What do these permits involve in Arlington County?

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Certificate of Occupancy (Zoning) — Partial Occupancy or Change of Business or Use, Office and Commercial

Under the adopted FY 2027 Planning and Zoning fee schedule ("Effective as of July 1, 2026"), the Zoning Division's certificate of partial occupancy for office and commercial space, which includes a change in business or use of an existing structure, costs $515 for up to 150 square feet of gross floor area, $582 for over 150 and up to 2,000 square feet, and $1,048 per 10,000 square feet of gross floor area or fraction above 2,000 square feet. A master certificate of occupancy for a change in ownership of office and commercial space costs $548, and a certificate of occupancy re-inspection costs $259 per inspection. The schedule states that a 10% automation enhancement fee is assessed on the total fees charged. This zoning fee is separate from the Inspection Services Division's building certificate of occupancy fee. The county's FY 2027 Adopted Tax & Fee Compendium lists the partial occupancy figures as FY 2027 fees.

Business License (BPOL) Registration and Gross-Receipts Tiers

The Commissioner of Revenue's current Business License Tax page states that businesses operating in or from Arlington County "must register and obtain a business license within 75 days of starting operations" and must then "file an annual renewal return by March 1", using the Customer Assessment & Payment Portal (CAPP). The tax is generally based on the previous year's gross receipts; a new business files an estimate that is later trued up. As published on that page, a business with gross receipts up to $10,000 owes no tax, $10,001–$50,000 pays a flat fee of $30, $50,001–$100,000 pays a flat fee of $50, and above $100,000 the tax rate depends on the business activity. County Code §11-15 sets the same structure in ordinance. Under §11-14, every business license is subject to verification of compliance with the Zoning Ordinance before it is issued. Because the county's Fast Facts page states there are no incorporated towns or cities within Arlington, this registration applies countywide.

Business License (BPOL) Gross-Receipts Rates by Classification

These rates are taken from the Arlington County column of the table "Calendar Year 2026 Selected Business, Professional, and Occupational License Tax Rates" in the county's FY 2027 Adopted Budget Revenue Summary, an official adopted budget document: Restaurants $0.20, Retail Merchants $0.20, Personal Services $0.35, Repair Services $0.35, Professional Occupations $0.36 and Contractors $0.16, each per $100 of gross receipts. The industry placements come from County Code Chapter 11: §11-57.A lists "Veterinarian" among professional occupations; §11-58 lists "Beauty parlor", "Physical fitness establishment" and "Day nursery (other than foster homes)" among personal services; §11-60 lists "Auto or engine repair" among repair services; §11-61 covers retail merchants, §11-61.1 restaurants and §11-64 contractors. A rate applies only once gross receipts exceed $100,000; below that, the $30 and $50 flat fees on the Commissioner of Revenue's Business License Tax page apply. The same budget table lists neighboring jurisdictions; only Arlington's figures are used here.

Certificate of Occupancy (Building)

The FY 2027 ISD fee schedule (effective July 1, 2026) sets the building certificate of occupancy fee at $232 for all buildings and structures other than one- and two-family dwellings, with the schedule's 2% USBC levy and 10% automation enhancement surcharge added. The county's Certificate of Occupancy page states that "A building or space cannot be occupied and/or opened for business until the CO has been both approved and issued", and that before applying the applicant must first verify that the intended use is permitted by the Zoning Ordinance. Applications are reviewed by both the Inspection Services Division and the Zoning Division, and the Zoning Division charges its own certificate of occupancy fee, recorded separately. The county's FY 2027 Adopted Tax & Fee Compendium lists the $232 figure as an FY 2027 fee.

Building Permit (Commercial and Other Non-Residential Buildings)

Building work on a commercial or other non-residential space in Arlington County is permitted by the Inspection Services Division of the Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development. The FY 2027 ISD fee schedule ("Effective July 1st, 2026", Attachment B) sets, for buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, a minimum permit fee of $716; new construction and additions at $2.46 per gross square foot of total floor area; and alterations, including tenant layouts, at $1.40 per gross square foot for 50,000 square feet or less and $1.67 above 50,000 square feet, in each case subject to the $716 minimum. Each fee carries two surcharges stated in the schedule: a 2% levy authorized by the USBC for Code Academy activities and a 10% automation enhancement surcharge. A filing fee equal to 50% of the total permit fee is paid when the application is filed and is included in the total. The county's FY 2027 Adopted Tax & Fee Compendium lists the same $716, $2.46 and $1.40 figures as FY 2027 fees.

Sign Permit

A business installing a sign in Arlington County obtains a sign permit from the Zoning Division. The adopted FY 2027 Planning and Zoning fee schedule ("Effective as of July 1, 2026") lists a by-right sign of up to 100 square feet at $311; a sign associated with a Comprehensive Sign Plan, or a rooftop sign placed above a height of 40 feet, of up to 100 square feet at $428; and, for a sign exceeding 100 square feet, the applicable fee plus $2.64 for each square foot over 100. The schedule states that a 10% automation enhancement fee is assessed on the total fees charged. The Inspection Services Division's FY 2027 schedule separately charges for sign erection under the building code. A business that installs no sign has no obligation under this record.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Certificate of Occupancy (Zoning) — Partial Occupancy or Change of Business or Use, Office and Commercial	Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Planning and Zoning Divisions	Certificate of partial occupancy (including a change in business or use of an existing structure), office and commercial: up to 150 sq ft of gross floor area $515; over 150 and up to 2,000 sq ft $582; over 2,000 sq ft $1,048 per 10,000 sq ft of gross floor area or fraction. Master certificate of occupancy for a change in ownership of office and commercial space $548. Certificate of occupancy re-inspection $259 per inspection. A 10% automation enhancement fee is added to the total.	One-time, per occupancy or change of business or use; FY 2027 schedule in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027	2026-10-27
Business License (BPOL) Registration and Gross-Receipts Tiers	Arlington County Commissioner of Revenue, Business Tax Division	Gross receipts of $10,000 or less: no tax. $10,001–$50,000: flat fee of $30. $50,001–$100,000: flat fee of $50. Over $100,000: tax at the rate for the business's classification (see the BPOL gross-receipts rates record).	Annual; register within 75 days of starting operations, then file a renewal return by March 1 each year	2026-10-27
Business License (BPOL) Gross-Receipts Rates by Classification	Arlington County Commissioner of Revenue, Business Tax Division	Per $100 of gross receipts, for a business with gross receipts over $100,000 (calendar year 2026): Restaurants $0.20 (restaurant, coffee shop); Retail Merchants $0.20 (retail store); Personal Services $0.35 (salon, fitness studio, child care center or day nursery); Repair Services $0.35 (auto repair); Professional Occupations $0.36 (veterinarian); Contractors $0.16. At $100,000 or less, the flat tiers in the BPOL registration record apply instead.	Calendar year; filed with the annual BPOL renewal return by March 1	2026-10-27
Certificate of Occupancy (Building)	Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division	$232 per certificate, for buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings, plus the 2% levy and 10% automation enhancement surcharge, under the FY 2027 ISD fee schedule	One-time, per occupancy; FY 2027 schedule in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027	2026-10-27
Building Permit (Commercial and Other Non-Residential Buildings)only if it applies to you	Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division	Minimum permit fee $716. New construction and additions: $2.46 per gross sq ft of total floor area or $716, whichever is greater. Alterations, including tenant layouts: $1.40 per gross sq ft for 50,000 sq ft or less, $1.67 per gross sq ft above 50,000 sq ft, or $716, whichever is greater. Surcharges added to the fee: a 2% fee levy authorized by the USBC for Code Academy activities and a 10% automation enhancement surcharge. A filing fee of 50% of the total permit fee is paid at application and counts toward the total.	Per permit; FY 2027 schedule in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027	2026-10-27
Sign Permitonly if it applies to you	Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Planning and Zoning Divisions	By-right sign up to 100 sq ft $311; sign associated with a Comprehensive Sign Plan, or placed above 40 feet (rooftop), up to 100 sq ft $428; signs over 100 sq ft add $2.64 per sq ft over 100. A 10% automation enhancement fee is added to the total.	Per permit; FY 2027 schedule in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027	2026-10-27

Business licenses and permits in Arlington County, Virginia

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Permits that apply to every type of business in Arlington County