Business License in Virginia: Who Issues It, Cost & Steps
If you're trying to get a general business license in Virginia, the state is not who you file with. This is issued locally, and the rules change at the city line. Here's how to find the right counter, and what the process generally looks like once you do.
Virginia doesn't issue business licenses-you get them from your city or county instead.
When you search for a Virginia business license, the State Corporation Commission doesn't provide one. Most businesses need a local license from their city or county government. Some industries also need separate state permits.
- The Virginia State Corporation Commission does not issue business licenses.
“The SCC does not provide business licenses.”
https://www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/new-business-resources/resources-new-businesses/ - You must get your business license from the local city or county government where your business operates.
“Most businesses formed in Virginia will need a local business license. You can obtain a license from the city or county where the business operates.”
https://www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/new-business-resources/resources-new-businesses/ - Certain industries like contracting, insurance agencies, and real estate require additional state licenses or permits beyond the local business license.
“In addition, certain business types may require an industry license or permit (e.g. contractors, insurance agencies, realtors).”
https://www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/new-business-resources/resources-new-businesses/ - To find your local business licensing office, contact the Commissioners of the Revenue of Virginia Association.
“Visit the Commissioners of the Revenue of Virginia Association to learn more.”
https://www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/new-business-resources/resources-new-businesses/
Sources (each one opened and read on 2026-09-15)
- SCC Resources for New Businesses: https://www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/new-business-resources/resources-new-businesses/
Who issues a Business License in Virginia
This is a local permit. It is issued by your city or county, not by the state of Virginia. The state office listed underneath handles a related filing — it does not issue this permit.
- Virginia — the state revenue or taxation department (handles state tax registration and permits)
https://www.tax.virginia.gov
Finding your local office
Start with the city your address sits in — the relevant department is usually called Planning, Building, Community Development, or Business Licensing. If your address is unincorporated, the county performs that role instead. Calling the main switchboard and asking who handles this is usually faster than searching.
Starting point for anything else in Virginia: the state business portal, https://cis.scc.virginia.gov. It is a starting point, not the issuer of this permit.
The general US process
This sequence is the shape the process takes across the US. It is not a list of Virginia requirements, and no step here should be read as one — the issuing office named above sets the actual requirements.
- Step 1: Work out which government actually licenses you. In most of the country this is the city; unincorporated addresses are usually licensed by the county; a few states also run a statewide business licence.
- Step 2: Check the zoning for your address before paying anything — a licence does not override zoning.
- Step 3: Apply through that office. Larger cities almost all have an online portal; smaller ones may still be paper.
- Step 4: Expect the fee to be flat, or scaled to gross receipts or headcount, depending on the jurisdiction.
- Step 5: Display the licence if the issuing office asks you to.
- Step 6: Put the renewal date in a calendar. Renewal notices are not guaranteed.
What varies: whether a licence is required at all, who issues it, how the fee is calculated, and whether the state has its own layer on top.
Documents usually asked for
A typical list, not a Virginia checklist.
- EIN or SSN
- Business name/DBA filing
- Physical address
- Description of business activities
Related permits in Virginia
Business License in states bordering Virginia
Rules stop at the state line — same permit, each state bordering Virginia:
See Business License in all 50 states & DC →
Frequently asked questions
Who issues a business license in Virginia?
Your city or county — not the state.
How much does a business license cost in Virginia?
We don't publish a Virginia figure we haven't verified. The typical US range is $25–$500. The office named above has the real number for your address.
How long does it take to get a business license in Virginia?
Typical US processing is 3–30 days, and expedited handling is often available for a fee. The issuing office publishes its own turnaround, and that is the number to trust.
What is Virginia-specific on this page: the issuing office, 4 Virginia facts, each quoted off the government page beside it. Everything else — the numbered process, the document list, the cost and timeline — is the general US pattern, not a Virginia rule, and is labelled that way above. Requirements, fees and deadlines are set by the issuing office; confirm with it before you file or pay.