Availability, Fees and Hours for Community Use

Community Use Hours

Lighted athletic fields in close proximity to residential areas may be closed earlier than the times listed below. Please note that portable lighting by user groups is not permitted on school fields. Note: Under no circumstances are users permitted to stay in school facilities overnight.

Schools are available for use by the community as follows:

Fees - Rental, Personnel, and Equipment

Fees are assessed for facilities rentals, services provided by school personnel, and for use of school equipment and utilities.

Rental fees are based on the purpose for which school facilities are used. When a request to use school facilities is for the primary benefit of the user, rental fees will be charged. Private users and groups that are not primarily Fairfax County citizens will be charged commercial rates. Groups that provide an IRS letter of nonprofit (501c) status will be charged non-commercial rates. In addition to the purpose, rental fees are based on:

• the type of facility requested (elementary, middle, or high school).
• the type of space requested (cafeteria, auditorium, gymnasium, classroom, athletic field, etc.).
• the length of time the facility is to be used.

Per School Board Regulation 8420 (Attachment D), FCPS fields, gymnasiums, and tracks are scheduled for community athletic use by the Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services Division. Please refer to their website for further information.

Personnel fees are charged in cases when school personnel, such as custodians, cafeteria workers, technicians, supervisors, etc., are required to work.

Fees are listed in Notice 8420 of the Fairfax County Public School Policies and Regulations. Users may ask to review this notice in the main office at any school. New fee schedules are published annually in Notice 8420 and become effective on July 1. All fees must be paid to the Community Use Section at least ten (10) business days prior to the scheduled use of school facilities.

Facilities Available for Use Without Prior Scheduling

The following facilities are available for use by individuals (not organized groups) without being scheduled:

• Blacktops

• Playgrounds

• Outdoor Basketball Courts

• Tennis Courts—Tournaments and lessons must be scheduled through CommunityUse, the online reservation system

• Track—Running clubs and leagues must be scheduled through Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS)

Note: Private instruction at any FCPS facility is subject to rental fees and must be scheduled through CommunityUse, the online reservation system.

Please keep the following in mind when using these facilities:

• Use is allowed from dawn to dusk, except during school hours or when being used for school activities or other scheduled programs

• Facilities must be shared with anyone else who wishes to use them

• Use of these facilities cannot impede scheduled use on fields and tracks

Long-Term Use of School Facilities

We are currently under agreement with approximately 95 long-term religious and cultural organizations and accommodate many one-time facility use requests. Prior to contract approval, a personal orientation will be held with all organizations wishing to enter into a long-term agreement with Fairfax County Public Schools.

All religious and cultural organizations must provide a 501(c)(3) Letter of Determination from the IRS to show proof of nonprofit status. If this document is not available, the organization must contact the Community Use section to obtain an affidavit, as well as additional requirements regarding proof of the organization's nonprofit status. Additionally, organizations are required to provide a current certificate of liability insurance for $1 million in coverage.

For further information regarding long-term use of Fairfax County Public Schools, please review the Procedures for Long-Term Use by Religious and Cultural Organizations. You may also visit the Community Use of School Facilities section for more details.