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Virginia · 3 jurisdictions covered

Business licences and permits in Virginia

Virginia has no statewide business licence — that is the local BPOL tax, whose gross-receipts threshold exempts you from the tax but not from the fee. It does set one flat $40 restaurant permit that applies almost everywhere.

What applies everywhere in Virginia

13 requirements are set by Virginia itself and apply whichever city you open in. Local permits sit on top of them.

Requirements set by Virginia that apply in every jurisdiction in the state, with the issuing agency, the published fee and the date each was last checked against its source
Annual Registration FeeVirginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk$50–$850 a year — $50 flat for an LLC, $50 to $850 for a corporation by authorised sharesOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Articles of IncorporationVirginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk$75–$2,525 one-time — a $25 filing fee plus a charter fee on authorised sharesOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Articles of Organization (LLC)Virginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk$100 one-time filingOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Automotive Repair Shop Licence (not required by Virginia)Virginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the ClerkNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Certified Food Protection ManagerVirginia Department of Health, Division of Food and Environmental ServicesNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Child Day Programme LicenceVirginia Department of Education, Child Care Licensing$28–$400 for two years, banded by licensed capacityTo every business2026-09-03
Contractor LicenceVirginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Board for Contractors$274.50–$439.50 initial — $274.50 Class C, $419.50 Class B, $439.50 Class A, including the recovery fund and technology chargesOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Dealer's Certificate of RegistrationVirginia Department of TaxationNo feeTo every business2026-09-03
Food Establishment PermitVirginia Department of Health, Division of Food and Environmental Services$40 a year; a new establishment also pays $40 for plan reviewTo every business2026-09-03
General Business Licence (local BPOL, not state)Virginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the ClerkNo state fee. A locality may charge up to $50 where its population exceeds 25,000, or $30 below that, plus a tax on gross receipts once you pass its thresholdOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Salon, Shop, Spa or Parlor LicenceVirginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Board for Barbers and Cosmetology$234.50 every two years — a $220 fee plus a $7.25-a-year technology chargeTo every business2026-09-03
Tradesman LicenceVirginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Board for Contractors$171.75 original licence — a $150 fee plus the $7.25-a-year technology chargeOnly in some cases2026-09-03
Veterinary Establishment RegistrationVirginia Board of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Health Professions$300 initial registration; $200 to renewTo every business2026-09-03

Which Virginia city are you opening in?

Is there a single Virginia business licence?

No. Virginia has no single licence that covers every business. What you need depends on your industry, your city and your county, and most of the obligations that matter are issued locally rather than at state level.

The state-level registrations that do apply to nearly everyone are tax accounts rather than licences — which is why they are easy to miss.

Who issues permits in Virginia?

By industry

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.