How To Obtain a Business License

To start a business in the City of Lynchburg, please follow these steps:

If you are using a trade name and are not registered as a corporation of any type, you must register the name with the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission.

You must obtain a Letter of Approval from the Community Development Department. There is no charge for this document.
Contact Community Planning 434-455-3900 Combined Commercial Business License/Zoning Approval Form Combined Home Based and Mobile Food Sales Business License/Zoning Approval Form

You must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the Inspections Department. If you are operating the business out of your residence, you do not need the certificate. There is no charge for this document.
Contact Inspections 434-455-3910

The Business License Application has been streamlined and is now part of the Letter of Zoning Approval Application above in Step 2. The business license fee is based on gross receipts (gross purchases for wholesalers). You must estimate the gross receipts from the start of your business until the end of the current calendar year. Once you have been in business for a full calendar year, the license will be based on the previous year's gross receipts.

Effective January 1, 2023 the City of Lynchburg will no longer issue a Business License for any business with gross receipts/purchases of $150,000 or less.

If gross receipts/purchases are greater than $150,000 the following schedule is utilized:

Retail merchant - 20 cents per $100 of gross receipts
Contractor - 16 cents per $100 of gross receipts
Business/personal service - 36 cents per $100 of gross receipts
Professional service - 58 cents per $100 of gross receipts
Wholesale merchant - $20 plus 28 cents per $100 of gross purchases

For further information regarding Business License Tax 434-455-3880.