East Falls Church Neighborhood
Section: NVA Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist
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.
Old As The Hills And Twice Seceded
The city of Falls Church pre-dates the American Revolutionary War, 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 time 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. Then why 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 area 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.
East Falls Church Homes
Detached houses remain the dominant housing type on interior streets, with Cape Cods, Colonials, ramblers, bungalows and other early and mid-20th-century forms. Townhouses, duplexes, condominiums and apartments appear closer to Metro and major roads.
The County’s East Falls Church Area Plan allows additional mixed-use and transit-oriented development near the station while emphasizing preservation of the scale of surrounding residential neighborhoods.
Two Trails and a Metro
The W&OD; and Custis trails run through East Falls Church, creating a major green transportation corridor for cyclists, runners and walkers. Tuckahoe Park, East Falls Church Park and nearby neighborhood parks add local recreation.
East Falls Church Metro serves the Orange and Silver lines. Here, transportation is not just incidental information; the combination of rail and regional trails is one of the neighborhood’s defining advantages.
East Falls Church House Hacking
STR (Short Term Rentals)
Thus far, you can operate a short term rental in East Falls Church, but there are requirements, rules & restrictions, fees and taxes. The Municipal Code contains all the particulars.
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 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.
East Falls Church Schools
East Falls Church sits on the border of Arlington County and Falls Church City. Students typically attend either Arlington Public Schools or Falls Church City Public Schools, depending on their address.
In Arlington County:
Tuckahoe Elementary School Public Grades PK-5
Swanson Middle School Public Grades 6-8
Yorktown High School Public Grades 9-12
School attendance zones change and may include street-by-street exceptions depending on address. Always consult the official APS School Boundary Locator provided by Arlington County GIS.
Those addresses located in unincorporated Fairfax County are served by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), rather than the independent Falls Church City Public Schools, and assigned schools are dependent on address.
Disclaimer
We are not attorneys, legal experts, investment counselors, or CPAs. The content on this channel is presented for informational purposes only and derived from reliable sources, but should not be considered legal, financial, investment, transaction or real estate practice advice. Susan Isaacs and Compass, their principals and/or representatives, do not guarantee or warrant its accuracy, completeness, or applicability to any specific real estate transaction. Homebuyers should read applicable D.C. law and code as part of their due diligence, and seek help from licensed, qualified professionals for interpretation and application to their specific transaction.