How much permits cost to open in Fairfax County
In Fairfax County, the filings with a fixed government fee add up to about $0. 9 more are set by the space or the business, and 6 are free. Build-out, insurance and adviser costs are on top.
Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Internal Revenue ServiceUS federal
Owners with an SSN or ITIN apply online. A company whose responsible party has neither (most China-based owners) faxes or mails Form SS-4, or calls the IRS international line.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Paper form, faxed or mailed
- Takes
- Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call.
Virginia business tax registration
Virginia Department of TaxationVA
Every new business registers online with Virginia Tax, or on paper Form R-1 if it can't: sales and use tax for dealers, and employer withholding with Virginia employees.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
Create/Update Importer Identity Form
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUS federal
Sent to CBP (usually through your customs broker), or created in the ACE portal. Needed before your first entry as importer of record.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Takes
- Up to 5 business days.
Customs Bond
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUS federal
Bought from a CBP-approved surety, usually through your customs broker, who files it electronically. A continuous bond covers a year of entries.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Takes
- At least 5 business days for review.
- Renews
- Continuous bonds renew yearly.
Certified food protection manager
Virginia Department of Health, with local health departmentsVA
Every Virginia food establishment, unless exempt, has at least one employee with authority over food preparation and service who holds a food protection manager certificate from a program accredited through the Conference for Food Protection. Arlington and Fairfax County check for it before opening.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
ACE Secure Data Portal account for importers
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUS federal
Applied for online in ACE. Lets you see your entries, duties and bond.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
Cosmetic product facility registration (MoCRA)
U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationUS federal
Filed online in Cosmetics Direct by the facility that makes or processes the cosmetics.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every two years.
Cosmetic product listing (MoCRA)
U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationUS federal
Filed online in Cosmetics Direct by the brand (the responsible person on the label), one listing per product.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Update every year.
Product safety certificate, filed electronically at entry
U.S. Consumer Product Safety CommissionUS federal
The importer issues the certificate itself (there is no government form) and, under the eFiling rule, files the certificate data with CBP at entry.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
Fairfax County business license (BPOL)
Fairfax County Department of Tax AdministrationFairfax County
Every business with a physical location in the county files within 75 days of starting there, or pays a 10% late penalty; no tax is owed until gross receipts pass $10,000 in a year. Inside the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and the towns of Clifton, Herndon and Vienna, the license comes from that city or town instead.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Takes
- The official license can take 4 to 6 weeks; the filed receipt serves until then.
- Renews
- Every year; the renewal application comes by mail each January.
Hazardous materials registration
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT)US federal
Filed online when you ship or offer certain hazardous materials in bulk, such as large lithium battery shipments.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every year by June 30.
Unemployment insurance employer registration
Virginia Employment CommissionVA
A business with employees in Virginia must by law register with the VEC: online through iFile and iReg, or by mailing the FC-27.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
Food establishment plan review
Fairfax County Health Department, Division of Environmental HealthFairfax County
Plans go in through the PLUS portal before construction, remodeling or conversion starts; work can't begin until the Health Department finishes its commercial plan review.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
Non-Residential Use Permit
Fairfax County Land Development ServicesFairfax County
Under the zoning ordinance no commercial space may be occupied, and no use changed, until this permit is approved; it is the county's certificate of use and occupancy. Applied for in PLUS. After opening, book the Fire Marshal's post-occupancy inspection within 10 days.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
Food establishment permit to operate
Fairfax County Health Department, Division of Environmental HealthFairfax County
Apply in PLUS, then call at least 3 days ahead for the pre-occupancy inspection, where a food manager with an accredited exam certificate must be present. The permit to operate is issued once the inspection passes.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Takes
- Mailed within 5 to 7 days of passing the pre-occupancy inspection.
- Renews
- Every year.
Guides for each business in Fairfax County
Agency requirements change. Check each agency's page before you file.
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Get the plan for your business in Fairfax County
This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.
- The full list for your address, in filing order
- The official forms, filled line by line
- Renewal and inspection reminders