Licenses and permits to open a restaurant in Arlington
A restaurant files the most: company and tax registration, then the build-out, the health permit and the inspections that come with it. Here are the 7 filings, in the order they're made.
Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Internal Revenue ServiceUS federal
Owners with an SSN or ITIN apply online. A company whose responsible party has neither (most China-based owners) faxes or mails Form SS-4, or calls the IRS international line.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Paper form, faxed or mailed
- Takes
- Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call.
Virginia business tax registration
Virginia Department of TaxationVA
Every new business registers online with Virginia Tax, or on paper Form R-1 if it can't: sales and use tax for dealers, and employer withholding with Virginia employees.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
Certified food protection manager
Virginia Department of Health, with local health departmentsVA
Every Virginia food establishment, unless exempt, has at least one employee with authority over food preparation and service who holds a food protection manager certificate from a program accredited through the Conference for Food Protection. Arlington and Fairfax County check for it before opening.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
Arlington County business license
Arlington County Commissioner of Revenue, Business Tax DivisionArlington
After the state requirements and the county permits, register the business in CAPP, the county's online system; a Business Tax Inspector then contacts you to finish the license.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Renews
- Every year; filing and payment are due March 1.
Unemployment insurance employer registration
Virginia Employment CommissionVA
A business with employees in Virginia must by law register with the VEC: online through iFile and iReg, or by mailing the FC-27.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
Food service plan review
Arlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health ProgramArlington
For a new place or a major alteration. Send the application with the building plans, site plan, equipment schedule and the certified food protection manager certificate to ehealth@arlingtonva.us or 2110 Washington Blvd, Suite 350, and pay the fee online. A pre-opening inspection with the equipment in place and working follows.
- Fee
- $40
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
Arlington County food establishment license
Arlington County Public Health Division, Environmental Health ProgramArlington
Any place selling prepared or packaged food needs the county's food establishment license. Before opening, a certified food protection manager must be in place and present during all operating hours.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed in person
- Renews
- Every year.
More on opening in Arlington
Questions people ask
Other businesses in Arlington
Agency requirements change. Check each agency's page before you file.
Was this page helpful?
Get the plan for your restaurant in Arlington
This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.
- The full list for your address, in filing order
- The official forms, filled line by line
- Renewal and inspection reminders