Roanoke County Business License: $50 Under $150,000 and the Zoning Checklist First
Roanoke County Business License: $50 Under $150,000 and the Zoning Checklist First
If your business is in unincorporated Roanoke County VA and its gross receipts stay at $149,999 or less, the local business license costs a flat $50. That is the short answer. The step that stops most owners is the order of operations: a Zoning Compliance Checklist must be approved before a license is issued, so zoning comes first, not last.
This guide covers the fee and the rate schedule above the $150,000 line, the zoning steps, renewal and payment, and how to tell whether you are in Roanoke County VA, Roanoke city, Salem, the Town of Vinton or Botetourt County. It is informational content, not legal or tax advice.
Virginia has no state business license
Virginia has no general statewide business license, and the State Corporation Commission (SCC) issues none. The SCC forms your entity and handles your name filings. Your local license is a different thing: the Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) is a local license tax under Va. Code 58.1-3700 et seq., administered by each city or county, usually through the Commissioner of the Revenue.
BPOL is not universal. Va. Code 58.1-3704 allows a locality to levy no general license at all, and Stafford, Rockingham, Bedford County, Washington County, Montgomery County, Louisa and Fluvanna have no general county license. Towns can also displace the county tax. Confirm with the local office whether a license applies to you before you assume it does.
Your SCC costs are separate from the local license:
- LLC Articles of Organization (Form LLC1011): $100. Virginia LLCs file no annual report. They pay a $50 annual registration fee to the SCC instead.
- Corporation Articles of Incorporation (Form SCC619): $75. The annual report and registration fee depend on authorized shares: $100 for up to 5,000 shares plus $30 for each additional 5,000 (check the SCC annual fee schedule).
- Assumed name (DBA) certificate: $10, filed with the SCC, not the circuit court.
- Name reservation: $10 for 120 days.
File and search through the SCC Clerk's Information System at cis.scc.virginia.gov. Forms and fee details are at scc.virginia.gov/businesses.
Roanoke County VA business license fee: $50 under $150,000
Roanoke County VA has about 97,150 people. Gross receipts of $149,999 or less pay a $50 flat fee. At $150,000 and above, the county charges a rate per $100 of gross receipts, set by business classification:
| Classification | Rate per $100 at $150,000 and above |
|---|---|
| Retail | 0.20 |
| Wholesale | 0.05 of gross purchases |
| Contractor | 0.16 |
| Business, repair and personal services | 0.36 |
| Professional services | 0.58 |
| Commission merchant | 0.36 |
The county's rate sheet is undated, so confirm every rate with the Commissioner of the Revenue before you budget for the license.
Worked example: $120,000 in receipts
A professional firm with $120,000 in gross receipts pays $50 in Roanoke County VA, because it sits under the county's $150,000 line. The same firm is over the line in the city. Roanoke city's line is $100,000 and Salem's is $50,000, so the firm pays the professional services rate of 0.58 per $100. That is $120,000 divided by $100, or 1,200 units, multiplied by 0.58, which equals $696. Salem works out to $696 as well.
Each jurisdiction sets its own line, so never assume one number applies across the valley.
Alcoholic beverage license fees are added on top of the local license. They start at $25 for a beer-only license and reach $575 for the largest mixed-beverage seating class with beer and wine on and off premises. Amusement machine operators pay $25 for three machines or fewer and up to $200 for ten or more. Confirm your class with the Commissioner's office and the Virginia ABC before you apply.
Roanoke County VA zoning compliance checklist: do this first
The county will not issue a business license until the Zoning Compliance Checklist is approved. Work with Roanoke County Planning and Zoning at 540-772-2068 and handle these steps in order:
- Get the Zoning Compliance Checklist approved by Planning and Zoning.
- If you will operate under a name other than your legal name, register the assumed name with the SCC for $10 and keep proof of registration. The county asks for that proof.
- If you run a home-based business on rented property, get a letter from your landlord.
- Once the checklist is approved, apply for the business license with the Commissioner of the Revenue.
Realtors, stylists and massage therapists working under an approved business umbrella may be exempt from separate zoning review. Confirm this with the county before you assume your profession qualifies.
Roanoke County VA business license renewal and payment
- Renewal is due March 1 each year.
- A new business should get its license within 30 days of starting. Build the zoning checklist into your launch schedule so those 30 days are realistic.
- State law caps the late penalty at 10 percent.
Contact the Commissioner of the Revenue at 5204 Bernard Dr, Suite 104, PO Box 20409, Roanoke, VA 24018-0513. The phone number is 540-772-2050, and the email is [email protected].
To pay online, go to csspayments.roanokecountyva.gov and enter your bill number. Card payments carry a convenience fee of 2.5 percent, or $3.95 for Visa debit.
Other county taxes
Roanoke County VA also levies other local taxes. These are 2024 figures, so confirm them before you plan: meals 4 percent, lodging 7 percent, admissions 5 percent, and personal property $3.40 per $100.
Roanoke County VA vs Roanoke city business license: which jurisdiction are you in?
This is the most common mistake. A Roanoke mailing address does not tell you which jurisdiction you are in, so confirm the physical location of the business with the locality before you apply. Each place has its own office, line and rules.
| Jurisdiction | Who licenses it | Gross receipts line | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke County VA (about 97,150 people) | Commissioner of the Revenue, Roanoke County | $150,000 | $50 flat below the line; rates above it; renewal March 1 |
| Roanoke city | City of Roanoke, separate license | $100,000 | A county license does not replace it; check its rate sheet |
| Salem | City of Salem, separate license | $50,000 | A county license does not replace it; check its rate sheet |
| Town of Vinton (about 7,967 people) | Confirm with the town | Confirm with the town | Confirm whether it licenses and how it treats the county license, with both the town and the county |
| Botetourt County VA (about 34,144 people) | Commissioner's office, Daleville | Check the Business License Guidelines | Renewal March 1; meals tax 6 percent since 2024-10-01; lodging 7 percent |
Roanoke County VA has more than 50,000 people, so state law bars it from requiring a license on gross receipts under $100,000. Its own line is $150,000. Vinton, at about 7,967 people, falls under 25,000, where no statutory floor applies, so its treatment has to come from the town itself.
Botetourt County VA business license
Botetourt County VA licenses on gross receipts, and renewal is due March 1. It has about 34,144 people, so Virginia law bars it from requiring a license on gross receipts under $50,000. Its own line and rates are in its Business License Guidelines, and Roanoke County's figures do not carry over. Check the guidelines before you file.
The Commissioner's office is at 57 S Center Dr, Daleville, and the phone number is 540-928-2050. You can open an online account at tax.botetourtva.gov.
State-regulated trades need separate licenses
A local business license does not replace a state license. If you are a contractor, the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) licenses you separately. Since July 1, 2025, the classes are Class C for over $1,000 to under $30,000, Class B for $30,000 to under $150,000, and Class A for $150,000 or more.
Child day centers and family day homes are licensed by the Department of Education. Assisted living and adult day care are licensed by the Department of Social Services. If you see the term short-term rental in BPOL rules, it refers to equipment rental, not Airbnb-style lodging.
Before you file
This article is informational, not legal or tax advice. Confirm every figure with the Commissioner of the Revenue or the named agency before you pay. For entity choices, zoning disputes or a business near a gross receipts line, consult a qualified Virginia attorney. For tax treatment, consult a CPA.