Renewals and annual filings in Fairfax County
What renews, and how often, once the business is open.
Customs Bond
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUS federal
Bought from a CBP-approved surety, usually through your customs broker, who files it electronically. A continuous bond covers a year of entries.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Takes
- At least 5 business days for review.
- Renews
- Continuous bonds renew yearly.
Cosmetic product facility registration (MoCRA)
U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationUS federal
Filed online in Cosmetics Direct by the facility that makes or processes the cosmetics.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every two years.
Cosmetic product listing (MoCRA)
U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationUS federal
Filed online in Cosmetics Direct by the brand (the responsible person on the label), one listing per product.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Update every year.
Fairfax County business license (BPOL)
Fairfax County Department of Tax AdministrationFairfax County
Every business with a physical location in the county files within 75 days of starting there, or pays a 10% late penalty; no tax is owed until gross receipts pass $10,000 in a year. Inside the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and the towns of Clifton, Herndon and Vienna, the license comes from that city or town instead.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Takes
- The official license can take 4 to 6 weeks; the filed receipt serves until then.
- Renews
- Every year; the renewal application comes by mail each January.
Hazardous materials registration
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT)US federal
Filed online when you ship or offer certain hazardous materials in bulk, such as large lithium battery shipments.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Renews
- Every year by June 30.
Food establishment permit to operate
Fairfax County Health Department, Division of Environmental HealthFairfax County
Apply in PLUS, then call at least 3 days ahead for the pre-occupancy inspection, where a food manager with an accredited exam certificate must be present. The permit to operate is issued once the inspection passes.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Takes
- Mailed within 5 to 7 days of passing the pre-occupancy inspection.
- Renews
- Every year.
Guides for each business in Fairfax County
Agency requirements change. Check each agency's page before you file.
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Get the plan for your business in Fairfax County
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