Virginia licensing laws

The bond is posted with the city or county that approves the plat, not a state agency. The local government (the obligee) sizes the security from the project engineer's estimate of the improvements still to be built (streets, curbs, sidewalks, storm drains, water and sewer), and the developer files the executed bond with the development or subdivision improvement agreement. Many Virginia jurisdictions reduce the required amount as phases are inspected and accepted.

The bond stays in force until the local government inspects and accepts the improvements and releases the security; it is not renewed on a fixed license cycle.

No state-level debt collection license is required in Virginia. Check for any local or municipal registration rules. Review your obligations under the federal FDCPA.

No state license means no renewal cycle applies. Keep your practices FDCPA-compliant. Watch for any future state licensing legislation.

There is no statewide contractor license bond to file in Virginia. Virginia licenses contractors by class and uses a recovery fund in place of a license bond. Contractors still encounter surety bonds at the project level (bid, performance, and payment bonds on public and many private jobs) and through city or county contractor licensing programs that require their own bonds.

With no statewide license bond, there is nothing to renew at the state level in Virginia. Keep any local license or permit bonds and project bonds current under their own terms.

Apply for or renew your auctioneer license with the Virginia Auctioneers Board (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) and file a $10,000 surety bond as part of the application. The surety issues the bond form the state accepts and files it for you.

The bond renews alongside the underlying auctioneer license.

Apply for or renew your motor vehicle dealer license with the Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer Board and file a $50,000 surety bond as part of the application. The surety issues the bond form the state accepts and files it for you.

The bond runs with the motor vehicle dealer license term and renews on the same cycle (about every 1 year).

No notary bond filing applies in Virginia. Complete the standard notary public commission process with the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth.

No bond means no bond renewal cycle in Virginia. Keep the underlying notary public commission current with the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Apply for or renew your credit services organization registration with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and file a 100× the standard fee ($5,000 min, $50,000 max) surety bond as part of the application. The surety issues the bond form the state accepts and files it for you.

The bond runs with the credit services organization registration term and renews on the same cycle (about every 1 year).

Mortgage companies generally apply through the NMLS (Nationwide Multistate Licensing System) for Virginia mortgage licensing. Requirements include a completed MU1 form, surety bond, audited financial statements, business plan, background checks (FBI criminal and credit) for all control persons, and net worth requirements. Individual MLOs are generally required to complete pre-licensing education (20 hours minimum including 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of non-traditional lending, plus Virginia-specific hours), pass the SAFE MLO test, and submit an MU4 form through NMLS.

Mortgage licenses in Virginia are renewed annually through NMLS. Company renewals require updated financial statements, bond confirmation, and payment of renewal fees. MLOs are generally required to complete continuing education (8 hours minimum annually, including Virginia-specific requirements) and pay renewal fees through NMLS. The renewal period typically runs November 1 through December 31.

Charitable organizations register with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs before soliciting contributions in Virginia, whether the ask happens in person, by mail, by phone, or online to Virginia residents. A typical filing includes the state registration form (or the multistate Unified Registration Statement where accepted), the IRS determination letter, articles of incorporation and bylaws, a list of officers and directors, the most recent IRS Form 990 or financial statements, and disclosure of any professional fundraiser contracts.

Common exemptions cover religious organizations, educational institutions, and small organizations under a revenue threshold, but exemption is rarely automatic; many states require an exemption filing. Registration fees are typically tiered to annual contributions; confirm the current schedule with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs.

Charitable registrations in Virginia renew annually, generally keyed to the organization's fiscal year end, with updated financial reporting (IRS Form 990 or audited financials above the statutory revenue threshold) and the renewal fee. Late renewals can incur penalties and suspend the organization's authority to solicit.

Virginia money transmitters are licensed by the Bureau of Financial Institutions at the State Corporation Commission. Chapter 19.1 of Title 6.2, enacted by HB 1942 (2025 c. 214), took effect on July 1, 2026 and replaced the previous requirements.

Post security of the greater of $100,000 or 100% of your average daily money transmission liability in Virginia for the most recent quarter, capped at $1,000,000. If your tangible net worth exceeds 10% of total assets, a flat $100,000 satisfies the requirement (Va. Code 6.2-1951). Maintain tangible net worth of at least $100,000 or 3% of total assets up to $100 million, rising to $3 million plus 2% of assets above $100 million and $21 million plus 0.5% above $1 billion (Va. Code 6.2-1950).

You also provide audited financial statements, run a full BSA/AML program, register with FinCEN as a money services business, and pass background checks for all control persons.

Money transmitter licenses in Virginia generally require annual renewal. Renewal typically requires submission of audited financial statements, updated surety bond, quarterly or annual transaction reports, BSA/AML filing documentation, and payment of renewal fees. Some states require call report filings on a quarterly basis throughout the year.