Termites in Alexandria, VA: Inspections, Old Houses and Local Rules

Alexandria's termites are the same spring swarmers as the rest of Virginia. Its houses aren't. In the historic districts, fixing termite damage on the outside can involve the city as well as a carpenter.

By John Updated 7 min read Termite pressure: Moderate to heavy
Sketch map of Virginia with a pin on Alexandria, just south of Washington, D.C.

The short version

Termite risk in Alexandria is moderate to heavy, and nearly all of it comes from eastern subterranean termites, which swarm on spring days, mostly March to May. Older houses, porches and additions deserve a yearly look. In the Old and Historic Alexandria and Parker-Gray districts, visible exterior repairs and removing more than 25 square feet of material may need city approval, so call preservation staff before tearing out damaged wood.

Alexandria at a glance

Termite pressure
Moderate to heavy
Termites to know
Eastern subterranean
Why termites like it here
Humid summers, old wood-framed and brick houses, porches and additions on generations-old foundations, and clay soils nearby.
Inspection report for home sales
A wood-destroying insect report, usually the NPMA-33, ordered by the buyer
On this page
  1. Alexandria's termite
  2. Old houses, old problems
  3. Alexandria's historic districts at a glance
  4. Is my "Alexandria" house in the city?
  5. An Alexandria spring checklist
  6. Hiring a termite company in Alexandria
  7. Buying in Alexandria
  8. Questions

Alexandria's termite

Alexandria's termite problem is one species: the eastern subterranean termite. Colonies live in the soil under and around the house and climb to the framing through mud tubes, so the brick foundation of a rowhouse is a road for them, not a wall. Virginia Tech puts the swarm in spring, mostly from March to May, on warm days, and occasionally as late as June.

In a rowhouse, the swarm usually shows up at the street-side windows, since that's where the light is. A swarm inside means a mature colony is in or under the building. For the full Virginia profile, see the Virginia termite guide.

Old houses, old problems

Alexandria's historic neighborhoods are full of exactly what termites like: old wood framing, wood porches and stairs that meet the ground, additions built over fill dirt, and generations of repairs layered on top of each other. Brick doesn't help as much as people think. Behind most brick walls there's wood, and termites travel up through cracked mortar, along the foundation, and through the gap where a newer addition meets the original house.

The usual trouble spots in older Alexandria houses:

  • Wood porches, steps and stoops where they touch the soil or a damp slab.
  • Sills and the first floor framing just above the foundation, especially at the back of the house where gutters drain.
  • Seams between the original house and additions, where foundations and fill dirt meet.
  • Basement and crawlspace areas under rear kitchens and sunrooms, often the dampest part of the house.
  • Window sills and trim, where water damage and termite damage show up together.

Termite damage and water damage often travel together in old houses. Our guide to termite damage vs. water damage shows how to tell them apart.

Alexandria's historic districts at a glance

If your house is in one of these districts, exterior work has extra rules. The details come from the City of Alexandria's historic districts guide.

City of Alexandria historic districts and what they mean for repairs
District Established What it means for termite repairs
Old and Historic Alexandria District 1946, only the third historic district designated in the U.S. Exterior alterations visible from a public street need a Certificate of Appropriateness
Parker-Gray District 1984, the historically African-American Uptown neighborhood Same Certificate of Appropriateness rule for visible exterior alterations
Both districts Either Demolition or encapsulation of more than 25 square feet needs a Permit to Demolish, whether or not it's visible

Many exterior changes, such as replacement doors, siding, windows and railings, can be approved by city staff in 1 to 3 business days. Replacing more than 100 square feet of siding also needs a building permit. Ask historic preservation staff (703-746-3833) before starting exterior work.

Is my "Alexandria" house in the city?

Maybe not. Alexandria is an independent city, but plenty of homes with an Alexandria mailing address sit in Fairfax County, including much of the Mount Vernon and Lee districts. That matters in two ways.

First, the historic district rules above are the City of Alexandria's. Second, those Fairfax County neighborhoods are where the county's marine clay is concentrated. Fairfax County says this shrink-swell soil cracks foundations and drains slowly, which helps subterranean termites. If your address says Alexandria but your tax bill says Fairfax County, read our Fairfax termite guide too.

An Alexandria spring checklist

  1. Walk the outside in early March

    Check porches, steps, the back of the house and the seam with any addition. Look for pencil-wide mud tubes. Our inspection walkthrough shows where.

  2. Probe the sills and trim

    Press a screwdriver into window sills, door frames and porch posts near the ground. Soft wood needs a closer look.

  3. Check the basement or crawlspace

    Look at the sill plate on top of the foundation and anywhere wood meets masonry, especially under rear additions.

  4. Fix the water

    Clean gutters, extend downspouts and keep soil and mulch below siding and away from the foundation.

  5. Book an inspection

    Older houses with a history of termites deserve a professional look every year.

Hiring a termite company in Alexandria

Pest control licensing is handled by the state. Any company you hire needs a Virginia pesticide business license from the VDACS Office of Pesticide Services and a certified applicator in category 7B, wood-destroying pest control. Check it on the VDACS online services portal and the pesticide civil penalty search.

For an old house, ask each company:

  • How will you treat under porches, stoops and additions?
  • Will you need to drill through brick, stone or concrete, and how will you patch it?
  • Does the warranty cover repairs, or retreatment only? See repair vs. retreatment warranties.
  • What do you need from me to keep the warranty valid?

Get two or three written proposals and compare them with our guide to choosing a termite company.

Buying in Alexandria

Virginia's disclosure law is buyer-beware: the seller makes no representations about the property's condition, termites aren't on the form, and the statement advises buyers to get their own inspections. It also points buyers to local historic district ordinances, which matters here.

Make a wood-destroying insect inspection part of your contract. On an older house, read the report closely for notes about past treatment and inaccessible areas, and ask the seller for treatment records and whether a warranty transfers. Should you buy a house with termite damage covers how to handle a bad report.

Questions people ask

When do termites swarm in Alexandria, VA?

In spring. Virginia Tech's extension entomologists put the swarm mostly between March and May, with the odd one in June, on warm days and often right after rain. In an Old Town rowhouse, look for wings on the front window sills.

Do I need permission to repair termite damage in Old Town?

Treating termites doesn't usually need approval, but exterior repairs in the Old and Historic Alexandria and Parker-Gray districts can. Visible exterior alterations need a Certificate of Appropriateness, and removing more than 25 square feet of material needs a Permit to Demolish. Ask the city's historic preservation staff at 703-746-3833 before starting. Many of these approvals are handled by staff within a few business days.

Are old houses more likely to have termites?

They have more chances. Older houses often have wood porches touching soil, additions on fill dirt, cracked mortar and decades of moisture problems. Yearly inspections make sense for them.

Who licenses termite companies in Alexandria?

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Pesticide Services. Termite work is certified under category 7B, wood-destroying pest control.

Is a termite inspection required when buying a house in Alexandria?

Virginia doesn't require one for every sale, and its disclosure law is buyer-beware. Most buyers make a wood-destroying insect inspection a contract condition, and many lenders want one.

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