington, VA 22201
(C) 703.843.0687 (T) 703.228.0720
email: Arlington County FOIA Center arlingtoncountyva@govqa.us
Heading 5
Be Proactive
Background
After a judge declared that the County’s Expanded Housing Options (EHO) zoning was illegal in October 2024. A developer challenged that decision and EHO is again legal in Arlington – for now. The case is on appeal to the Supreme Court of Virginia.
