District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Business Licensing Division

Please Note

We are a service company that can help you file with the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Business Licensing Division. We are not associated with this nor any other government agency. We offer paid services and software to help you file. You are not required to purchase our service to file - you may file directly with this agency without using our service.

Contact Information

Mailing address:
1100 4th Street
SW
Washington, DC 20024

Phone: (202) 442-4400 or (202) 123-4567 TTY
Fax: (202) 442-9445

Web: Home Name search

Licenses

We track the following licenses with the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Business Licensing Division in order to provide compliance services to our clients. As a client, you see this and other reference data in License Manager in-line with your licenses.

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District of Columbia Basic Business License - Asbestos Abatement Business

Agency:District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Business Licensing Division

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$962.50

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$962.50

Due:
  • Biennially by the end of the month prior to the registration anniversary month.
  • Renewals can be filed as early as 75 days prior to the expiration date.

Companies acting as employment agencies in District of Columbia must obtain the following licenses before offering employment services. Applications usually require proof of incorporation or a certificate of authority.

District of Columbia Basic Business License - Employment Agency

Agency:District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Business Licensing Division

Initial Registration

This section applies to firms that are applying for a license in District of Columbia for the first time.

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$99

Registration Renewal

This section applies to firms that are already licensed in District of Columbia and need to renew their license.

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$99

Due:
  • Biennially by the end of the month prior to the registration anniversary month.
  • Renewals can be filed as early as 75 days prior to the expiration date.

District of Columbia Basic Business License - General Business

Agency:District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Business Licensing Division
Law:

DC Code § 47-2851.03d

Notes:

Businesses that have a basic business license in a different classification than the general business license typically do not need a general business license as well. Only businesses with elevator, retail cigarette, patent medicine, food product, or vending machine classifications will need to apply for the additional general business license. Nonprofit organizations generally hold a charitable solicitation license instead of a general business license.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$99

Turnaround:

Immediate

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$99

Due:
  • Biennially by the end of the month prior to the registration anniversary month.
  • Renewals can be filed as early as 75 days prior to the expiration date.
Penalties:

Penalty fees accumulate as follows:

  • $250 starting 1 day after the expiration date
  • $500 starting 1 month after the expiration date
  • $500 + an additional fee based on the license fee starting 6 months after the expiration date. The license also becomes ineligible for renewal and a new application must be filed.

 

District of Columbia Basic Business License - General Contractor/Construction Manager

Agency:District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Business Licensing Division
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Insurance Requirements:

For Class A licenses: $2,500,000 in general liability insurance coverage, Class B licenses: $1,500,000, Class C or G licenses: $500,000 per occurance and $1,000,000 in aggregate, Class H licenses: $500,000 in general liability insurance coverage.

Bond Requirements:

There is no bond requirement for this license.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$654.50

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$654.50

Due:
  • Biennially by the end of the month prior to the registration anniversary month.
  • Renewals can be filed as early as 75 days prior to the expiration date.

District of Columbia Basic Business License - Home Improvement Contractor

Agency:District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Business Licensing Division

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$288.20

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$288.20

Due:
  • Biennially by the end of the month prior to the registration anniversary month.
  • Renewals can be filed as early as 75 days prior to the expiration date.

District of Columbia Basic Business License - Rental Housing - Apartment

Agency:District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Business Licensing Division

Initial Registration

Registration Renewal

District of Columbia Basic Business License - Rental Housing - One Family Rental

Agency:District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Business Licensing Division

District of Columbia Basic Business License - Rental Housing - Two Family Rental

Agency:District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Business Licensing Division

District of Columbia Charitable Solicitation License

Agency:District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Business Licensing Division
Law:

District of Columbia Code Ann. § 44-1703

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Yes

Registration to Obtain Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • Charities that raise less than $25,000 in contributions per calendar year and do not use paid solicitors
  • Religious institutions
  • Membership organizations
  • Public or private organizations that solicit only from employees as long as the solicitation is approved by and conducted under the supervision of the employer or the employer's duly authorized representative, and is only carried on within the place or places of employment of the work force
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Renewal to Maintain Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • Charities that raise less than $1,500 in contributions per calendar year and do not use paid solicitors
  • Religious institutions
  • Educational institutions
  • Membership organizations
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Biennially by the end of the month prior to your registration month. If you registered for the first time in September, your report will be due by the end of August two years later.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$412.50

Turnaround:

3-4 weeks

Notes:
  • Some District of Columbia counties and municipalities may require charities that solicit in-person to register prior to fundraising.
Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
  • Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in D.C.
  • Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
  • Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in D.C.
  • Obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process). The certificate cannot be more than 90 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
  • Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Corporations Division.
  2. Complete a New Business Registration with the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue.
  3. Create a MyTax account and submit a franchise tax exemption request online.
  4. Create an Access DC account and submit an application for a charitable solicitation basic business license along with all required attachments.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File foreign qualification documents with the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Corporations Division.
  2. Complete a New Business Registration with the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue.
  3. Create a MyTax account and submit a franchise tax exemption request online.
  4. Create an Access DC account and submit an application for a charitable solicitation basic business license along with all required attachments.
Required Attachments:

  • IRS determination letter
  • Professional fundraising contracts
  • Certificate of occupancy
  • DC tax number or certificate
  • Certified resolution

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$412.50

Due:
  • Biennially by the end of the month prior to your registration month. If you registered for the first time in September, your report will be due by the end of August two years later.
  • Licenses can be renewed as early as 75 days prior to their expiration date.
Due Date Extension:

D.C. does not grant extensions for charitable organization registration.

Required Attachments:

None

Cancellation

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

To close out your registration, submit a BBL cancellation request form online.

District of Columbia Talent Agency License

Agency:District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Business Licensing Division
Notes:

The District of Columbia does not have a separate talent agency license, but an employment agency license may be required.

Initial Registration

Form:

http://dcra.dc.gov/service/get-employment-agency-license

Agency Fee:

$1,534

Registration Renewal

Form:

http://dcra.dc.gov/service/get-employment-agency-license

Agency Fee:

$1,534

Due:

Biennially

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