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Virginia County
Fauquier County, Virginia
Warrenton and Virginia horse and wine country - from Fauquier County's status as one of the epicenters of Virginia's equestrian culture (the county's rolling Piedmont countryside is home to some of Virginia's oldest and most prestigious fox hunting clubs, steeplechase races, and thoroughbred farms, drawing equestrian enthusiasts from across the Mid-Atlantic to its scenic countryside) to the county's thriving wine region (Fauquier County's Piedmont terrain supports numerous acclaimed wineries along the Virginia wine trail, contributing to Virginia's emergence as one of the East Coast's premier wine-producing regions).
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Office: Fauquier County Emergency Services – (540) 422-8830
Alert System: Alert Fauquier, powered by Rave Mobile Safety – register via smart911.com/smart911/ref/reg.action?pa=fauquier for weather alerts, lookouts, lockdowns, and other emergency communications by phone, email, or text
Notes: Fauquier County is a member of the Virginia Emergency Management Association (VEMA); the county has adopted the Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC) into Chapter 9 of the County Code
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-17, US-15/29, and US-211 are primary corridors; the county is known for its rolling horse-country landscape between the Blue Ridge and Northern Virginia’s suburban core
Transit: No dedicated fixed-route county transit identified; confirm current regional options directly with the county
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Fauquier County Community Development, Building Permitting & Inspections – Courthouse Building, 29 Ashby Street, 3rd Floor, Warrenton, VA 20186 | (540) 422-8220 or (540) 422-8230 | Fax: (540) 422-8231
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Services: The county issues building permits for the unincorporated county and for projects in the Towns of Remington and The Plains (after town zoning approval); the county uses a combined Building/Zoning Permit Application allowing simultaneous filing; significant construction may also require a separate Land Disturbing Permit
Notes: The Town of Warrenton has its OWN separate, permit-issuing Community Development Department – it is not under the county building-permit counter, so confirm whether your property is inside Warrenton town limits before applying to the county. A permit is required for prefabricated sheds 256 sq ft or larger (or any size if multi-story), any gas appliance/water heater/furnace installation, building demolition, basement finishing, tents over 900 sq ft or holding more than 50 people, and larger swimming pools/spas. Per Virginia Code § 15.2-2286(B), all delinquent real estate taxes and other liens must be paid in full before a permit can be issued or approved – worth checking your tax status before applying. Building construction without a permit is a state-law misdemeanor.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
State VSO: Virginia Department of Veterans Services – dvs.virginia.gov (statewide office locator for the nearest Veterans Service Representative)
Notes: Confirm current local point of contact directly with dvs.virginia.gov
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Fauquier County Public Library – 3 branches (Warrenton, Bealeton, John Marshall)
Services: Books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, audiobooks and e-books, credible online research databases, story times, free Wi-Fi, public computers, a mobile app
Notes: The Warrenton branch sits in the heart of Old Town Warrenton, within the Warrenton Historic District, steps from Main Street and its many historical buildings – including the former (1923) Fauquier County Public Library building itself, now part of the historic district rather than the active library
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Warrenton Historic District, 127 acres and 288+ contributing buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983 (boundary expanded 2024), including the 1890 Fauquier County courthouse, the 1928 County Administration Building, and numerous 18th-19th century homes and commercial buildings; Weston Wildlife Management Area, a 271-acre property near Casanova with hardwood forest and hedgerow-divided fields, managed by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and primitive camping (firearms not permitted, though a “chase-only” hound-training season is available)
Notes: Fauquier County is broadly known as prominent Virginia horse country – confirm current details for any specific equestrian events or venues directly, as this reputation reflects a genuine regional identity rather than a marketing claim
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Fauquier County GIS – accessible via fauquiercounty.gov
Parcel Search: Fauquier County Commissioner of the Revenue records
Addressing/911: Coordinated through Fauquier County Emergency Services
Services: Lost-and-found registry, pet adoptions, tattoo/ID tag identification, pet therapy programs, humane education, spay/neuter assistance
Notes: The Fauquier SPCA is an independent nonprofit contracted with the county to serve as its animal shelter – the county’s own website redirects directly to the SPCA’s site for animal shelter needs. Confirm current hours directly, as this is not a county-run department in the way some other Virginia localities operate.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Complaints: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality – deq.virginia.gov
Notes: Contact Fauquier County Administration directly for current refuse collection, transfer station, and recycling program details, as specifics were not independently confirmed for this entry
NOTES
Fauquier County is well-known Virginia horse country, and its county seat, Warrenton, preserves one of the more architecturally significant historic downtowns accessible anywhere in the region – a 127-acre National Register district with nearly 300 contributing 18th- and 19th-century buildings. Because Warrenton operates its own separate permitting department distinct from the county’s, and because the county contracts animal services entirely to the independent Fauquier SPCA, residents should confirm which office actually applies to their specific address and need before assuming county-level contacts cover everything. All contact information above was sourced from official county and nonprofit pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Fauquier County
Fauquier County is northern Virginia’s horse country and wine region county – the rolling Piedmont landscape between the Blue Ridge and the DC suburbs supports a unique economy of equestrian estates, boutique wineries, and rural charm that has made Fauquier one of Virginia’s most sought-after counties for affluent rural living within commuting distance of Washington.
Warrenton (the county seat, population ~10,000) anchors Fauquier County’s governmental and commercial functions, a charming Piedmont town whose preserved Main Street and courthouse square reflect the county’s historic character.
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Fauquier County Assessor at 10 Hotel Street, Warrenton, VA 20186, phone 540-422-8220. VA assessed at 100% fair market value.
Courts & Legal
Fauquier County Circuit Court at 40 Culpeper Street, Warrenton, VA 20186, phone 540-422-8250, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK
40 Culpeper St, Warrenton, VA 20186
(540) 422-8110
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Fauquier Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Warrenton (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above). The Fauquier County Courthouse in Warrenton (originally 1795, current structure 1890) is part of the Warrenton Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
Local societies
No dedicated Fauquier County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Fauquier County is in Northern Virginia’s horse country, county seat Warrenton. Virginia has NO separate probate court – probate (“qualification”) is handled entirely by the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office. The Clerk’s Office has a dedicated Estate Filings email for probate matters.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Virginia calls the probate process “qualification” rather than “appointment,” and it happens administratively at the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, not before a judge, unless a dispute arises.
Small Estate Affidavit (Va. Code § 64.2-601, the “Virginia Small Estate Act”) – available when the decedent’s entire personal probate estate (excluding real estate) does not exceed $75,000, at least 60 days have passed since death, and no personal representative has been appointed or has a pending application in any jurisdiction. If a will exists, it must first be admitted to probate (recorded with the Clerk) even though no executor is appointed. As of July 1, 2026, the affidavit must be filed on the statewide form (CC-1685).
Single Small Asset Release (Va. Code § 64.2-602) – any person or institution holding a single asset of $35,000 or less may release it directly to a successor once 60 days have passed since death and no personal representative has qualified, without any affidavit required at all.
Real Estate Affidavit (Form CC-1612) – if the decedent owned only real estate, this can be recorded directly in land records without full probate. Real estate generally cannot be transferred through the small estate affidavit process.
Full Qualification / Administration – the standard path for larger or more complex estates. The personal representative appears before the Clerk, takes an oath, files the will and death certificate, and typically posts a surety bond. The estate is then supervised by a Commissioner of Accounts throughout administration.
Step 2: filing for administration
The person seeking to qualify as executor or administrator brings the original will (if any) and a certified death certificate to the Fauquier Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
The Clerk reviews the will’s validity and admits it to probate.
The personal representative takes an oath and qualifies, posting a bond if required; the Clerk issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The Commissioner of Accounts oversees the estate going forward.
The personal representative notifies creditors, pays valid debts, and manages estate assets.
Remaining assets are distributed to beneficiaries or heirs, and the estate is closed once final accounting is approved.
What it costs
Virginia imposes a PROBATE TAX on most wills admitted to probate and grants of administration: $1 state tax + $0.33 local tax for every $1,000 of estate value. No tax is imposed on estates valued at $15,000 or less.
Filing fees for qualification vary by estate size; confirm current Fauquier County fees directly.
Virginia does NOT impose a state estate tax or inheritance tax – repealed for deaths on or after July 1, 2007. Only the federal estate tax may apply, and only to very large estates.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
65 Hospital Dr, Warrenton, VA 20186
(540) 347-3300
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
VOTER REGISTRAR
10 Hotel St, Warrenton, VA 20186
(540) 422-8290
ELECTIONS
Fauquier County Electoral Board, 10 Hotel St, Warrenton, VA 20186
(540) 422-8290
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health District
Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District, 320 Hospital Dr, Warrenton, VA 20186
(540) 347-6100
Department of Social Services
320 Hospital Dr, Warrenton, VA 20186
(540) 422-8400
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District (Virginia Department of Health) – serves Fauquier County
Services: Immunizations, WIC, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Virginia delivers public health primarily through regional Virginia Department of Health districts rather than standalone county health departments
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Warrenton
Population: 73,000
Established: 1759
Tier: 2
Public Records
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