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13 permits · verified 2026-10-27

What permits do you need to open a salon or barber in Arlington County?

In short

A salon or barber in Arlington County, VA has 6 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 7 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division charges $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 for the certificate of occupancy (building). 8 of the 13 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-27 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a salon or barber in Arlington County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Home Occupation Permitonly if it applies to youArlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Planning and Zoning Divisions$84 per permit, plus the 10% automation enhancement fee, under the FY 2027 Planning and Zoning fee schedulePer permit; FY 2027 schedule in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 20272026-10-27
Salon, Shop, Spa or Parlor LicenseVirginia 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 charge2 years from the last day of the month of issue2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

Local permits that apply to every type of business in Arlington County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Certificate of Occupancy (Zoning) — Partial Occupancy or Change of Business or Use, Office and CommercialArlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Planning and Zoning DivisionsVaries — formula on the Arlington County pageOne-time, per occupancy or change of business or use; FY 2027 schedule in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 20272026-10-27
Business License (BPOL) Registration and Gross-Receipts TiersArlington County Commissioner of Revenue, Business Tax DivisionVaries — formula on the Arlington County pageAnnual; register within 75 days of starting operations, then file a renewal return by March 1 each year2026-10-27
Business License (BPOL) Gross-Receipts Rates by ClassificationArlington County Commissioner of Revenue, Business Tax DivisionVaries — formula on the Arlington County pageCalendar year; filed with the annual BPOL renewal return by March 12026-10-27
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 scheduleOne-time, per occupancy; FY 2027 schedule in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 20272026-10-27
Building Permit (Commercial and Other Non-Residential Buildings)only if it applies to youArlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services DivisionVaries — formula on the Arlington County pagePer permit; FY 2027 schedule in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 20272026-10-27
Sign Permitonly if it applies to youArlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Planning and Zoning DivisionsVaries — formula on the Arlington County pagePer permit; FY 2027 schedule in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 20272026-10-27

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

VA registrations that apply to every type of business

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youVirginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk$100 one-time filingno expiry, but a $50 annual registration fee is due every year2026-09-03
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youVirginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the ClerkVaries — formula on the VA pageno expiry, but an annual registration fee and a free annual report are due2026-09-03
Annual Registration Feeonly if it applies to youVirginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the ClerkVaries — formula on the VA pageannual — the last day of the twelfth month after the month of formation2026-09-03
Dealer's Certificate of RegistrationVirginia Department of TaxationNo feeindefinite — valid until the business closes or the certificate is revoked2026-09-03
General Business License — Local BPOL License (Virginia)only if it applies to youVirginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the ClerkVaries — formula on the VA pageannual — usually due 1 March2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

How much does it actually cost to permit a salon or barber in Arlington County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 13 records listed for a salon or barber in Arlington County, VA, 6 apply to every business of this type and 7 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

Of the 6 that always apply, 2 carry a flat fee, coming to $466.50. That is a floor, not a total. 8 of the 13 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 1 has no fee published at all.

The other 8 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Arlington County permits page and the VA state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Arlington County?

Permits for a salon or barber in Arlington County, VA come from 6 separate offices: Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Planning and Zoning Divisions, Arlington County Commissioner of Revenue, Business Tax Division, Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division, Virginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk, Virginia Department of Taxation, Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Board for Barbers and Cosmetology. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a salon or barber need in Arlington County that other businesses do not?

1 of the 2 permits particular to a salon or barber here applies to no other business type we cover in Arlington County: Salon, Shop, Spa or Parlor License.

Salon, Shop, Spa or Parlor License

The regulation says $220 and the counter charges $234.50, because a technology fee of $7.25 a year was added from 1 July 2026 and runs until 30 June 2030, after which the figure drops back. One license covers a barber shop, cosmetology salon, nail salon or waxing salon, but an esthetics spa is licensed under a separate chapter at the same price — so a salon adding master esthetics services pays twice. There is no late fee at all, which sounds generous and is not: you get thirty days, and from day thirty-one you owe the full $440 reinstatement. After two years past expiry reinstatement is impossible and you reapply from scratch. The license belongs to the firm and does not transfer, so dissolving or converting the company voids it. The owner need not be a licensed practitioner.

Shared with other businesses in Arlington County

  • Home Occupation Permit — Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Planning and Zoning Divisions, $84 per permit, plus the 10% automation enhancement fee, under the FY 2027 Planning and Zoning fee schedule, Per permit; FY 2027 schedule in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Also required for contractors and trades, retail stores and fitness studios; what it involves is set out on the fitness studios page.

The other 6 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Arlington County, VA; what each one involves is set out on the Arlington County permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across VA and are covered on the VA state page.

How does a salon or barber compare with other businesses in Arlington County?

The closest match is a fitness studio, which shares 1 of these permits. A salon or barber also needs Salon, Shop, Spa or Parlor License. A fitness studio needs Water Recreation Facility License (Pool, Spa or Interactive Water Feature), which a salon or barber does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Arlington County, VA, compared with a salon or barber
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a salon or barberOnly a salon or barber needsOnly it needs
Fitness studios2111
Contractors and trades3112
Retail stores3112
Auto repair shops3023
Childcare centres6026
Coffee shops8028
Food trucks8028
Restaurants9029
Veterinary clinics1021

Sources

Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the fitness studios page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Arlington County permits page and the VA state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. 18VAC41-20-140 — Board for Barbers and Cosmetology fee scheduleVirginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  2. 18VAC41-20-160 — expiration of barber and cosmetology licensesVirginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03

Related

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