Licenses and permits to open a restaurant in Fairfax County
A restaurant files the most: company and tax registration, then the build-out, the health permit and the inspections that come with it. Here are the 8 filings, in the order they're made.
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
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
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.
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.
More on opening in Fairfax County
Questions people ask
Other businesses in Fairfax County
Agency requirements change. Check each agency's page before you file.
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Get the plan for your restaurant 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