A buyer of ours asked:

Can I have two kitchens in my home in Fairfax County? Is it a zoning violation?

The short answer: maybe.

The long answer: You can have two kitchens as long as there is only one burner in the home. Burners can be defined as stoves or cook tops. So if you have an in-law-suite in the basement with a refrigerator, sink, cabinets, etc., you're fine. But if you have a burner in the second kitchen, AND you're making rental income off of the space with the second kitchen, then the property is considered a multi-family dwelling, which is not allowed in a single family zoning, and will require separate certificate of occupation for that space.

So, to recap, the permitting department will frown upon your second burner but it will only become a true violation when you start to make rental income from the space with the second kitchen and burner.

Here is the FairfaxCounty/permit/WIZ_APWELCOME.asp">permit lookup sitefor FX county by address or permit number, or you can call them at 703-222-1082.