How to Get a Business License in Manassas, Virginia
Getting a business license in Manassas, Virginia requires one critical piece of orientation before you do anything else: Manassas is an independent city. It is not part of Prince William County. It does not share a licensing system with Prince William County. If your business is inside Manassas city limits, you file with the Manassas Commissioner of the Revenue. If you’re in the county — even right on the border — you file with Prince William County. These are two entirely separate processes.
That distinction matters because people get this wrong constantly. They look up “Northern Virginia business license,” find Prince William County information, and file there. Then they discover their Manassas address requires a separate city license — and they’ve lost time and potentially triggered a violation.
Once you’ve confirmed your address is inside Manassas city limits, the licensing process is accessible. New applications go in person or by mail. Renewals are filed and paid through the online self-service portal. And the BPOL rates are genuinely lower than most Northern Virginia jurisdictions — a concrete financial advantage for businesses that have compared the numbers.
Manassas Is an Independent City — File Here, Not Prince William County
Before you apply for anything, confirm your jurisdiction.
If your business address is inside Manassas city limits: Your BPOL license goes to the Manassas Commissioner of the Revenue. This guide covers your process.
If your business address is in Prince William County (outside city limits): You file with Prince William County — different office, different rates, different process.
Manassas Park is also a separate independent city, distinct from both Manassas and Prince William County. If your address says “Manassas Park” rather than “Manassas,” you’re in a third jurisdiction.
When in doubt, verify your exact address against the city boundary. The Manassas Commissioner’s office at (703) 257-8214 can confirm whether your address falls inside city limits.
Step 1: Zoning and Permits
Before the Commissioner of the Revenue will process your business license application, your zoning must be in order.
Home-based businesses must obtain either a Home Occupation Permit or a Non-Residential Use Permit from Community Development. You cannot skip this step — the Commissioner requires the permit or a confirmed exemption before issuing your license.
Commercial locations must confirm that the intended business use is permitted at the address. Not every type of business is allowed in every zone.
Occupancy or Use Permit: If your location requires an Occupancy or Use Permit, you’ll need the permit number and issue date for your business license application. If no occupancy permit is required, the Zoning Administrator must sign the application confirming the exemption.
Community Development Department 9027 Center Street, Room 202 Manassas, VA 20110 Phone: (703) 257-8273
Call ahead to understand what your specific business type and location require. The zoning step is non-negotiable.
Step 2: Apply for Your BPOL License
With zoning sorted, apply for the Business, Professional, and Occupational License.
Commissioner of the Revenue 9027 Center Street, Room 104 Manassas, VA 20110 Mailing: PO Box 125, Manassas, VA 20108-0125 Phone: (703) 257-8214
New applications must be submitted in person or by mail. Online filing is not available for new applicants. The 2026 Business Application form is available at manassasva.gov.
What you’ll need:
- Trade name (the name under which you’re operating)
- Business location address and mailing address
- Detailed description of business activity — be specific about what you do
- Type of ownership (sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, partnership)
- Estimated gross receipts for the current year
- Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Business start date
- Virginia SCC registration number (LLCs and corporations must be registered with the SCC)
- Occupancy or Use Permit number and issue date (or Zoning Administrator sign-off if exempt)
Virginia Code §58.1-3700: Operating a business in Manassas without a license is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500. Obtain your license before you open.
Delinquent Taxes: The Commissioner cannot issue a license until all delinquent city taxes are satisfied — business license, personal property, meals, and transient taxes. If you have any outstanding city tax balances, clear them before applying.
BPOL Tax Rates
Manassas BPOL rates are among the lowest in Northern Virginia, consistently below Fairfax County and Arlington.
| Business Type | Rate per $100 Gross Receipts |
|---|---|
| Contractors | $0.13 |
| Retail merchants | $0.17 |
| Commission merchant | $0.22 |
| Repair, personal and business service | $0.22 |
| Real estate and professional service | $0.33 |
| Financial service | $0.35 |
| Wholesale merchant | $0.05 |
Direct Comparison — Manassas vs. Fairfax County:
- Contractors: Manassas $0.13 vs. Fairfax County $0.16
- Retail: Manassas $0.17 vs. Fairfax County $0.20
- Professional service: Manassas $0.33 vs. Fairfax County $0.36
Manassas is consistently cheaper than Fairfax County across all major business categories.
How to Calculate Your BPOL Tax
Divide your gross receipts by 100, then multiply by the applicable rate.
Example: a retail business with $300,000 in gross receipts pays $300,000 ÷ 100 × $0.17 = $510
Example: a contractor with $450,000 in gross receipts pays $450,000 ÷ 100 × $0.13 = $585
New businesses estimate their gross receipts for the current license year. The following year, the estimate is reconciled against actual receipts.
Alcoholic Beverage Surcharges
If your business holds an ABC license from the Virginia ABC Authority, additional city alcoholic beverage surcharges apply. These are separate charges on top of your standard BPOL license.
| License Type | Annual Surcharge |
|---|---|
| Beer & wine on-premises | $75 |
| Beer on-premises only | $50 |
| Beer & wine off-premises | $75 |
| Beer off-premises only | $50 |
| Beer & wine on & off premises | $75 |
| Beer on & off premises | $75 |
| Mixed beverages (seating 50–100) | $200 |
| Mixed beverages (seating 101–150) | $350 |
| Mixed beverages (seating 151+) | $500 |
Restaurant and bar owners: budget these surcharges as part of your annual licensing costs. A full-service restaurant with 175 seats and a full bar license owes $500 in city alcoholic beverage charges — on top of the BPOL tax and the state ABC license fee.
Online Renewal Portal
Once you’re licensed, renewals are straightforward. The city’s self-service portal allows existing businesses to renew and pay online.
Renewal Portal: selfservice.manassasva.gov/CSS/
Renewal Deadline: March 1 each year. A 10% late filing penalty applies to applications received after March 1.
Important: Failure to receive a renewal notice does not relieve your obligation to file by March 1. If you’ve moved, changed contact information, or otherwise didn’t receive a notice, you’re still responsible for filing on time. Set a calendar reminder every February.
Penalties for False Information: Filing false information on your business license application or renewal is a Class 1 misdemeanor under Virginia Code §58.1-11. The Commissioner has authority to audit all businesses under Virginia Code §58.1-3109.
Out-of-City Contractors
If your business is located outside Manassas but you perform contracting work inside city limits, you need a Manassas business license for that work. Out-of-city contractors are not exempt from the local BPOL.
Contact the Commissioner of the Revenue at (703) 257-8214 for the out-of-city contractor requirements and applicable rates.
Amending or Closing Your License
Change of address or business type: Contact the Commissioner’s office. Changes in business activity may affect your applicable BPOL rate category.
Closing your business: Notify the Commissioner in writing. You remain liable for BPOL taxes through the date of formal notification. Don’t assume stopping operations ends your tax obligation — the city doesn’t know you’ve closed unless you tell them.
Contact Summary
| Department | Location | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Commissioner of Revenue (BPOL, renewals) | 9027 Center Street, Room 104 | (703) 257-8214 |
| Community Development (Zoning, permits) | 9027 Center Street, Room 202 | (703) 257-8273 |
Both offices are at 9027 Center Street, Manassas, VA 20110. Room 104 for licensing. Room 202 for zoning.
Online renewal portal: selfservice.manassasva.gov/CSS/ Business license application: manassasva.gov Virginia SCC (entity registration): cis.scc.virginia.gov
The Process in Order
- Confirm your address is inside Manassas city limits — not Prince William County or Manassas Park
- Register your LLC or corporation with the Virginia SCC (if applicable)
- Obtain your federal EIN
- Contact Community Development at (703) 257-8273 to determine zoning requirements
- Obtain your Home Occupation Permit or Use Permit (if required)
- Complete the 2026 Business Application from manassasva.gov
- Submit in person or by mail to the Commissioner of the Revenue, Room 104
- Receive your license and keep it at your place of business
- Set a March 1 calendar reminder for annual renewal through the online portal
- If you serve or sell alcohol, budget the applicable city surcharges at renewal
The process is manageable. The key is getting the jurisdiction question right at the start, handling zoning before you approach the Commissioner, and clearing any delinquent city taxes before you apply. After that, you’re working in a licensing environment with lower BPOL rates than most of your Northern Virginia neighbors — and an online renewal portal that makes the annual filing as painless as it gets.