How do I verify whether my contractor is properly licensed?
When do I need a business and/or contractor's license?
How do I get a business and or contractor's license?
Where do I take the contractor's license test?
How do I verify
whether my contractor is properly licensed?
You can contact The Fairfax County Permit Application Center at
703-222-0801, TTY 703-324-1877 or online.
When do I need a business
and/or contractor's license?
Fairfax County Business License
If your business is located in Fairfax County, you need a business
license when you have done over $10,000 worth of total work in a year in
the County. Businesses located outside of Fairfax County will need a
Fairfax County Business license when their work exceeds $25,000 in a year
in the County.
State Contractor's License
All contractors (including Home Improvement, Building, Plumbing,
Electrical, or Heating/Ventilation/Air-Conditioning trades) need a
Virginia Contractor's License if they are bidding on construction jobs in
excess of $1,000. There are three classes of licenses:
Class C: A contractor who undertakes a project the total value of
which is more than $1,000, but less than $7,500 is required to have a
valid Class C License.
Class B: if the project is over $7,500 but less than
$70,000.
Class A: if the project is over $70,000.
Fairfax County Home Improvement License
A Fairfax County Home Improvement Contractors license is required
when a Contractor is a Class C with Home Improvement, ('HIC') or
Building, ('BLD') as their specialty.
How do I get a business
and/or contractor's license?
Fairfax County Business License:
You can call the Department of Tax Administration at 703-222-8234,
TTY 711 for information/applications to obtain a Fairfax County
Business License.
State Contractor's License:
A contractor's license may be obtained from the state by contacting the
Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation at
804-367-8511, TTY 711 or online.
Fairfax County Home Improvement License:
A Fairfax County Home Improvement contractor's license may be obtained
by submitting an application to the Fairfax County Code Enforcement
Branch for approval. Applications may be obtained at our Code Enforcement
Branch on the 3rd Floor of the Herrity Building, or you may call
703-324-1937, TTY 711.
What is the
difference between a contractor's license in the Commonwealth of Virginia
vs. Fairfax County?
The Commonwealth of Virginia requires that if you are bidding on
construction jobs in excess of $1,000, you must obtain a Virginia
contractors license.
Fairfax County has opted to impose an additional requirement - a Fairfax
County Home Improvement License - on Class C contractors who perform work
on residential property and who qualify by having the Home Improvement
(HIC) or Building (BLD) classification on their State license.
Where do I take the
contractor's license test?
The testing for the State contractors license is given by PSI Examination Services; contact them
by phone at 800-733-9267, TTY 711.