The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously Wednesday to reject an appeal regarding a controversial home addition in Fairfax County’s Greenbriar neighborhood. The decision sides with the county zoning administrator’s earlier ruling that the addition violates zoning rules.
Controversial Addition
The Greenbriar home addition gained attention in November 2025. Neighbors began to raise concerns about the size of the three-story structure. Homeowner Minh Nguyen said that he wanted to create a multi-generational home for his family. Neighbor Courtney Leonard said the addition blocked her sunlight and view of the street.
Amid the controversy, county officials found that the structure violated setback requirements by about 6 inches. Construction halted, and Nguyen submitted a request for administrative approval to continue work. When that was denied, he filed a zoning appeal.
According to the appeal, initial plans for the Greenbriar home addition were approved by the county. Nguyen was granted building permits for the project and began construction in compliance with those plans. It was only after construction had begun that county officials identified a survey discrepancy that put the addition too close to the neighbor’s property line.
Homeowner’s Testimony
In the hearing Wednesday, Nguyen testified that he faced harassment from the community and that taking down the structure would cause financial distress.
Nguyen said he intended to comply with the county’s requirements throughout the process. But when asked to take down the structure, he said he found that the cost to remove it would cause “tremendous hardship for our family.”
The hearing also included several statements from community members, including Leonard. “Our backyard now feels overshadowed and enclosed in a way it never has before,” she said. “Setback requirements exist for situations exactly like this, where size and proximity matter.”
Nguyen now has three options, The Washington Business Journal reported. He can appeal this decision to the Fairfax County Circuit Court, modify the addition to meet zoning requirements, or file for a special permit.
Feature image courtesy Courtney Leonard
