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Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County Virginia
Fairfax County Virginia

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Land Development Services

  1. Home
  2. Land Development Services
  3. Home Improvement Contractor License (HIC)

Land Development Services Alert:

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Friday, 9:15 a.m. - 4 p.m. Please note that visitors may not be added to in-person queues past 3:45 p.m.
703-222-0801 TTY 711
LandDevelopmentServices@fairfaxcounty.gov
12055 Government Center Pkwy
Fairfax, VA 22035
fairfaxcounty
Bill Hicks
Director

Department Resources

  • LDS Home
  • Permit Library
  • Site Development
  • Plan Review
  • Building & Trade Inspections
  • Project Management Program
  • Codes and Policies
    • Building and Site Codes
    • Public Facility Manual
    • Zoning Ordinance
  • Letters to Industry
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    • PLUS Portal
    • Mapping/GIS Applications
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  • Contact Us
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Related Resources

  • LDS PLUS Support
  • PLUS Portal
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Home Improvement Contractor License (HIC)

Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) licensed Class “C” contractors and those performing work that does not meet the threshold for a Class “C” license must obtain a Fairfax County Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license. 

ON THIS PAGE

  • Who Should Apply?
  • Plan Ahead
  • How Do I Submit My Record?
  • Requirements
  • What's Next?
  • Additional Resources
 

This information is the most common for how to obtain the necessary approval for your project and is not representative of all the conditions you may encounter.

 

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Contractors with a valid Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) Class “C” license, or contractors exempt from state licensing based on a contractual amount of less than $1,000.

  • Verify License on DPOR Website

 

PLAN AHEAD

Before submitting, ensure you are aware of all applicable regulations and conditions that could affect your project to avoid surprises during the review process. Some of those factors include:

  • Contractor requirements in Fairfax County: Various licenses and other requirements must be met to legally operate as a contractor in Fairfax County. 
  • Design Codes and Standards
  • Do I need to hire a Registered Design Professional (RDP)?

To get a detailed description about each regulation and condition, visit our Plan Ahead page.

 

HOW DO I SUBMIT MY RECORD?

PLUS Application

Apply for your Home Improvement Contractor License online in PLUS under the Building tab. If you are a first-time user, you must first register for an account.

application tab

 

 

Instructional Videos for PLUS


 
Need Help with PLUS? Visit Our LDS PLUS Support Page

 

 

Requirements

First Submission

The following items may be required with your HIC license application:

  • Record contacts must include:
    • Applicant – individual applying for the license
    • Bond agent – supplying the surety bond described below
    • Business – company the individual is affiliated with
    • Two business references – customers who the applicant has worked for in the past
  • Virginia Contractors license number issued by the (DPOR), if applicable
  • Fairfax County Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) number
  • Your standard contract template
  • Financial statement documenting business income from the past year
  • Surety bonds
    • Contracts under $1,000 must have $5,000 surety bond
    • Contracts over $1,000 must have a $10,000 surety bond
  • Upload a copy of the surety bond in PLUS and mail or deliver the original to:
    HIC Licenses
    12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 334
    Fairfax, VA  22035

 

Renewals

HIC licenses are valid for one to two years, depending on the length of the bond. To renew, log into PLUS and select “renewal” next to your HIC license number and follow the prompts. Renewals will require an updated surety bond and annual fee.

 

What's Next?

County Review and License Issuance

Staff from Land Development Services will review the application and attached documents. Once the HIC application has been accepted and original surety bond has been received, the applicant will receive an invoice to make a payment online. The license will be available to download from PLUS.

  • Fees

Additional Resources

  • Tips for Hiring a Contractor
  • Information for New Businesses
  • DPOR License Information

 

 

Need More Assistance?

For questions or additional information, please contact staff via telephone at 703-222-0801, TTY 711.

 

 

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Need Help? Call 703-222-0801, TTY 711.

Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

  • LDS Permit Library:  Access guides to navigate every record type in PLUS.
  • Letters to Industry:  Subscribe for LDS announcements, notices, and tech bulletins.
  • Meet With Staff:  Find a staff member to help you with the permit process.

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