Retail Store Permits & Licenses in Virginia Beach, VA

Chapter 30, City Code. All retail stores required.

Article VII Zoning Ordinance. B-3/C-2 districts allow retail.

Required for all LLCs. Online filing via CIS system. Amendment fee $100 if changes needed.

Must maintain continuous registered agent with physical Virginia address.

Paid online via CIS. No report required unless changes made.

Search name availability first. Renews automatically with annual registration.

Required for all retail stores selling tangible personal property. File Form ST-4 online.

Mandatory for all employers with two or more employees in Virginia, including LLC members who are active in the business and receive compensation. Sole proprietors with no employees are exempt. Coverage must be obtained from a private insurer or by qualifying as a self-insurer.

Combined registration for withholding, unemployment via Form REG-1.

Register online via eServices. Rates 2.0%-6.2% on first $8,000 wages (2024).

Proof of coverage must be posted. Construction exempt under separate rules.

Required for all retail stores in Virginia. Must collect and remit sales tax at the applicable rate (currently 6% state rate, plus local rates). Registration is done via the Virginia Tax Portal.

Mandatory for LLCs with employees. Requires registration for state income tax withholding. Employers must withhold Virginia income tax from employee wages and remit quarterly or monthly based on liability.

All employers in Virginia must register with VEC. New employers pay 2.5% on first $8,000 of wages per employee annually. Rate may change after experience rating is established.

LLCs treated as pass-through entities (default) are NOT subject to Virginia franchise tax. Applies only if the LLC files as a C-corp or S-corp and meets threshold. Most retail LLCs avoid this tax via pass-through status.

All localities in Virginia impose a BPOL tax on businesses operating within their jurisdiction. Retail stores must register with the local commissioner of revenue. Rates and deadlines vary significantly by locality.

Filing frequency assigned by Virginia Department of Taxation based on expected sales volume. Most new retailers start with monthly filings. Must file even with $0 liability.

Employers must file Form VA-4 and remit withheld state income tax. Frequency determined by Virginia Department of Taxation based on payroll volume.

Although not a state tax, EIN is required for federal tax compliance and often needed for state registrations. Apply online at IRS.gov. No fee.

Retailers selling gasoline, diesel, cigarettes, or alcohol must register for additional excise tax permits. Standard retail stores not selling these items are exempt.

Only applies to retail stores that operate a café, deli, or sell ready-to-eat food. Most general retail stores are not subject. Check with local tax office.

Not statutorily required at the state level for retail businesses, but often required by landlords, shopping centers, or local jurisdictions. Strongly recommended due to risk of customer injury or property damage.

Some Virginia cities and counties (e.g., Richmond, Virginia Beach) may require a surety bond as part of the business license process to ensure compliance with local codes. Not universal across the state. Check with local clerk.

Required for all vehicles registered to the business. Virginia law mandates minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $20,000 for property damage (25/50/20). Applies regardless of business type.

Not legally required by Virginia law, but highly recommended for retail stores selling goods. Covers claims of defective or harmful products. Enforced through civil litigation risk rather than regulatory mandate.

Not legally required for general retail stores in Virginia. May be necessary if the business offers services such as gift wrapping with customization advice, personal shopping, or product installation. Not typically needed for standard product sales.

Mandatory for any retail store that holds a license to sell alcoholic beverages. Minimum $1 million in coverage per occurrence. Required by ABC as a condition of licensing. Does not apply to stores not selling alcohol.

Not always legally mandated as a standalone insurance requirement, but strongly encouraged and often required by payment processors, landlords, and local jurisdictions. Required for compliance with Virginia’s data breach laws if a breach occurs.

Single-member LLCs with no employees may use the owner's SSN, but obtaining an EIN is recommended for liability protection and banking purposes. All multi-member LLCs must have an EIN.

Multi-member LLCs file Form 1065 (informational return); profits pass through to members’ individual returns. Single-member LLCs report income on Schedule C. Electing corporate status requires Form 1120.

Retail stores must maintain a safe workplace, post OSHA’s “Job Safety and Health Protection” poster (available at https://www.osha.gov/posters/2204.pdf), report work-related fatalities within 8 hours and hospitalizations within 24 hours, and keep injury logs (OSHA Form 300) if over 10 employees.

Must comply with ADA Standards for Accessible Design (2010). Includes accessible entrances, aisles, counters, restrooms (if provided), and signage. Retailers must also provide reasonable modifications to policies (e.g., allowing service animals).

Retailers that accept or manage universal waste (e.g., recycling old thermostats or fluorescent bulbs) must comply with EPA’s universal waste rules under 40 CFR Part 273. Most small quantity handlers (less than 5,000 kg) have minimal requirements (labeling, storage <1 year, proper disposal).

Must avoid deceptive or misleading advertising (e.g., false pricing, fake discounts). Must honor stated return policies. Required to disclose material connections in endorsements. Applies to online and in-store marketing.

Retail employees must be paid at least federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour) and overtime (1.5x regular rate) for hours over 40/week. Applies to most retail workers. Some exemptions may apply (e.g., commissioned sales in retail).

Required for all businesses with nexus in Fairfax County. Retail exemption for ≤$100K gross receipts.

Required before operating any retail use. Confirms zoning compliance.

Zoning Ordinance §18.130. Required for wall, freestanding, or projecting signs.

NFPA 1 required. Annual inspection for sprinklers, alarms, exits.

Required for all retail businesses. Fees based on gross receipts.

Zoning Ordinance §220. Confirms C-1/C-2 zoning for retail.

Appendix A Zoning Ordinance. Max 1.5 sq ft per linear ft of building frontage.

Must complete Form I-9 for every employee, verify identity and work authorization documents, and retain for 3 years after hire or 1 year after termination, whichever is later.

Eligible employees (12 months of service, 1,250 hours worked) may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave annually for qualifying reasons. Retailers must post notice and manage leave requests accordingly.

The federal government does not require a general business license for retail operations. However, special licenses are required if selling regulated products (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, firearms).

Form 5630.1 (Basic Permit Application) required. Must also comply with federal labeling, advertising, and tax payment rules. State and local licenses also required.

Retailers must ensure that such devices are FCC-certified and properly labeled. Retailers are not typically liable for certification but must not sell non-compliant devices.

Retail food establishments are generally exempt from FDA facility registration under Section 415 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 350d), but must still comply with food labeling, adulteration, and misbranding rules. However, if the store processes or manufactures food, registration may be required.

All Virginia LLCs must file an annual report with the State Corporation Commission each year on the anniversary month of formation. The report updates business information such as principal address, registered agent, and management structure.

Retail stores in Virginia are required to collect and remit sales tax. Filing frequency (monthly, quarterly, or annually) is assigned by the Department of Taxation based on expected sales volume.

Retailers must register with the Virginia Department of Taxation to collect sales tax. The registration does not expire but must be kept up to date. Changes in business structure or location must be reported within 20 days.

Retailers with employees must register for employer withholding tax and file Form VA-4 and remit taxes withheld from employee wages. Filing frequency is determined by the Department of Taxation.

Employers must file Form UI-2 and pay unemployment insurance tax each quarter. New employers are assigned a standard rate of 2.6% for the first few years.

All employers with more than one employee in Virginia must carry workers' compensation insurance. Coverage must be obtained from a private insurer or through the Commission’s assigned risk program.

Employers must display the 'Virginia Workers' Compensation Act' and 'Unemployment Insurance' posters in a conspicuous location accessible to employees.

All employers with at least one employee must display the 'EEO is the Law' poster. Available in multiple languages from EEOC website.

Required for all employers covered by the OSH Act. Poster informs employees of their rights and employer responsibilities.

Most Virginia localities require an annual business license or privilege license. Retailers must renew each year; fees are based on gross receipts or flat rate depending on jurisdiction.

Retail stores are subject to fire code inspections by the local fire department. Inspections ensure compliance with emergency exits, fire extinguishers, alarms, and occupancy limits.

Retail stores open to the public must comply with ADA standards for accessible design, including entrances, restrooms, and aisles. Applies to all businesses regardless of employee count.

Businesses must keep sales tax, income tax, and employer withholding records for a minimum of 3 years. Includes invoices, receipts, tax returns, and employee records.

LLCs with employees or multiple members must obtain an EIN. Single-member LLCs without employees may use owner’s SSN, but an EIN is recommended.

Employers must file Form 941 to report federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare taxes withheld from employee wages.

Applies to employers who meet the $1,500 threshold in a quarter or had at least one employee for 20 weeks in a year.

Employers must issue W-2 to employees and file W-2 and W-3 with the Social Security Administration by January 31.

Required for payments made to non-employees for services. Must be sent to recipient and filed with IRS by January 31.