EAST FALLS CHURCH ARLINGTON
Neighborhood
East Falls Church is an urbanburb located in the western portion of Arlington County. It’s known for its quiet streets, green spaces, and proximity to Metrorail.
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About East Falls Church
Old As The Hills And Twice Seceded
The city of Falls Church pre-dates the American Revolutionary War, established established around The Falls Church. an 18th century Episcopal house of worship c. 1734 that is still operating today.
“East Falls Church” is the name that stuck for the portion of Falls Church that housed a a railroad station on the Washington and Old Dominion line. There were three rail lines at the timel W&OD, Arlington and Falls Church trolley, and the Southern Railway. Service ended in 1951. East Falls Church Metro station opened in 1986.
You may be wondering why East Falls Church, connected to Falls Church on its SW side, is in Arlington County and not Fairfax County like its namesake. That would be a trick question. Falls Church is actually not a part of Fairfax County, either. It was, but in 1948 it seceded and became incorporated as The City of Falls Church. It’s an ‘independent city with county-level governance status.’ Like Alexandria City. Okay, but why, then, isn’t East Falls Church part of it’s independent status? It was, but it seceded! (Are you laughing yet?) The short story is that Falls Church straddled the Fairfax/ Arlington boundary, and the that became known as East Falls Church was on the Arlington side. Confusion caused by overlapping government agencies ensued. In 1921, it was suggested that East
Falls Church become part of Arlington County. And so it did, in 1935.
There’s a wonderful online historical magazine written by John F. Jekel that tells the history of the area. It’s well worth reading. There’s also a photo gallery on the Village Preservation site that shows homes and buildings of the day.
In East Falls Church you’ll find homes built in the 1910s, 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, in the Bungalow, Ranch, Cape Cod, Colonial Revival, Victorian, Queen Anne, Federal and Farmhouse architectural styles.
Townhomes and duplexes, as well as condos also dot the neighborhood.
East Falls Church offers many dining and retail options, as well as three parks; Tuckahoe Park,
East Falls Church Park, and Andrew Ellicott Park.
And the advantage of being Metro close can’t be overstated.
East Falls Church House Hacking
So far, you can operate a short term rental in East Falls Church, but there are requirements, rules & restrictions, fees and taxes. The Municipal Code has all the particulars. Just search “short term rentals.” Also, read the paragraph below on Community Open House meetings.
STR enthusiasts should also remember that local jurisdictions such as cities, counties and states, can impose restrictions on short-term rentals. In Arlington, for instance:
Short-term residential rentals are categorized as “accessory homestay,” allowing STR to exist within the framework of a home occupation.
The County Board adopted Zoning Ordinance regulations that took effect on December 10, 2016, and January 28, 2017. These regulations say that short-term rentals must comply with Arlington’s zoning laws, which may impact where and how properties are rented. Here’s a primer from Steadily, and–as always–you should check the laws and codes of the jurisdiction for the intended property.
Accessory Dwellings (AD)
As of January 2025, East Falls Church has scheduled two Community Open House meetings on proposed zoning code changes for accessory dwellings endorsed by the City Council on November 25, 2024. The resulting rulings, if any, would seem to affect just about any type of STR.
If you intend to purchase property in East Falls Church and expect to operate a STR, pay close attention to those meetings.
An AD is defined as “a dwelling unit which is in the same structure as, under the same ownership as, and subordinate to a one-family dwelling, intended for use as a complete, independent living facility. The accessory dwelling unit includes permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation for use by one family within the limits set forth in this Code pertaining to health, building, or other relevant provisions of the law.
Conservation
The Arlington-East Falls Church Neighborhood Conservation Area is located in the northwest comer of Arlington County. This established residential neighborhood is home to approximately 1200 single-family homes of both brick and wood frame construction, plus a small area of commercial development located west of 1-66.
In 1984, the Arlington-East Falls Church Civic Association formed a Neighborhood Conservation Committee to develop a conservation program for the Association area. Its recommendations serve as positive guides for County decisions affecting those neighborhoods.
East Falls Church Homes For Sale
If you’re not seeing East Falls Church homes for sale due to seasonal inventory shortages or a fast-selling market, contact me for a Collection of off-market, Private Exclusive listings.