How to Get a Business License in Hampton, Virginia
Hampton Business Licenses: The Key Facts Before You Apply
Getting a business license in Hampton, Virginia requires understanding several requirements that are specific to this city. Hampton is an independent Virginia city on the Virginia Peninsula, and it administers its own business licensing system through the Commissioner of Revenue. The licensing process has prerequisites — most notably a court filing that partnerships and sole proprietors must complete before approaching the Commissioner’s office — and a two-license-type system where a city official determines which license applies to your business.
Read this guide in full before starting the application process. Skipping the prerequisites or arriving at the Commissioner’s office without the required filings will delay your license.
The Certificate As Requirement: Do This First
If you are a partnership or sole proprietor operating under a trade name, this is your first required step — before anything else.
You must file a “Certificate As” with the Clerk of the Circuit Court:
Clerk of the Circuit Court 101 Kings Way, Court House Hampton, VA 23669 Phone: (757) 727-6105
The Certificate As establishes your business name on the court record. After completing this filing, bring a copy with you to the Commissioner of Revenue when applying for your business license.
Do not attempt to get your business license before completing the Certificate As. The Commissioner’s office requires it, and your application will not proceed without it.
LLCs and corporations registered with the Virginia SCC have their entity names on record through the state system, so the Certificate As requirement applies primarily to unregistered sole proprietors and partnerships operating under trade names. If you are uncertain whether this applies to you, call the Commissioner’s office at (757) 727-6700 before proceeding.
Complete Prerequisites Before Applying for Your License
Hampton requires that certain conditions be met before a business license is issued. Arriving at the Commissioner’s office without these clearances will result in a rejected or delayed application:
Zoning approval: Your business location must be properly zoned for your type of business. Contact Hampton’s Department of Planning to verify zoning compliance before you apply. This is especially important if you are operating from a non-traditional location, a home, or a space that previously housed a different type of business.
Health Department approval: Businesses involving food service, childcare, healthcare, or similar regulated activities need Health Department clearance before the Commissioner will issue a license.
Resolution of court orders: Any outstanding court orders affecting your business or its principals must be resolved before a license can be issued.
Gathering these clearances before you go to the Commissioner’s office makes the process straightforward. Most applicants who experience delays at the licensing counter do so because of incomplete prerequisites.
The Commissioner of Revenue: Where and How to File
Commissioner of Revenue, Business License Division 1 Franklin Street Hampton, VA 23669 Phone: (757) 727-6700
Mailing address: P.O. Box 636, Hampton, VA 23669
Online: va.accessgov.com/hampton
You can file in person at 1 Franklin Street, by mail, or online through the AccessGov portal. Online filing is the most efficient method for straightforward license applications.
Two License Types: Peddler’s and Vendor’s
Hampton issues two types of business licenses. The Deputy Commissioner of Revenue determines which type applies to your business — you do not self-select.
Vendor’s license: Applies to businesses operating from a fixed, permanent location.
Peddler’s license: Applies to businesses that move from place to place, sell goods without a fixed location, or operate on a transient basis.
When you apply, describe your business activities accurately. The Deputy Commissioner will review your description and classify you into the appropriate license type. The classification affects your license structure, and operating under the wrong license type can create compliance issues. If you disagree with your classification, discuss it with the Deputy Commissioner at the time of application.
License Fees and Rate Structure
Under $100,000 in gross receipts: $50 flat fee
For businesses with gross receipts over $100,000, rates are applied per $100 of gross receipts at the appropriate classification rate. Virginia state law sets maximum rates:
- Contracting: up to 16 cents per $100 of gross receipts
- Retail: up to 20 cents per $100 of gross receipts
- Professional and financial services: up to 58 cents per $100 of gross receipts
- Services: up to 36 cents per $100 of gross receipts
Hampton’s actual rates fall at or below these state statutory caps. Your Deputy Commissioner classification determines which rate category applies to your business.
Licenses Are Not Pro-Rated
Hampton business licenses do not pro-rate based on start date. If you open in February, July, or November, you pay the full license fee for that calendar year. The license is valid from your start date through December 31, not for a partial year at a partial price.
This is a cash flow consideration for businesses opening late in the calendar year — you pay the full annual amount for what may be only a few months of operation, then renew again before March 1 of the following year.
You Must Have Your License Before Opening
Hampton requires that you obtain your business license before the first day you conduct business. This is not a retroactive system where you file after your first month and pay for the prior period. The license must be in hand — issued and paid for — before you open your doors.
Set aside time in your pre-opening checklist to complete all prerequisites, gather all required documents, and submit your application far enough in advance that you receive your license before your intended opening date. Online applications at va.accessgov.com/hampton typically process faster than paper mail applications.
Commercial Businesses: Submit the Police Emergency Contact Form
Any commercial business operating in Hampton must submit a Police Emergency Contact Form at the time of license application. This form provides Hampton police with after-hours emergency contact information for your business — names and phone numbers for the person to contact if there is an alarm activation, break-in, fire, or other emergency requiring business owner notification.
This is a standard requirement for commercial businesses. Obtain the form from the Commissioner of Revenue’s office at 1 Franklin Street or through the online portal. Residential home occupations and businesses without a commercial premises may not be required to submit this form — confirm with the Commissioner’s office for your specific situation.
Property Bondsmen: Additional Requirement
If you operate as a property bondsman, you must obtain a certificate from Circuit Court #4 before applying for your business license with the Commissioner of Revenue.
Circuit Court #4: (757) 726-6920
Contact this number to initiate the certificate process. This is in addition to any requirements from DPOR or other state regulatory bodies that govern bondsmen.
State Professional License Requirement
A Hampton city business license does not substitute for required state professional licenses. The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) licenses contractors, real estate agents, architects, engineers, cosmetologists, home inspectors, and many other professions.
DPOR: (804) 367-8500 | dpor.virginia.gov
If your profession requires DPOR licensing, you must hold the appropriate license before operating in Hampton, regardless of your local business license status. Operating in a DPOR-regulated profession without the state license is a violation of Virginia law.
Home Occupation Licenses
Operating a business from your home in Hampton requires both a city business license and zoning approval for the home occupation use. You cannot simply apply for a business license and assume your home-based operation is permitted.
Zoning rules restrict home occupations from changing the residential character of the neighborhood. Common restrictions include:
- No client visits or walk-in customers
- No employees working at the home (other than residents)
- No exterior signs indicating a business
- No storage of business inventory visible from outside
- No vehicle or equipment not normally associated with residential use
Confirm with Hampton’s Department of Planning that your intended home occupation is permitted under current zoning before applying for your license.
Annual Renewal: Before March 1
Existing Hampton business licenses must be renewed before March 1 of each year. The renewal fee is based on prior year gross receipts. If your prior year gross receipts were under $100,000, the minimum $50 fee applies. If they exceeded $100,000, apply the appropriate classification rate.
Renew online at va.accessgov.com/hampton or by mail to P.O. Box 636, Hampton, VA 23669.
Refunds for Mid-Year Business Closures
If you close your business before the end of the calendar year, Hampton may issue a refund for the unused portion of your license fee. Contact the Commissioner of Revenue at (757) 727-6700 to initiate the refund process when you close. Provide your license number and closing date. The refund is not automatic — you must request it.
Summary: How to Get a Hampton Business License
- Partnerships and sole proprietors: File Certificate As with Clerk of Circuit Court at 101 Kings Way, (757) 727-6105 — do this FIRST
- Verify zoning clearance for your business location
- Obtain Health Department approval if your business type requires it
- Resolve any outstanding court orders affecting your business
- Obtain any required DPOR state professional licenses: (804) 367-8500
- Property bondsmen: Obtain certificate from Circuit Court #4 at (757) 726-6920
- Apply for license before your first day of business — Commissioner of Revenue, 1 Franklin Street, Hampton, VA 23669, (757) 727-6700, or online at va.accessgov.com/hampton
- Deputy Commissioner determines whether you receive a Peddler’s or Vendor’s license
- Pay $50 if under $100K; pay classification rate on gross receipts if over $100K
- Submit Police Emergency Contact Form for commercial businesses
- Receive license before opening — licenses are not pro-rated
- Renew before March 1 each year
- Request refund if closing mid-year
The Commissioner of Revenue’s office at 1 Franklin Street is your primary contact for Hampton business licensing. Call (757) 727-6700 for questions or visit online at va.accessgov.com/hampton. Mail correspondence to P.O. Box 636, Hampton, VA 23669.