Virginia county business licensing guide
Last updated: August 1, 2026
This guide explains the local business license, BPOL, zoning, town, state tax, and permit steps that may apply in Augusta County, Virginia.
Bottom line
Start with the exact business address. A business in unincorporated Augusta County normally starts with the Augusta County Commissioner of the Revenue and Community Development. A business inside Grottoes or Craigsville must also check town rules. A business physically inside Staunton or Waynesboro starts with that independent city, not Augusta County.
For an unincorporated county location, Augusta County says you need zoning approval before the county business license is completed. New businesses report a good-faith estimate of first-year gross receipts. Annual BPOL renewal and payment are due March 1. Home-based businesses should check the county home occupation rules before they begin.
Quick start: what to do first
- Confirm whether the physical address is in unincorporated Augusta County, Grottoes, Craigsville, Staunton, or Waynesboro.
- Ask zoning whether your business activity is allowed at that exact address before signing a lease or moving equipment.
- Choose your legal structure and register an LLC, corporation, or other entity with Virginia when needed.
- File a Virginia fictitious name if you will trade under a name that is not your legal name or registered entity name.
- Apply for the correct local business license and report estimated gross receipts for a new operation.
- Check Virginia tax, employer, professional, food, alcohol, building, fire, and industry permits that fit the work you do.
See the BLG guide on how to figure out which licenses your business needs.
First, find the government that controls your address
A mailing address can name Staunton, Waynesboro, Verona, Fishersville, Stuarts Draft, or another community while a different local government controls zoning and licensing.
Use Augusta County’s official address and parcel GIS tools, then confirm the answer with the license or zoning office. The parcel boundary and the physical place where work happens matter more than the mailing label.
| Physical location | Start here | Main warning |
|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated Augusta County | Augusta County Commissioner of the Revenue and Community Development | County business license, zoning, BPOL, and business property rules may apply. |
| Town of Grottoes | Town of Grottoes, then ask how county filings apply | Grottoes has its own license rules and is partly in Augusta County and partly in Rockingham County. |
| Town of Craigsville | Craigsville Town Office and Augusta County | The town website does not publish a full current license schedule, so confirm directly before paying. |
| City of Staunton | Staunton Commissioner of Revenue and city zoning | Staunton is an independent city with its own BPOL process. |
| City of Waynesboro | Waynesboro Commissioner of the Revenue and city zoning | Waynesboro has its own license rates, deadlines, and home occupation permit. |
Do not confuse Augusta County, Virginia with Augusta, Georgia
The forms, tax certificate, agencies, and deadlines are different. This page is only for Augusta County, Virginia.
Augusta County business license and BPOL rules
Augusta County uses a local Business License process tied to Virginia’s Business, Professional and Occupational License system, usually called BPOL. BPOL is based on gross receipts, which means revenue before business deductions.
The county new-business page directs applicants to the Commissioner of the Revenue. The county business tax and renewal page explains how estimated receipts, annual renewals, and related local tax filings work.
New business estimate
For the first license year, the county asks for a good-faith estimate of gross receipts and calculates an estimated tax. The county says the estimate is corrected to actual receipts in the second year. After that, the annual tax is normally based on the prior calendar year’s gross receipts.
Do not guess at the BPOL category or rate. Give the office a clear description of each product, service, and work location so it can classify the business.
Annual renewal deadline
The county mails renewal applications in January. The renewal and gross-receipts tax payment deadline is March 1. The county asks businesses to return the renewal form and prior-year receipts by February 14 when they want the office to calculate the tax and mail a statement before the March 1 deadline.
After February 14, the county tells businesses to call the Commissioner of the Revenue at 540-245-5640 to report receipts and receive the amount due. Contractors must also provide the required workers’ compensation certification.
Business personal property is a separate filing
A business license is not the same as business personal property tax. Augusta County requires businesses to report an itemized list of business equipment owned as of January 1, including fully depreciated or expensed items. The annual return is due May 1.
The county’s published 2026 rate for business property, large trucks and trailers, and machinery and tools is $2.15 per $100 of assessed value. Confirm it each year.
Meals, lodging, and other local taxes
Prepared-food sellers may need a meals-tax account. Augusta County currently states that sellers of meals or beverages collect a 6% county food tax and file by the 20th of the following month. Lodging operators should ask about lodging tax, zoning, and health rules.
| County item | Current timing or amount | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| New business license | Estimated first-year gross receipts; reconciled later | Commissioner of the Revenue |
| Annual BPOL renewal | Due March 1; return information by February 14 for advance calculation | County renewal page |
| Business personal property return | Due May 1 for property owned January 1 | Commissioner of the Revenue |
| Home occupation review | $25 county review fee | Community Development |
| Meals tax | 6%; monthly return and payment due by the 20th | Commissioner of the Revenue |
The Augusta County Commissioner of the Revenue is at 18 Government Center Lane, Verona, Virginia 24482. The business-license phone number is 540-245-5640. The county’s online tax service accepts business-license and tax payments.
Zoning must be checked before the license
Augusta County says a business must first obtain a zoning certificate. The certificate tells the Commissioner of the Revenue that the business use is legal at the address. A county business license does not repair a zoning problem, approve construction, or allow a use that the zoning ordinance blocks.
Contact the Augusta County Zoning Office at 540-245-5700 or comdev@co.augusta.va.us. Describe the business activity, customer visits, deliveries, vehicles, employees, signs, outdoor storage, equipment, hours, and any work inside an accessory building.
Home-based businesses
A home office is still a business location. Augusta County divides home occupations into Class A and Class B categories based partly on the zoning district and lot. The county’s home occupation page lists a $25 review fee.
Current standards include no outside storage, off-street parking, no more than one commercial vehicle, no more than one nonresident employee coming to the home, and no more than 10 business vehicle trips a day. Customer visits may require a site drawing.
If the activity does not fit the home occupation standards, the county says a special use permit may be possible in some zoning districts. Otherwise, the owner may need a different location. Read the BLG explanations of a home occupation permit and running a business from home before making a lease or equipment decision.
Commercial space, construction, and occupancy
A zoning certificate is not the same as a building permit or certificate of occupancy. For new non-residential construction or an addition, the county says site-plan approval must come before the building-permit application. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work use separate sub-permits.
Use the county’s non-residential building permit process and printable permit applications for signs, alarms, electrical work, plumbing, mechanical systems, demolition, tents, sprinklers, range hoods, and other work. Do not open to the public until required final inspections and occupancy approvals are complete.
Town and independent-city rules near Augusta County
Town of Grottoes
Grottoes has its own business license system. The Town of Grottoes business page says every person must apply for a license for each business or profession operating in the town. License taxes are due by July 1. A late license tax carries a penalty of 10% or $10, whichever is greater. Unless another rule applies, the town states that the minimum license tax is $25.
Grottoes publishes different rates by business class and tells owners to contact zoning before leasing or buying property. Call 540-249-5896. Because the town crosses the Augusta-Rockingham county line, confirm which county contains the site.
Town of Craigsville
Craigsville is an incorporated town in Augusta County. Its official website gives the Town Office address as 18 Hidy Street and the phone number as 540-997-5935, but it does not publish a complete current business-license fee and deadline page. Contact the Craigsville Town Office and Augusta County before applying. Ask whether the town requires its own license, zoning approval, tax account, or other form.
City of Staunton
Staunton is an independent city. A business physically inside the city should use the Staunton business license and tax page, not an Augusta County application. Staunton’s business-license tax is due March 1. The city publishes different rates for contractors, retailers, professional services, service businesses, and wholesalers. Call the Staunton Commissioner of Revenue at 540-332-3829.
City of Waynesboro
Waynesboro is also an independent city. Its official license page says zoning must be approved before the business license. A home business needs prior zoning approval and a $50 Home Occupation Permit. New licenses must be obtained within 30 days after the business starts, and annual renewal is due March 1. Call the Commissioner of the Revenue at 540-942-6610 or Building and Zoning at 540-942-6628.
Virginia and federal steps are separate
A local license does not create an LLC, register a trade name, open a sales-tax account, give you an EIN, or issue a professional license. See the BLG comparison of a business license, LLC, DBA, and seller’s permit.
Virginia business entity registration
The State Corporation Commission is Virginia’s central filing office for corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and business trusts. Use the SCC business resources when you form or register an entity. Forming an LLC does not replace the local business license; see why LLCs may still need licenses.
Fictitious or assumed business name
Virginia uses the terms fictitious name and assumed name for what many owners call a DBA. The SCC is the central filing office. Augusta County’s startup page currently states that the filing fee is $10 and asks applicable applicants to attach the SCC confirmation to the county license application. Check the SCC fictitious-name page before filing.
Virginia tax registration
Use Virginia Tax business registration for tax accounts that fit the business, such as retail sales and use tax or employer withholding. A business that registers to collect retail sales or use tax receives a sales-tax certificate and account information.
If you sell taxable goods, rentals, accommodations, or taxable services, review the Virginia retail sales and use tax rules. A sales-tax certificate is not the same as Augusta County BPOL. The BLG guide on a seller’s permit versus a business license explains the difference.
Employees and workers’ compensation
If you have employees in Virginia, register with the Virginia Employment Commission so the agency can determine unemployment-insurance liability. Contractors seeking or renewing a local license must provide the state Form 61A workers’ compensation certification.
Federal EIN
An Employer Identification Number is a federal tax ID. Get it free through the IRS EIN page when your structure or tax situation requires one. An EIN is not a county license and does not approve zoning.
Extra permits depend on what the business does
| Business activity | Extra checks | Why it is separate |
|---|---|---|
| Contracting or construction | Virginia contractor license, local BPOL, Form 61A, building permits | A state trade credential and a local tax license solve different problems. |
| Restaurant, caterer, food truck, temporary food booth | Health plan review, food permit, inspection, zoning, meals tax, fire or hood permits | The business license does not approve food safety or cooking equipment. |
| Alcohol sales | Virginia ABC retail license plus local business and zoning review | Alcohol authority approval is separate from county permission. |
| Home-based service or online seller | Home occupation review, BPOL, Virginia tax when applicable, HOA or lease limits | Low customer traffic does not automatically remove local zoning rules. |
| Short-term rental or lodging | Zoning, lodging tax, health or building rules, business property | A platform listing does not replace government approval. |
| Salon, real estate, engineering, trades, or another regulated profession | State board license plus local business license and zoning | A professional credential does not replace local registration. |
Contractors
The Virginia Board for Contractors licenses businesses that perform covered construction, removal, repair, or improvement work on property owned by others. Augusta County asks licensed contractors for the state contractor number and expiration date. Out-of-area contractors should ask the county about the $25,000 local gross-receipts threshold stated on the county startup page.
Food businesses
The Virginia Department of Health says a new or remodeled foodservice facility, including a mobile food unit, must complete plan review before opening. Start with the Virginia food-permit process and the Central Shenandoah Health District.
Alcohol sales
Restaurants, stores, hotels, and other businesses that sell or serve alcohol must check the Virginia ABC retail license options. Apply early. ABC licensing, local zoning, health approval, and the business license can move on different timelines.
Practical rule
Describe the real operation, not only the industry label. Tell officials whether customers visit, food is prepared, products are stored, employees report to the site, vehicles are parked, signs are installed, alcohol is sold, or work happens in other localities.
Augusta County business license checklist
- Write down the exact physical address and parcel number.
- Confirm the local jurisdiction with GIS and the zoning office.
- Describe the business activity in plain words, including every product and service.
- Choose the legal structure and complete SCC filings when needed.
- File a fictitious name when the public name differs from the legal name.
- Obtain the zoning certificate or home occupation approval.
- Apply for the correct county, town, or city business license.
- Register with Virginia Tax for sales tax, withholding, or other required accounts.
- Register with VEC when you have Virginia employees.
- Check DPOR, VDH, ABC, building, fire, sign, and trade permits.
- File business personal property by May 1 when required.
- Calendar the correct BPOL renewal deadline for your locality.
What to say when you call
Phone or email script
Hello. I plan to operate a [type of business] at [exact address]. Customers [will/will not] visit, and I will have [employees, vehicles, inventory, food, signs, or equipment]. Can you confirm the correct jurisdiction and tell me which business license, BPOL category, zoning approval, home occupation permit, business property return, local tax account, or other permit I must complete before opening?
Ask the employee to spell the name of each form and state the deadline. Write down the employee’s name, office, date, and answer.
Common mistakes
- Using the mailing city as the legal jurisdiction. Confirm the parcel before applying.
- Signing a lease before zoning review. The intended use may not be allowed in the space.
- Treating an LLC as permission to operate. Entity formation and licensing are separate.
- Calling a fictitious name a license. It is a name filing, not zoning or operating approval.
- Ignoring a home office. County home occupation rules can apply even to online or service work.
- Forgetting business equipment. The May 1 personal-property return is separate from BPOL.
- Using Augusta County forms inside Staunton or Waynesboro. Both cities have their own offices.
- Missing a town layer. Grottoes and Craigsville businesses should check both town and county responsibilities.
- Opening food or alcohol operations before approval. Health and ABC reviews are separate and can take time.
- Assuming last year’s fee or deadline is permanent. Rates, forms, portals, and office procedures can change.
Related business license guides
Start with the closest next-step guides, then explore other BLG location and licensing resources.
Best next guides
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Frequently asked questions
Does Augusta County, Virginia require a business license?
Augusta County uses a local Business License and BPOL process. The exact requirement depends on the physical address, business activity, gross receipts, zoning, and whether the site is inside a town or independent city.
When is the Augusta County BPOL renewal due?
The county says annual business license renewal and gross-receipts tax payment are due March 1. It asks businesses to return the renewal form and prior-year receipts by February 14 when they want the office to calculate and mail the amount due before March 1.
Do I need zoning approval before the county license?
Yes. Augusta County says you must first obtain a zoning certificate for the business location. A home-based business should complete the county home occupation review that applies to the property and activity.
How much is an Augusta County home occupation permit?
The county currently lists a $25 review fee for a home occupation application. Confirm the fee and required Class A or Class B form with Community Development before filing.
What if my business address says Staunton or Waynesboro?
Check the physical parcel. If the location is inside the independent City of Staunton or City of Waynesboro, use that city’s business license and zoning process. A mailing address alone does not prove which government controls the site.
Does a business in Grottoes need a town license?
The Town of Grottoes says every person must apply for a license for each business or profession operating in the town. Contact the town and confirm which county contains the business site because Grottoes crosses the Augusta-Rockingham county line.
Is a Virginia fictitious name the same as a business license?
No. A fictitious or assumed name is a name filing with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. It does not replace a local business license, zoning approval, sales-tax account, health permit, or professional license.
Do contractors need more than the county license?
Often yes. Covered contractor work may require a Virginia Board for Contractors license, local BPOL review, building permits, and Form 61A workers’ compensation certification. Requirements depend on the work, contract amount, employees, and work location.
Official sources used
- Augusta County: Starting a New Business
- Augusta County: Business Taxes and License Renewal
- Augusta County Commissioner of the Revenue
- Augusta County Home Occupation Permits
- Augusta County Zoning Office
- Town of Grottoes Business Licenses
- Town of Craigsville
- City of Staunton Business License and Taxes
- City of Waynesboro Business Licenses
- Virginia SCC Fictitious Names
- Virginia Tax Business Registration
- Virginia Employment Commission Employer Registration
- Virginia Workers’ Compensation Form 61A
- Virginia Board for Contractors
- Virginia Department of Health Food Permit Process
- Virginia ABC Retail Licenses
- IRS Employer Identification Number
Disclaimer
This guide is general information, not legal, tax, accounting, insurance, employment, zoning, building-code, or professional advice. BusinessLicenseGuide.com is not a government agency or filing service. Rules depend on the exact address, activity, ownership, receipts, and industry. Fees, rates, forms, contacts, and deadlines can change. Confirm every requirement with Augusta County, the correct town or independent city, Virginia agencies, and any qualified professional before opening, renewing, signing a lease, or paying a fee.