Starting a Business
Got a great business idea? We’ve got a place for you in Warrenton, with resources and knowledge to take you from business plan to business success.
Warrenton is a thriving and welcoming place to do business, especially for entrepreneurs. The Town of Warrenton, Fauquier County and community partners work together to set you up for success, including:
Business Incubator (Mason Enterprise Center)
George Mason University and Fauquier County established the county’s first business incubator in 2013 at 70 Main Street in Warrenton. The facility offers everything you need that isn’t easy to get at your home office, and more including:
- Low cost and flexible office space
- Dedicated co-working space
- Physical mailing address
- Conference room space
- Business counseling
- Entrepreneurial environment
Business Counseling & Training
Warrenton is fortunate to have a multitude of support for small businesses, including training and counseling sessions on business plans, financial projections, and more. Free sessions are available monthly at the Mason Enterprise Center from experienced business professionals from the Small Business Development Center and the Greater Warrenton Chamber of Commerce. Space is limited. Call (540) 216-7100 for more information and to reserve an upcoming appointment.
Warrenton Data
Finding the right information can be difficult. Allow us to help, with our Community Profile, collection of maps, and customizable industry reports. We can also help direct you to an array of other information resources.
Getting Your Business Off the Ground
When you’re ready, we’re here to help you get your business off the ground, including:
Site Selection Assistance
We work closely with local commercial brokers to ensure you know about all the properties that are right for you, including many that can’t be found in online listings.
Incentives & Supplementary Funding
The Town of Warrenton and Fauquier County both recognize the value of a strong business community and we are here to help you identify local, state, and federal programs that can help.
Opening Your Warrenton Location
Once you know that Warrenton is the right choice for your business, we’re ready to guide you through the process of opening. From taxes to signage, we’re here to help every step of the way.
You can find a copy of the Business License Application (PDF) online.
- Step 1: Name Registration & State Licensing
- Step 2: Zoning Approval for Business License
- Step 3: Business License & Tax Requirements
- Step 4: Sign Permit(s)
- Step 5: Virginia Department of Health Permit (if applicable)
- Step 6: Building Permit and Building Plans From the Town
Business Structure
Businesses can be sole proprietorships, partnerships, or corporations depending on the type of business, business goals, and personal finances. An attorney, accountant, or business counselor who is familiar with your type of business can help you determine your business structure. The structure of your business will determine its proper registration.
Sole Proprietorships & Partnerships
Individuals and partnerships should register trade names with the Fauquier County Clerk of the Court. To register a trade name or partnership contact:
Fauquier County Clerk of the Court
29 Ashby Street
Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (540) 422-8100
Corporations & Limited Partnerships
Corporations and limited partnerships must file with the State Corporation Commission before a state or town license can be issued. If you are incorporated and located within the state of Virginia contact:
Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office
PO Box 1197
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: (804) 371-9967
Virginia Regulated & Licensed Businesses
Virginia regulates certain businesses, professions, and occupations. Minimum standards for education, training and written or oral tests must be met before entry into these professions are allowed. The state also requires licensing for certain businesses other than for regulation, including general contractors and tradesmen. For more information on licensing requirements and applicable fees contact:
Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
3600 W Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230-4917
Phone: (804) 367-8500
General Contractors & Tradesmen
Contractors and tradesmen must register their business with the state. To bid on or undertake a job, contractors must possess a proper license from the State Board of Contractors, call (804) 367-8511.
The Warrenton Town Council has divided the Town into zoning districts that permit uses by right and by special use permit. As a result of the distinctions in use, prospective businesses should determine if their business is permitted by right in the chosen location before signing a lease or purchasing a building. A Business License Application submitted to the Town's Department of Planning and Community Development is the most accurate way to determine if a specific business is permitted in a particular building or property.
Fee
There is a $75 fee for Zoning approval of a Business License. Once approved by Zoning, the application will be released to the Finance Department for issuance of a Town Business License.
Special Use Permit
If the use is not permitted by right within a specific district, but is listed in the Zoning Ordinance in the special use permit category for the zoning district, the business may apply for a special use permit which is granted by the Town Council.
The process requires two separate public hearings, one before the Planning Commission and one before the Town Council, and a work session with the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 P.M. in the Town Hall Council Chambers (21 Main Street).
Following the Planning Commission public hearing, the request will then be introduced during the next scheduled Town Council meeting. The Town Council meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Town Council Chambers. The process will take approximately four months to complete. The non-refundable application fee for a special use permit is $750 plus $300 for each additional use and the cost of advertising/property notice.
Inspections
The Zoning Permit is also used to ensure businesses comply with the Town Zoning Ordinance which governs the physical requirements of the property as well as the uses permitted on the site. The Town's Director of Planning and Community Development, the Building/Fire Official, as well as the Public Works Director will examine the potential site for any needed improvements such as parking, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, lighting and landscaping.
If the building, or any portion thereof, which is being considered for lease or for purchase has been vacant for more than six months, or if the business which will occupy the building differs in use from the previous business which occupied the building, then the space will need to undergo a fire code inspection. The following items will be examined during the inspection:
- Americans With Disabilities Act Regulations
- Number of exits from the building
- Exit signs
- Illumination of exit ways
- Clear walkways
- Storage of combustible/hazardous material
- Fire suppression/sprinkler systems
- Electrical wiring and HVAC systems
A prospective tenant or buyer of a business space has the opportunity to evaluate the building with the Director of Planning and Community Development and the Building/Fire Official. This a free service of the Town that will identify construction or improvement issues that could be required prior to occupancy by a new business. These construction and improvement issues could require certified plans as well as building permits.
Notification of Compliance
The applicant will be notified within five business days of submitting a business license application whether requirements have been met and if not, what must be done to bring the property into compliance. It is the responsibility of the property owner or lessee to complete the required repairs and alterations to the property. An inspection by the Town of the completed improvements will be necessary before the zoning application can be approved.
Exterior improvements to the property are based on the guidelines set forth in the Zoning Ordinance and any change or waiver of the Ordinance requirements must be granted by the Town Council. Business cannot be conducted on the property until the improvements have been completed or a waiver has been granted.
Contact Us
For further information, contact:
- Department of Planning and Community Development
PO Box 341
Warrenton, VA 20188
Phone: (540) 347-2405 - Building Inspections Office
PO Box 341
Warrenton, VA 20188
Phone: (540) 347-2405
Businesses located in the Town of Warrenton are subject to Town, County, State, and Federal Taxes. As Warrenton is an incorporated Town, not an independent City, businesses will pay both Town and County Taxes. Described below are some of the state and local business tax requirements. Information about Federal tax requirements is available in Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business which is published by the Internal Revenue Service. Call the IRS at (800) 829-1040.
Common Taxes for Businesses
Business License Tax
All businesses are required to have a license to conduct business in the Town of Warrenton. Your business’s initial license period is the 1st day of business until the following May 31. Subsequent (ongoing) license periods are June 1 to May 31 of each year. For your convenience, renewal applications are sent to you in January of each year by the Town’s Department of Finance.
A new business/contractor is required to pay the business license tax when the application is submitted. The tax rate varies depending on the type of business. Refer to the reverse of the license application for a listing of business categories and the corresponding tax rates. Most businesses pay a tax based on gross receipts earned in the previous year multiplied by the established tax rate. The renewal applications are due March 1 each year. The tax bill is due June 30 each year.
In order for its initial business tax to be calculated, a new business estimates its gross receipts from the first day of business until the following May 31. The amount may be adjusted the following year to reflect actual gross receipts for the estimated year. There are special License Taxes for Pistol Dealers and Alcoholic Beverage merchants who hold a valid ABC license. The flat rates, which are due annually, are listed on the reverse side of the Business License Application. The rules regarding the licensing of contractors (all classes) by the Town of Warrenton vary according to type, location and dollar volume. Any contractor or subcontractor applying for or listed as a contractor on a Town of Warrenton building permit must have a valid Town of Warrenton Business License.
For further information, contact:
Department of Finance
PO Box 341
Warrenton, VA 20188
Phone: (540) 347-1101
Meals Tax
Businesses selling prepared food and beverages are required to register with the Town Finance Department for collection of the Town Meals Tax. The registration form is filed with the business license application. The tax must be collected from customers immediately after the business opens, so it is important to register as soon as possible.
Information about the Meals Tax requirements is available from the Town Finance Department. Call the Finance Department at (540) 347-1101.
Transient Occupancy Tax
Businesses providing lodging on a short-term basis, a period less than ninety days, are required to register with the Town Finance Department for collection of the Town Transient Occupancy Tax. The registration form is filed with the business license application. The tax must be collected immediately after the business opens, so it is important to register as soon as possible.
Information about the Transient Occupancy Tax requirements is available from the Town Finance Department, Call the Finance Department at (540) 347-1101.
Business Tangible Personal Property Tax
New businesses in the Town will receive a Business Tangible Personal Property form from the Fauquier County Commissioner of Revenue Office. The tax is levied on property employed in a trade or business, such as furniture, fixtures, machinery and tools. Fauquier County does not prorate personal property tax. If your business opens after the first of the year, you will not pay the tax until the following year. If you do not receive the Business Tangible Personal Property Form by January 1 of the following year after your business opens, please call the Fauquier County Commissioner of Revenue Office.
For more information regarding the Business Tangible Personal Property Tax, contact:
Commissioner of Revenue
PO Box 149
Warrenton, VA 20188
Phone: (540) 422-8150
Vehicle Personal Property Tax
Every person or business owning a motor vehicle principally garaged in the Town of Warrenton is required to file a personal property tax return with the Fauquier County Commissioner of Revenue on or before March 15 each year. If vehicles acquire situs within the Town or are transferred to a new owner in the Town after January 1, the deadline for filing a return will be 60 days following the date of such transfer or acquisition of situs in the Town.
Information about the Vehicle Personal Tax is available from the Commissioner of Revenue Office, The Commissioner of Revenue can be reached at (540) 422-8150.
Retail Sales & Use Tax
The State of Virginia collects retail sales and use tax on gross receipts from retail sales or leases of tangible personal property, unless the retail sales or leases are exempt by law. The use tax applies to tangible personal property uses, consumed or stored in Virginia but purchased out of state that would have otherwise been subject to sales tax.
For more information regarding the retail sales and use tax, contact:
Virginia Department of Taxation
PO Box 6-L
Richmond, VA 23282
Phone: (804) 367-2062
Important Tax Dates
- March 1 - Town of Warrenton Business License Application Renewal Due (Town Finance Office)
- March 15 - Deadline for filing Fauquier County Declaration of Tangible Personal Property (County Commissioner of Revenue’s Office) Use this link.
- June 5 - First Half of Fauquier County Real Estate Taxes Due (County Treasurer’s Office)
- June 15 - First Half of Town of Warrenton Real Estate Taxes Due (Town Finance Office)
- June 30 - Town of Warrenton Business License Tax Due (Town Finance Office)
- October 5 - Fauquier County Personal Property Tax Due (County Treasurer’s Office)
- December 5 - Second Half of Fauquier County Real Estate Taxes Due (County Treasurer’s Office)
- December 15 - Town of Warrenton Personal Property Tax Due (Town Finance Office)
- December 15 - Second Half of Town of Warrenton Real Estate Tax Due (Town Finance Office)
Also, the meals tax and the transient occupancy taxes are due by the 20th of each month following the month of collection to the Town of Warrenton Finance Office. The retail sales tax is due by the 20th of each month following the month of collection to the Virginia Department of Taxation.
Contact Us
Additional information about state tax requirements is available from the Virginia Department of Taxation, which can be reached at (804) 367-2062.
Information about additional local taxes is available from the Town of Warrenton Finance Department, (540) 347-1101, and the Fauquier County Commissioner of Revenue Office, (540) 422-8150.
Process
A sign permit application needs to be submitted to the Zoning Administrator for approval before erecting or altering any sign. The design of the planned signs must conform to the Town Zoning Ordinance provisions for signs in Article 6 of the Zoning Ordinance.
It is helpful and will speed the process if you will provide clear drawings and color selections of the planned sign(s) with the application. A building permit may be required for certain types of signs, such as illuminated or monument signs to name a few. Step six explains the building permit requirements.
The Town's Department of Planning and Community Development will notify the applicant within five business days of submittal of a complete application package whether the sign has been approved, and, if not, what changes are needed to meet the requirements.
Fee
The fee for a sign permit is $50 plus $2 per square foot of sign if no building permit is required or $100 plus $66.30 per sign if a building permit is required.
Businesses Located in the Historic District
In addition to a sign permit, you must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Architectural Review Board (ARB) if your business is located in the Historic District, before a sign can be erected or altered. The cost for a Certificate of Appropriateness is $25 for administrative applications, $100 for non-residential/non-administrative applications, and $50 for residential/non-administrative applications.
Architectural Review
ARB meetings are held every fourth Thursday at 7 PM in the Town Hall Council Chambers. In order to allow sufficient time for the Town staff to prepare the information for the Architectural Review Board Members, the applications must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator by the first business day of the month.
Please provide a clear drawing with color selections of the planned sign and at least three photographs of the building with the application. The applicant, or a representative, is required to attend the meeting to answer questions the Board Members may have concerning the application.
The Virginia Department of Health requires permits for many types of businesses, including:
- Bed and Breakfasts
- Campgrounds
- Day Care/Private School Facility
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Summer Camps
- Swimming Pools
The State Board of Health has the duty to protect the public health and to ensure that in any place where food is served, in any place or operation which prepares or stores food for distribution to persons of the same business operation or of a related business operation for service to the public, that said food is safely prepared, handled, protected and preserved.
Restaurants, temporary vendors, daycare centers, campgrounds and summer camps are a partial list of businesses governed by the State Board of Health. For a full list of regulated businesses and to learn more about the requirements for a specific operation, contact:
Fauquier County Health Department
98 Alexandria Pike
Suite 42
Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (540) 347-6363
Process
An occupant or prospective occupant of a building who would like to make alterations to the structure of the building or to the property must first submit an application signed by the property owner for a building permit to the Town of Warrenton Planning and Community Development Department. Two sets of building plans should be submitted with the application. The applicant will be notified within seven working days as to whether the building plan is approved, and if not, what modifications need to be made to meet the Building Code requirements.
Alterations (Permit Needed)
Alterations to an existing building that require a building permit are:
- Work which will involve the removal, addition or relocation of any wall or partition
- Work which will involve the removal or cutting of any structural beam or bearing support
- Work which will involve the addition, removal or relocation of any parts of the building which affect entry and exit requirements
- Work which will involve the removal, disturbance, encapsulation or enclosure of any asbestos-containing material
- Additions, alterations, replacement or relocation or plumbing, mechanical or electrical systems of any building or structure
- Replacement of Roofing Systems
Ordinary Repairs (Permit Not Needed)
Building permits are not needed for ordinary repairs, such as:
- Painting
- Roofing of areas 50 square feet or less
- Repairs or replacement of doors, except in fire-rated walls
- Replacement or installation of floor coverings and porch floorings
- Repairs to plaster, interior tile work and other wall coverings
Businesses in the Historic District
Building Permit applications submitted for work to the exterior of a building located within the Town’s Historic District, require the owner to apply to the Architectural Review Board (ARB) for a Certificate of Appropriateness. The cost for a Certificate of Appropriateness is $25 for administrative applications, $100 for non-residential/non-administrative applications, and $50 for residential/non-administrative applications.
Architectural Review
ARB meetings are held every fourth Thursday at 7 PM in the Town Hall Council Chambers. In order to allow sufficient time for the Town staff to prepare the information for the Architectural Review Board Members, the applications must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator by the first business day of the month.
Please provide three photographs of the building and seven sets of architectural plans, site plans, or building plans with the ARB application. The applicant, or a representative, is required to attend the meeting to answer questions the Board Members may have concerning the application.
Contact Us
For more information on requirements for building permits or to schedule an inspection on work in progress, call the Town of Warrenton Building Inspections Office, at (540) 347-2405.