How to Start a Painting Business in Virginia: PTC Specialty, EPA Lead Rule and Class C Over $1,000

October 29, 2026

Painting for other people in Virginia means clearing three requirements in order. First is the contractor license, because any painting contract over $1,000 requires one. Second is the federal lead-paint rule, which applies to many homes built before 1978. Third are the business entity, insurance and local license that let you operate and get paid. This guide walks through each step with the fees and deadlines the agencies publish.

Disclaimer: This article is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Licensing rules, fees and deadlines change, so confirm every figure with the agency named before you file. For complex situations, such as multiple owners, employees or large commercial projects, talk with a qualified attorney or CPA.

What You Need Before You Start

Gather these items before you file anything. Most of the paperwork runs through agency online portals, so set up your accounts first.

• A Virginia registered agent who meets the requirements in Step 6, or a plan to appoint one
• Name ideas checked against the SCC business search at https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/
• Filing money: $100 for LLC Articles of Organization, $10 for a name reservation if you want one, $10 for an assumed name if you need one, and DPOR fees of $235 for an initial Class C license plus a $25 Recovery Fund payment
• Experience records that document the qualifier's years in the trade (one year for Class C, three years for Class B, five years for Class A)
• A completed 6-hour business course certificate for one member of management
• Study materials for the board-approved PTC exam
• EPA lead-safe certification records if you will work in homes built before 1978
• Insurance quotes, including general liability and workers' compensation if you will have three or more employees
• A business bank account and a system for tracking gross receipts, since local license taxes are based on them

Step-by-Step: Starting a Painting Business in Virginia

Step 1: Check Whether Your Work Requires a Contractor License

A painting contract over $1,000 requires a Virginia contractor license under Va. Code 54.1-1100 and 54.1-1115. The license class depends on the size of the contracts you take, not on how many years you have painted. The current classes have been in effect since July 1, 2025, but confirm the effective date and thresholds with the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) before you bid.

Class	Contract size
Class C	One contract over $1,000 to under $30,000, or under $250,000 of work in 12 months
Class B	$30,000 to under $150,000, or $250,000 to under $1 million
Class A	$150,000 or more, or $1 million or more

Pick the class that covers your largest realistic job. A license class limits the contracts you can take, so plan the upgrade before you bid a bigger job, not after you win it.

Step 2: Choose Your License Scope: PTC or a Broader Classification

Painting and wallcovering is the PTC specialty under 18VAC50-22-30. A PTC license covers painting work. The residential building (RBC), commercial building (CBC), home improvement (HIC) and commercial improvement classifications also cover painting, so a firm can hold PTC alone or a broader license. A painting-only firm often needs just PTC. If you plan to take drywall, carpentry or other trades alongside paint, a broader classification may fit better. Your choice affects the exam and the work you can legally bid, so review it with a CPA or attorney if your mix of work is unclear.

Step 3: Meet the Experience, Business Course and Financial Requirements

The qualifier must have experience in the trade: one year for Class C, three years for Class B and five years for Class A. One member of management must complete the 6-hour business course under 18VAC50-22-300. Financial requirements rise with the class. Class B needs $15,000 in net worth and Class A needs $45,000, or a $50,000 bond. Confirm with DPOR which financial option applies to your situation. Class B and Class A licenses also require a designated employee who has passed the business exam.

Step 4: Apply to DPOR and Pass the Exam

Apply through DPOR and pay the fees in the table below. Fees are the same structure for each class, plus the Recovery Fund.

Class	Initial application	Renewal every 2 years
Class C	$235 plus $25 Recovery Fund	$220 plus $30
Class B	$380 plus $25 Recovery Fund	$260 plus $30
Class A	$400 plus $25 Recovery Fund	$270 plus $30

Adding PTC to an existing license costs $125. PTC has no prerequisite license under 18VAC50-22-61, so the board-approved exam applies. Do not assume a Class C applicant skips the exam. Exam fees are set by the testing vendor and capped at $200 per element. Confirm the exam steps, scheduling and any study requirements directly with DPOR before you register for a test date.

Step 5: Get EPA Lead-Safe Certification for Pre-1978 Work

Homes built before 1978 can contain lead-based paint. The federal EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule requires a certified firm and trained renovators for work that disturbs that paint. Virginia has not taken over this program, so EPA runs the RRP rule here. Virginia is not on EPA's list of authorized states, which currently includes AL, DE, GA, IA, KS, MA, MS, NC, OK, OR, RI, UT, VT and WI. Do not look to DPOR for RRP enforcement in Virginia.

Firm certification and renovator training come through EPA and its accredited trainers. EPA publishes the current fees, training hours and refresher rules, and those details are not set out here, so check EPA directly before you budget for them. Follow the EPA's required steps before work begins in pre-1978 homes, including giving the lead information pamphlet to occupants, and keep the records the rule requires.

Lead abatement is a different regulated activity. Abatement supervisors are licensed through the Virginia Board for Asbestos, Lead, and Home Inspectors, and lead abatement contracting requires that license under 18VAC50-22-61. An RRP certificate does not authorize abatement work. If a job moves from routine renovation into lead hazard removal, stop and confirm the licensing requirement first.

Step 6: Form Your Business Entity With the SCC

An LLC is a common choice for a small painting contractor. File Articles of Organization (Form LLC1011) with the State Corporation Commission (SCC) Clerk's Office through the Clerk's Information System at https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/. The fee is $100. The name must include 'limited company', 'limited liability company', 'LC', 'L.C.', 'LLC' or 'L.L.C.' and must be distinguishable from names already on file. You can reserve a name for $10 for 120 days.

Every Virginia entity must keep a registered agent who is a Virginia resident with a Virginia street registered office available during business hours. The agent must be a member of the Virginia State Bar, or a member, manager, officer, trustee or general partner of the entity. An entity cannot be its own agent.

Online filings can be expedited. Next-day service costs $50 or $100 if you submit by 2:00 PM Eastern, with a response by 4:00 PM the next business day. Same-day service costs $200 if you submit by 10:00 AM Eastern, with a response by 4:00 PM. Expedited service is online only and nonrefundable.

Virginia LLCs file no annual report. They pay a $50 annual registration fee to the SCC instead. The fee is due the last day of the 12th month after the month the LLC was organized, and every year after that. The SCC assesses it about two months ahead. A late payment adds a $25 penalty, and the LLC is canceled at the end of the third month after the due date. Put this date on your calendar on day one.

If you incorporate instead, file Articles of Incorporation (Form SCC619) for $75. Stock corporations also file an annual report and pay an annual registration fee of $100 for up to 5,000 authorized shares, plus $30 for each additional 5,000 shares. Check the SCC annual fee schedule for the current figures.

Step 7: Register an Assumed Name If You Use One

If you will operate under a trade name, such as a painting company name that differs from your LLC's legal name, file an Assumed Name Certificate with the SCC Clerk's Office. The fee is $10 for an individual or an entity, and Virginia does not require newspaper publication. Do not file this with the circuit court. Find the form and instructions at https://www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/.

Step 8: Put Insurance and Workers' Compensation in Place

Carry general liability insurance before you bid. Customers and general contractors often ask for proof of coverage. Workers' compensation applies when you regularly have three or more employees in service (Va. Code 65.2-101). Operating without required coverage carries a penalty of up to $250 per day, with a maximum of $50,000 (Va. Code 65.2-805). Get quotes from more than one carrier and compare what each policy covers. Premiums vary by payroll, claims history and job mix, so ask an insurance agent for current pricing.

Step 9: Obtain Your Local BPOL License, If Your Locality Levies One

Virginia has no general statewide business license, and the SCC issues none. The local license you may need is the Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) tax under Va. Code 58.1-3700 and following. Each city or county administers its own BPOL, usually through the Commissioner of the Revenue.

Not every locality levies a general BPOL. A locality may levy none (Va. Code 58.1-3704). Stafford, Rockingham, Bedford County, Washington County, Montgomery County, Louisa and Fluvanna are examples of localities without a general county license, and towns can displace the county tax. Do not assume a neighboring locality's answer applies to your business. Confirm the rule for each place where you work.

Population sets a floor on the license. A locality with more than 50,000 people cannot require a license for businesses with gross receipts under $100,000. A locality with 25,000 to 50,000 people cannot require one for gross receipts under $50,000. No statutory floor applies in a locality under 25,000. Localities with more than 50,000 people may waive the license for gross receipts up to $200,000, but verify that waiver ceiling with your locality.

For contractors, the BPOL tax is capped at 16 cents per $100 of gross receipts (Va. Code 58.1-3706). Localities set their own rates and filing deadlines. If you run the business from a home office and do work in another locality, that locality can tax you only after $25,000 of work there in a year (Va. Code 58.1-3715). Get the rate, due date and forms in writing from the Commissioner of the Revenue in your city or county.

Step 10: Handle State Tax Registration and Employer Requirements

Register with Virginia Tax at https://www.tax.virginia.gov/ if you will collect sales tax or withhold tax for employees. Virginia's base sales tax is 5.3%, combining state and local rates. The rate is 6% in regional-tax localities, 6.3% in eight localities and 7% in the Historic Triangle (James City County, Williamsburg and York County). The grocery rate is 1%. Whether your labor and materials are taxable depends on the transaction, so confirm the rule with Virginia Tax at https://www.tax.virginia.gov/sales-and-use-tax before you invoice.

Income tax depends on your entity. Owners of many single-member LLCs report business income on their personal return. A corporation pays a 6% flat Virginia corporate income tax. Ask a CPA which structure fits your situation.

If you hire, Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 in 2026, $13.75 in 2027 and $15.00 in 2028. Build those rates into your pricing before you make offers.

Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Bidding above your class. A Class C license does not cover a $40,000 contract. Check the class limit before you quote.
• Treating RRP as optional. Painting in a pre-1978 home without EPA certification is a federal compliance risk, and a Virginia contractor license does not replace it.
• Confusing RRP with abatement. Certification for renovation work does not authorize lead abatement, which requires a license from the Virginia Board for Asbestos, Lead, and Home Inspectors.
• Assuming a state business license exists. Virginia's business license is local, and some localities levy none. Check with your Commissioner of the Revenue.
• Missing the LLC annual fee. The $50 registration fee has a deadline, and a late payment adds a $25 penalty. Missing it long enough can lead to cancellation.
• Filing an assumed name with the wrong office. The $10 Assumed Name Certificate goes to the SCC, not the circuit court.
• Assuming the exam is optional. The board-approved PTC exam applies. Confirm the steps with DPOR before you plan your timeline.
• Waiting on insurance. Workers' compensation becomes required at three or more regular employees, and penalties can reach $50,000. Plan for it before you hire.

What Results to Expect

Completing these steps may allow you to bid painting contracts in Virginia within the class you hold, with the paperwork that customers and general contractors often ask for. Clean licensing and insurance records may help you win work from buyers who check credentials. Results still depend on your pricing, local market, crew quality and customer service, and no outcome is guaranteed. Set your timeline around the agency processing times above, and build in extra time for exam scheduling and EPA training.

Official Resources

• Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk's Office: https://www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/
• SCC Clerk's Information System (online filings and business search): https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/
• Virginia Department of Taxation (Virginia Tax): https://www.tax.virginia.gov/
• Virginia Small Business Development Center network: https://www.virginiasbdc.org/
• U.S. Small Business Administration, Richmond District: https://www.sba.gov/district/richmond
• Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), contractor licensing, and the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting program: contact each agency directly for current forms and fees

Disclaimer: This article is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Confirm current requirements with DPOR, EPA, the SCC, Virginia Tax and your locality, and consult a qualified attorney or CPA for complex situations.