Lake Barcroft Common Property Rules

The common properties of Lake Barcroft are owned and managed by Lake Barcroft Association, Inc. (“LBA”), an incorporated membership association of the property-owners in this community. The “common properties” include the lake, the dam, the five beaches, their parking, picnic, park and maintenance areas, the island, the garden areas at Beach 5 and the community garden, including the bridge. Supervision and maintenance of these common properties is the responsibility of LBA. The dam area and the silt basins at Beaches 3 and 5 are maintained by the Watershed Improvement District (“WID”) in arrangement with LBA (part of the community garden is owned by the WID). The common properties are operated for the sole use of Lake Barcroft property owners or their tenants who have paid the required annual fees, and for their families and guests.

The following rules are intended to make the common properties safe and pleasant for recreational use, to safeguard the rights and privileges of Lake Barcroft property-owners, and to protect the property of LBA. Remember, there are inherent risks attached to any activity in or near a body of water. Lake Barcroft is no exception and use of the common properties is always at the user’s own risk. See the Beach Conduct Rules, the Beach and Lake Water Safety Rules and the Boating Rules which cover Lake activities.

Easy Rules to Follow for Safety

  • Never bring glass containers to any common LBA property.
  • No alcohol is allowed on any common LBA property except during approved events with prior authorization from Lake management.
  • No smoking of any kind—cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, hookahs, marijuana, etc.—is allowed on any common LBA property.
  • No weapons are allowed on LBA property, including handguns, rifles, hunting bow and arrow or hunting knife (fish boning knife is OK).
  • No open flame fires on any common property in Lake Barcroft except in designated grills. Portable Fire Pit tables and rings are prohibited.
  • Please always wear proper bathing attire appropriate for public display when swimming or on the beaches.

Rules Related to Beach Areas

Beach tags, with your lot number, identify you as a resident who may use the common areas. Please show your tag to the lifeguards as you enter the beach. Our lifeguards are directed to check for beach tags and to not allow individuals to use the beaches unless they are residents with a tag or guests of a resident who is accompanying them. Beach tags may not be transferred to others; however, a resident may allow a non-resident babysitter or caregiver to use their beach tag for accompanying Lake Barcroft residents to LBA common properties, including the beaches.

Residents may host up to eight non-resident guests per lot at the beach. Unaccompanied guests are not permitted to use the Lake or visit the beaches except for residents’ house guests staying in the resident’s premises who have been properly identified for beach access. Permission for larger groups and group picnics in any of the common properties must be obtained in advance from the LBA office, subject to the Beach Gathering Rules.

Please remember to carry your beach tag with you even when lifeguards are not present, as our police patrols are directed to determine whether someone is a resident based upon the possession of a beach tag. If you do not have your current yrear tags, please contact the LBA Manager at lbamanager@lakebarcroft.org.

  • A resident who has not paid the required annual fees may not be the guest in the common properties of a resident who has done so.
  • Residents are responsible for the conduct of their dependents and guests in the common property areas and for instructing them in these and other applicable rules.
  • Loud, boisterous, or otherwise disorderly conduct is forbidden in the common property areas and may subject offenders to prosecution.
  • Non-residents on common property and not accompanied by a resident are trespassing and may be prosecuted under the law. Police patrols, lifeguards and other LBA agents may ask any persons on the common property for a current beach tag, car tag or boat sticker.
  • Feeding of geese, ducks, or other wildlife anywhere on the common properties is forbidden.
  • Glass containers and alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the beach and park areas without pre-authorization.
  • Picnicking is restricted to the designated areas adjacent to the beaches and in the park areas (except that alcohol may be served, with advance consent, when authorized under the Special Events Alcohol Policy. Refuse must be deposited in the containers provided or removed as required by the lifeguard management.
  • ONLY LEASHED DOGS ARE PERMITTED ON COMMON PROPERTY;
    • No pets are permitted on the sandy areas of the beaches during the period beginning with the Saturday before Memorial Day and Labor Day.
    • All dogs must be under the control of a resident who cleans up after the animal and disposes of the waste, preferably at his/her house (by flushing or double-bagging and placing in cans for Fairfax County garbage collection).
  • Except when in the immediate accompaniment of his/her own children, any adult who has been convicted of any offense that results in prohibiting proximity to children shall be prohibited from going onto any of Lake Barcroft’s “common properties,” which include the lake, the dam, the five beaches, their parking, picnic, park and maintenance areas, the island, the garden areas at Beach 5 and the Woman’s Club Community Garden, including the bridge. A violation of this rule will result in a trespassing charge filed against the individual.
  • Persons using frozen portions of the Lake for any purpose do so at their own risk. Lake Ice is inherently dangerous.
  • Exceptions to the above rules for specific occasions may be authorized by the Board of Directors of LBA.

Grilling on LBA Common Properties

  • Permanent metal park-style charcoal grills are provided for residents on each beach. These are the ONLY locations on LBA common property where solid fuel grilling is permitted. Only cooking charcoal or wood pellets may be used for fuel. Do NOT use collected sticks to make wood fires. Grills should not be left unattended with hot embers - please ensure hot embers are cool before leaving, and if not, douse with cool water before leaving.
  • Residents may bring personal cook stoves fueled by propane, butane, or other pressurized gas or pressurized liquid fuels for use at the LBA common properties. Use of these stoves is restricted to the picnicking grounds and open grassy areas of the common properties.
  • Cooking or the use of grills is not allowed on the sandy part of any LBA common property.
  • No personal cook stoves using charcoal or liquid fuels such as ethanol or kerosene may be utilized on common property.
  • Do not dispose of trash and food remains anywhere on or near LBA common properties except in provided trash cans. If the trash cans at the beach are full, please take home all picnicking and cooking trash, including food remains.

Responsibility for enforcement of these rules’ rests with the officials of LBA and their designated agents. Their authority includes the right to limit or deny use of the common properties, confiscate beach tags, and eject unauthorized persons or those breaking LBA’s Common Property Rules. LBA may take legal action against trespassers, persons destroying or defacing LBA property, and persons engaged in any other unlawful activity in the common properties. All Lake residents are encouraged to report noted violations to the proper authorities but not to engage with anyone directly who may be breaking rules. While it is helpful for us to know when someone is not following our rules, it is up to officials of the LBA and designated agents to enforce the rules herein and not up to individual community members.

Failure to comply with these rules may result in action to suspend or revoke resident’s privileges to use the lake.

Approved July 10, 2024