Why hoarding gets taken seriously here
Fairfax County formed a Hoarding Task Force in 1998. The county describes it as the first of its kind in the United States, set up after fire and medical emergencies in hoarded homes where crews couldn't get people out quickly. It brought together code enforcement, fire and rescue, health, social services, attorneys and private businesses to deal with homes where clutter made it hard to get people out in an emergency.
That approach spread. Arlington set up its own task force in 2003, and Alexandria runs one too. For families, this means two things. Local agencies here are more likely to recognize hoarding as a health and safety problem, not just a messy house. It also means that once a case is reported, several offices may get involved at once, and that can feel like a lot.
We're not part of any county program. We're the people families hire to do the actual work in the home, often while a social worker or inspector is involved in the background.
Who to call, jurisdiction by jurisdiction
Every locality runs things a bit differently. Here is what we confirmed on each one's official pages.
Fairfax County. Hoarding concerns go to the Department of Code Compliance at 703-324-1300, or through the county's hoarding information page, which also has an online complaint form. The original task force was renamed the Hoarding Committee in 2012. The county notes that as of July 2026 the committee is on an organizational pause, while the partner agencies keep working together on cases. For an older adult who may not be safe, Fairfax County Adult Protective Services takes reports at 703-324-7450 (TTY 711).
Arlington County. The Arlington Hoarding Task Force is made up of the fire department, Code Enforcement and the Department of Human Services. Which one responds depends on the problem: fire hazards go to the Fire Marshal (703-558-2222), building code issues to Code Enforcement (703-228-3232), and help for someone who is struggling to Adult Protective Services (703-228-1700).
City of Alexandria. Adult Protective Services is part of the city's Hoarding Task Force team. The city's APS page lists the intake line, 703-746-5778, and an email address for hoarding concerns.
Loudoun County. Loudoun Adult Protective Services is on call around the clock at 703-777-0437.
Prince William County. Reports about an older or incapacitated adult can go through the state line below, which routes them to the county. Property maintenance complaints go to the county's Department of Neighborhood Services.
Anywhere in Virginia, the statewide APS hotline is (888) 832-3858, 24 hours a day. It covers adults 60 and older and incapacitated adults 18 and older. If someone is in danger right now, call 911.
A report is not a betrayal. Many families do both: they report so a social worker can help with health, money and safety, and they call us to help with the home.
If you have a notice with a deadline
Some families call us after the inspector has already been out. If that's you, take a photo of the notice and send it when you call. Your project manager will read what it actually asks for. Often the first step the county wants is clear exits, a path through each room, working smoke alarms and garbage removed. That's a smaller job than clearing the whole house, and finishing it can buy time to do the rest at a pace your mom can live with.
The houses themselves
Northern Virginia housing shapes how a cleanup runs.
- Split-levels and ramblers from the 1950s to 1970s in Annandale, Springfield, Falls Church, McLean and Vienna usually have a basement, and that's where things pile up first. Basement stairs are narrow, so we carry by hand and take our time.
- Townhouses in Burke, Reston, Centreville, Ashburn, Woodbridge and Dale City share walls. Odor and pests travel, and HOAs notice. Many HOAs also limit where a dumpster can sit and for how long.
- Condos and garden apartments in Arlington and Alexandria mean elevators, loading docks, building managers and sometimes a reserved move window. Your project manager coordinates with the building.
- Old Town rowhouses have tight stairs, small rear yards and street parking only, so we often use a smaller truck and more trips instead of a big dumpster.
Summers are humid here. Damp basements plus cardboard and paper can mean mold and a musty smell that spreads upstairs. Winter storms can make steps and driveways icy, so we clear a safe path before anything heavy moves.
What happens to the things in the house
Nothing gets thrown out in a rush. Crews set up keep, donate and discard areas on the first day. Photos, mail, cash, jewelry, savings bonds, and any papers that look official go into separate boxes for the family. In homes where someone worked for decades, we often find old pay stubs and benefits letters. Those get set aside too.
Furniture and household goods in good shape go to local thrift stores and charities. Metal, cardboard and electronics get recycled where possible.
The rest goes to a landfill or transfer station. Fairfax County runs the I-66 Transfer Station and the I-95 Landfill Complex, one off West Ox Road in Fairfax and the other in Lorton. Both also take household hazardous waste like old paint and chemicals. Loudoun has its county landfill on Evergreen Mills Road near Leesburg, and Prince William has its landfill off Dumfries Road in Manassas. You don't have to haul anything yourself. Your project manager handles all of it.
Read more about our process on the hoarding cleanup page.
Estates and probate
In Virginia, probate happens in the Circuit Court Clerk's Office of the county or city where your parent lived. In Fairfax, that's the Probate Division at the Fairfax County Judicial Center on Chain Bridge Road, and appointments are required. The Fairfax Circuit Court has guides for executors. Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun and Prince William each have their own circuit court clerk.
We don't give legal advice. We work around the schedule your attorney or the clerk sets, and we look through every drawer, box and coat pocket before anything leaves, because wills, deeds and account statements turn up in odd places. Our estate cleanout page has more.
Areas we cover
A local project manager covers Fairfax County (Annandale, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Fairfax, Falls Church, Herndon, Lorton, McLean, Reston, Springfield, Vienna), Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun County (Ashburn, Leesburg, Sterling, Purcellville) and Prince William County (Woodbridge, Dale City, Manassas, Gainesville, Dumfries).
Cost and financing
We don't publish prices, because no two homes are alike. A basement full of boxes is a different job from a townhouse with pet damage on every floor. Our cost page explains what changes the price. Financing is available. If you're still working out how to talk with your dad about any of this, read helping a family member first.
Common questions
Does Fairfax County still have a hoarding task force?
Fairfax started the Hoarding Task Force in 1998 and renamed it the Hoarding Committee in 2012. The county says that as of July 2026 the committee is on an organizational pause, while partner agencies continue working together. Code Compliance still takes hoarding concerns at 703-324-1300.
Will calling you trigger a report to the county?
No. Calling us is private. We're a cleanup company, not a county agency, and we keep it low-key. If your family wants to involve APS or a social worker, your project manager will work alongside them.
Can you work in a condo building or townhouse community?
Yes. Your project manager coordinates with the HOA or building manager on elevator use, loading times and where a dumpster or truck can go. Shared walls mean we pay extra attention to odor and pests.
Do you clean homes with pet waste or heavy odor?
Yes. Homes with pet or human waste, rodent droppings and strong odor are normal work for us. We remove soiled materials, clean and sanitize surfaces, and keep working on the smell until the home is livable.
Who do I call if my mom isn't safe living alone?
Call your county's Adult Protective Services, or the statewide Virginia line at (888) 832-3858, any time. They take reports about self-neglect. If she's in danger right now, call 911.