Here’s a step by step guide to getting the license for your business. If your business will have a physical location inside the city limits of Fredericksburg, Virginia, you’re going to need one of these. Of course your experience may vary, especially if your business is less “Office Space” and more Haz-Mat or Construction field. Read the whole article, because many items can be done simultaneously. Also, we paid all of our fees by check, so we know they accept those. Can’t vouch for cash or credit, but check was pretty painless so that’s our recommendation.
This article is based on our experience in Spring of 2014. We are not lawyers and you should not take anything in this article as legal advice or counsel.
- You must provide your Federal ID Number or Social security number. Therefore, if you are filing for a new business (We filed as an LLC) you must first go through that process. In brief, that process is to A) file with the State Corporation Commission and after that B) get your EIN from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- If you are filing for your Business License as a Corporation or LLC, you’ll need a copy of your certificate from the SCC as well as a copy of your EIN letter from the IRS.
- Fill out your Business License Application. Be sure you know the name and address of your Registered Agent, if you are using one. A registered agent is a requirement of the SCC when filing an LLC, etc. Later on you’ll turn this Business License Application in to the Commissioner of the Revenue. The CoR’s office is located at 715 Princess Anne Street. They have a service window inside the front doors and just to the left. You can’t file this yet, but you might want to stop by or call them to see if the process has changed any since our blog post was published.
- Get your Zoning Approval. $25. You have to do this even if you’re working from home. To get your zoning approval you must submit a Certificate of Zoning Use Permit with the Community Planning & Building Department. They are located on the second floor 715 Princess Anne Street in room 209. After you fill out the Permit and submit it to them, it takes about two days before they approve it. The Permit is simple to fill out except one part that might be tricky for some of you – You have to get the signature of the property owner. In our case, we are sub-leasing, then there is a property management company, above them a real estate broker, and above all of those folks is the company that actually owns the property, whom I had never actually met. When I spoke with the staff at the Planning Office, they said that the signature of the real estate broker would be acceptable as well.
- Get your Certificate of Occupancy (aka the Occupancy Permit.) $51. Getting this permit actually requires several steps:
– First, visit the office of the Building and Development. The are also located at 715 Princess Anne Street and their office is in the basement level in room L-6. They will have you fill out a simple application form and collect the $51. The Certificate cannot be issued until you have had 2 required inspections done. I was able to fill out the application right there on the spot and they immediately and schedule the required inspections for the next day. The inspections were a fire inspection and a building inspection. We have a modern office space in good condition, so this was pretty painless. The fireman did teach me a few things about fire safety and fire code as well. Make sure your fire extinguishers have been inspected in within the last 12 months!
– If you pass the inspection, both the fire inspector and the building inspector will give you carbon copies of their report. Take these back to the zoning office and, provided there is someone there with authority to sign off on it, they will give you your Certificate of Occupancy.
- Now, with your Zoning Approval and Certificate in hand you’re ready to actually apply for your Business License. Be sure to bring a copy of your EIN letter with you. If you’re filing as an LLC or Corporation, you’ll need a copy of your SCC certificate as well. You’ll have to write a check
- Congratulations, you’re now officially licensed to operate as a business at that location in the City of Fredericksburg. We wish you the best of luck! If you are interested in growing your business with a professional website, please give us a call at (540) 376-7008. Or just stop by our office in Central Park – we’re located across from Walmart, behind Krispy Kreme, right next to Qdoba!
- Be sure to check out the page on the City’s website as well: http://www.fredericksburgva.gov/index.aspx?NID=305