PWC - Business, Professional & Occupational License

Commercial businesses and individuals engaging in home occupations or self-employment who expect their business gross receipts, or purchases in the case of wholesale merchants, to exceed $100,000 for the license year must file and obtain a business license from the County.

REMINDER: The business license renewal deadline is March 1st of each year. After March 1st, you must include a 10% late payment penalty plus interest.

The County has changed the requirement that owners of sole proprietorships and partnerships renew in person. Applicants can now apply by mail provided you include written certification stating that owners are lawfully authorized to be present and working in the United States. A form that can be used for this purpose can be found by clicking here.

Apply for a license using the

2009 Application for Business, Professional and Occupational License Form
Applicants for businesses organized as a sole proprietorship or partnership must certify that each and every owner or partner is legally authorized to be present and working in the United States pursuant to all applicable federal laws and regulations.

or for prior year license applications:

Contractors must also submit a Contractor's Certification of Insuring Liability for Workers' Compensation in Virginia (Form 61A).

There is no license fee or business license requirement for businesses which do not expect gross receipts, or purchases in the case of wholesale merchants, to exceed $100,000 for the license year. However, you must apply for a Business License if your business has a commercial location or if you are a contractor.

For businesses who expect to exceed the $100,000 threshold:

New businesses must apply for a license and pay the license fee (or BPOL tax) within 30 days from the date of beginning business.
Businesses issued a license for the preceding year must apply for a license and pay the license tax no later than March 1.

Though persons starting a home-based business do not need to apply for a business license and pay the business license tax unless they expect gross receipts to be more than $100,000 per year, the zoning ordinance does require persons engaged in a home occupation to file and obtain a Home Occupation Certificate.

Businesses located in any of the four unincorporated towns in Prince William County (Dumfries, Haymarket, Occoquan and Quantico) should contact their respective town offices for business license requirements, if any.

For more information, refer to the BPOL Ordinance at Chapter 11.1 Licenses Generally - Article II Business Professional and Occupational License.

Persons starting a new business or home-based business in Prince William County should call the Planning Office at 703-792-6830 and speak with a Zoning Technician.