Is It in the City?
Is your address actually in the City of Fredericksburg?
Usually if the ZIP is 22401, but check. The City's own guide says a Fredericksburg mailing address covers three localities — the City, Spotsylvania County (22407, 22408) and Stafford County (22405, 22406) — and each has its own taxes, schools and services, and lists exceptions such as River Road 5321–5517, which is in the City.
Sources: City of Fredericksburg, New Resident Guide (Oct 2026); Virginia Tax, Retail Sales and Use Tax (Oct 2026).
How do you confirm which locality an address is in?
Two minutes, using the City's own rule and USPS.
- 1Look at the ZIP
22401 is the City. 22405/22406 are Stafford; 22407/22408 are Spotsylvania. 22402 and 22404 are City post office boxes — the box holder may live outside the City.
- 2Check the known exceptions
River Road 5321–5517 is in the City; for the Summerfield subdivision, use the City's map.
- 3Confirm with USPS
Search the address in USPS ZIP Code Lookup and open “Mailing Industry Information” — it shows the county or city.
Sources: City of Fredericksburg, New Resident Guide (Oct 2026); USPS ZIP Code Lookup (Oct 2026).
How do taxes differ between the City and the counties?
Real estate and car tax are where the real differences are; sales tax is identical.
| City of Fredericksburg | Stafford | Spotsylvania | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate (per $100) | 84¢ + 1¢ fire (FY2027) | 96.75¢ + 1.4¢ fire levy | 73.73¢ (2026) |
| Car tax (per $100) | $3.40 | $5.72 | Not yet confirmed |
| Sales tax | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.3% |
| Meals tax | 6% | 6% (since 1 Jul 2025) | 6% |
| Plastic bag tax | 5¢ | None | None |
City real estate rate per the Free Press report of the 28 Apr 2026 council vote; the City's tax page still showed FY2026 when checked.
Sources: Fredericksburg Free Press (29 Apr 2026); City of Fredericksburg, Tax Information (Oct 2026); City of Fredericksburg, Meals Tax (Oct 2026); Stafford County Treasurer, Tax Rates (Oct 2026); Stafford County Commissioner of the Revenue (Oct 2026); Spotsylvania Commissioner of the Revenue, Real Estate Tax Rates 2000–2026 (14 Apr 2026); Spotsylvania County, Meals Tax (Oct 2026); Virginia Tax, Retail Sales and Use Tax (Oct 2026); Virginia Tax, Disposable Plastic Bag Tax (Oct 2026).
What's the trade-off?
A Fredericksburg address can mean three governments. Being across the line can lower one bill and raise another, and it changes which schools and services you get.
Sources: City of Fredericksburg, New Resident Guide (Oct 2026); Stafford County Treasurer, Tax Rates (Oct 2026).
Quick answers
Does Fredericksburg have a plastic bag tax?
Is Fredericksburg a city or a county?
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