Virginia Business License: Who Needs One & How to Apply (2025)

What Is a Business License in Virginia?

A business license is a permit issued by a local, state, or federal body in order to allow businesses to perform a specific business activity and/or operate legitimately. 

So, if there isn’t a “general business license” in Virginia, what exactly is there?

Well, Virginia — like the vast majority of states — imposes different requirements depending on where you’re located and what you actually do. 

For example:

• A restaurant in Virginia Beach will need a business license from the City of Virginia Beach Commissioner of the Revenue, health permits from the Virginia Department of Health, and potentially a Mixed Beverage License from the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority if serving alcohol.
• A real estate agent in Richmond will need a Real Estate Salesperson License from the Virginia Real Estate Board and register with the City of Richmond Business License Division.
• A retail store in Norfolk selling taxable goods will need a Certificate of Registration from the Virginia Department of Taxation to collect sales tax and a business license from the City of Norfolk Commissioner of the Revenue.
• A contractor in Arlington performing home improvements will need a contractor’s license from the Virginia Board for Contractors, a business license from Arlington County, and the required building permits from the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services.

It all depends on what you do, and where you’re located. There is no “business license” that you will need to obtain just to operate no matter what, and while most businesses will need some form of business license to operate, this will not be the case for everyone. 

Do I Need a Virginia Business License?

Well, the answer to this will ultimately depend on your business’s situation. You can have a look at our table below in order to get a general idea:

Virginia Business Licensing at a Glance

Jurisdiction	Business Licenses	Who Needs It & Where to Apply
Local	Health Permits, Zoning Permits, Occupancy Certificates, Industry-Specific Permits, etc.	Varies by location. Contact your local municipality to determine local requirements.
State	Certificate of Registration	Businesses selling taxable goods or services, or purchasing items for resale. Apply via the Virginia Tax portal.
	Professional Licenses	Required for professions (e.g., contractors, real estate agents, cosmetologists, etc).  Apply via the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR).
	Industry-Specific State Licenses	Businesses in regulated industries (e.g., food service, liquor, environmental, motor vehicle dealers)  Apply through the relevant Virginia agency.
Federal	Industry-Specific Licenses	Businesses involved in federally regulated activities such as agriculture, aviation, firearms, alcohol, broadcasting, or wildlife. Apply through the relevant federal agency (e.g., USDA, FAA, ATF, FCC, FWS)

*While this table is meant to give you a general idea, it’s by no means exhaustive. For all your licensing needs, we suggest either going with a professional licensing service or consulting with a business attorney.

How to Get a Business License in Virginia

The process of obtaining a business license in Virginia will depend on the permit in question, but generally involves completing the following steps:

1. Form a Business Structure & Obtain an EIN

We recommend formalizing your business before acquiring a business license in order to avoid potentially having to repeat this process again later down the line. 

This also gives other benefits depending on the business model, such as:

• Personal liability protection
• Improved legitimacy 
• Larger access to loans and corporate finance

Note: You should obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) after forming your LLC. You can have a look at our How to Get an EIN overview for more information. 

2. Apply for the Right Business License in Virginia

This step will depend on the business license in question.

Virginia Local Business Licenses

Many Virginia cities and counties require local business licenses or permits to be obtained. This can be in addition to the common state-wide licenses talked about above.

Here are some common local permits you may need:

• General Business License: Most Virginia localities require a general business license for any business operating within their jurisdiction. This is typically based on gross receipts or revenue and must be renewed annually (e.g., if your business is based in Virginia Beach, you would apply through the Virginia Beach Commissioner of the Revenue).
• Industry Permits: This includes health permits required for restaurants, food trucks, and businesses handling food products. These are typically issued through local health departments in coordination with the state (e.g., if your business is based in Fairfax County, you would work with the Fairfax County Health Department).
• Zoning Permits: You may need this in order to ensure that your business’s location is zoned appropriately and is compliant with local laws (e.g., if you were based in Richmond, you would check with the City of Richmond Planning & Development Review).
• Sign Permits: These can be required before installing business signage (e.g., if you were based in Arlington, you would apply through the Arlington County Zoning Office).
• Certificate of Occupancy: Required for most businesses before they can legally occupy a building or space. This verifies that the structure meets building codes and is safe for the intended use (e.g., if your business is in Norfolk, you would obtain this from the Norfolk Department of Development).

To find your local county or city’s official contact information and licensing requirements, you can visit the Virginia Municipal League or Virginia Association of Counties.

Virginia State Business Licenses

Below we’ve included the most common business licenses that are required on a state level. 

Virginia Sales Tax Certificate

You can register for a Virginia Retail Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Registration online through the Virginia Tax registration portal.

Apply for a Virginia Sales Tax Certificate

Apply Online

Fee: None

Keep in mind that you’ll need a NAICS code in order to apply. For more information on this, you can have a look at our Virginia Sales Tax guide.

Virginia Professional Licenses

If you’re interested in a professional license, you’ll need to head over to the relevant state commission, as this is not handled on a local level. We’ve provided the licensing boards of a few of the most common professions below to get you started:

• Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation: Oversees licensing for contractors, real estate agents and brokers, home inspectors, architects, engineers, cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, nail technicians, and many other professions and trades.
• Virginia Board of Medicine: Regulates the practice of medicine, surgery, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, chiropractic, and physician assistants.
• Virginia Board of Nursing: Issues licenses for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse aides.
• Virginia Board of Bar Examiners: Handles the licensing and regulation of attorneys practicing law in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Virginia Board of Accountancy: Oversees the licensing and regulation of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and CPA firms.
• Virginia Board of Pharmacy: Regulates the practice of pharmacy and issues licenses to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy facilities.

For more information on how to go about getting licensed, you can have a look at StateRequirement’s in-depth licensing guides. 

Industry-Specific State Licenses

Some Virginia businesses require additional licenses based on the particular industry they operate in. These licenses are issued by specific state agencies and must be obtained before the business can legally operate.

Here are some common examples of industry-specific state licenses in Virginia:

• Alcoholic Beverage License: Required for businesses that manufacture, distribute, or sell alcoholic beverages. Regulated by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC). Virginia has various license types including on-premises, off-premises, banquet, and mixed beverage licenses.
• Motor Vehicle Dealer License: Required for anyone engaged in the business of buying and selling five or more vehicles in a 12-month period. Regulated by the Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer Board. This includes new and used car dealers, as well as motorcycle and trailer dealers.
• Child Care License: Required for facilities providing care to three or more children under the age of 13 (not related to the provider) for compensation. Regulated by the Virginia Department of Education.
• Private Security Services Registration: Required for businesses providing security services, private investigation services, personal protection services, or alarm system installation. Regulated by the Department of Criminal Justice Services.

Virginia Environmental Permits

If your business activities could negatively impact the environment, there’s a good chance you’ll need some sort of license or permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Examples of industries regulated here include:

• Underground/Aboveground Storage Tank Registration: Required for facilities with petroleum or hazardous substance storage tanks. Underground tanks over 110 gallons and aboveground tanks over 660 gallons (or 1,320 gallons aggregate) must be registered.  
• Air Quality Permits: Required for facilities that emit air pollutants, including manufacturing plants, power plants, printing facilities, and auto body shops. Minor source permits for smaller emitters and major source permits for larger operations.
• Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits: Required for any discharge of pollutants into state waters. Includes industrial wastewater, stormwater from construction sites over one acre, and municipal wastewater treatment plants.
• Stormwater Permits: Required for construction activities disturbing one acre or more, and for certain industrial facilities. Includes Construction General Permits and Industrial Stormwater Permits.
• Solid Waste Management Facility Permits: Required for landfills, transfer stations, composting facilities, and material recovery facilities handling municipal solid waste or industrial waste.
• Hazardous Waste Generator ID: Required for businesses that generate hazardous waste. Categories include Very Small Quantity Generators (less than 220 pounds/month), Small Quantity Generators (220-2,200 pounds/month), and Large Quantity Generators (over 2,200 pounds/month).
• Wetlands Permits: Required for activities that impact wetlands, including filling, dredging, or construction. Virginia has both tidal and non-tidal wetlands programs.
• Water Withdrawal Permits: Required for facilities withdrawing more than 300,000 gallons per month from surface water or groundwater sources.

Federal Business Licenses for Virginia LLCs

If your business is in a federally regulated industry (which is uncommon), it’ll need to acquire the appropriate business license from the right body before starting to operate. 

A full list of industries regulated at a federal level can be found below:

• Agriculture: Overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Alcoholic Beverages: Overseen by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the Local Alcohol Beverage Control Board
• Aviation: Overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration.
• Firearms, Ammunitions, and Explosives: Overseen by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
• Fish and Wildlife: Overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Commercial Fishing: Overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service.
• Maritime Transportation: Overseen by the Federal Maritime Commission.
• Mining and Drilling: Overseen by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
• Radio and Television Broadcasting: Overseen by the Federal Communications Commission.
• Transportation and Logistics: Overseen by the U.S. Department of Transportation

Virginia Business License Renewal

Depending on your business license, you may need to renew it periodically — usually within one or two years. 

This is not required for a sales tax license, but is required for practically all professional licenses. 

Several of the local permits will also need to be renewed annually; this includes health department permits, signage permits, and fire department permits, which generally all need to be renewed annually.

Having said that, this will depend on both your location and the license in question.

Virginia Business License FAQs

Quick Resources

• Virginia Tax
• Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
• Virginia Municipal League
• Virginia Association of Counties