General FAQs

The staff of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems (DLAS) are not licensed attorneys and cannot and do not provide legal advice or interpret the law.  We are frequently asked questions that users may think we can assist with as an Internet search has guided them to the Virginia Law Portal.  DLAS provides free access to the laws found in the Code of Virginia, which laws are enacted by the Virginia General Assembly; and to the Virginia Administrative Code, which are regulations that have the force of law and are written and administered by state agencies. In order to assist users of our site, we have a created a list of our most commonly asked questions.  The best resource to contact for assistance is the state agency that has oversight of the subject matter you are researching.  See the contact information for all Virginia government agencies.

If you need legal advice, the Virginia State Bar offers a Virginia Lawyer Referral Service that allows you to have an initial consultation with a licensed attorney for a reduced fee.  Information about free and low-cost civil litigation services in Virginia is available at the Virginia Legal Aid Website. Their website includes information to assist in determining whether a person qualifies for legal assistance based on where they reside and their income.

Licenses and Permits

How do I apply for/renew my Concealed Carry Handgun Permit?

Please see the Resident Concealed Handgun Permits Web page or the Nonresident Concealed Handgun Permits Web page on the Website of the Virginia Department of State Police for the Application for Concealed Handgun Permit -- Form SP-248 -- note the form is for Resident Permit, Nonresident Permit, and Renewal.  Please see the Virginia Department of State Police Firearms Web page for additional information -- select the specific category that applies to your situation.  For Resident Concealed Handgun Permits, please see the Individual Circuit Court Homepages to obtain the mailing address/contact information for your specific Circuit Court.

For additional information and assistance for Resident Concealed Handgun Permits, please contact the Firearms Transaction Center Help Desk at (804) 674-2292 or (804) 674-2788 or firearms@vsp.virginia.gov. For additional information and assistance for Nonresident Concealed Handgun Permits, please contact the Firearms Transaction Center Help Desk at nonrespermitquestions@vsp.virginia.gov.

How do I apply for/renew my Teacher License/add an endorsement or other credential to my Teacher License?

Please contact a Licensure Specialist at (804) 786-2302, with the Teacher Education and Licensure Unit, with the Virginia Department of Education, for assistance with your questions relating to Teacher Licensure.

Laws relating to teaching professions may be found in Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees, of Title 22.1 - Education, of the Code of Virginia.  Regulations relating to teaching professions may be found in Agency 20 - State Board of Education, of Title 8 - Education, of the Virginia Administrative Code.

How do apply for/renew my license to practice nursing/medicine/or other health-related profession?

The Virginia Department of Health Professions licenses and regulates healthcare professionals — Audiology and Speech Pathology, Counseling, Dentistry, Funeral Directors and Embalmers, Long-Term Care Administrators, Medicine, Nursing, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Social Work, and Veterinary Medicine.  Please contact the Board, e.g., Board of Nursing, that has oversight of the specific profession for assistance.

Laws relating to health professions may be found in Title 54.1 - Professions and Occupations, of the Code of Virginia.  Regulations relating to health professions may be found in Title 18 - Professional and Educational Licensing, of the Virginia Administrative Code.

I am interested in opening a home health care business. Do I need a license?

Please contact the Office of Licensure and Certification, with the Virginia Department of Health, at olc-inquiries@vdh.virginia.gov or (804) 367-2102 for information and assistance regarding Home Care and Hospice.  Laws relating to home care organizations may be found in Article 7.1 - Home Care Organization Licensing, of Chapter 5 - Regulation of Medical Care Facilities and Services, of Title 32.1 - Health, of the Code of Virginia.  Regulations relating to home care organizations may be found in Chapter 381 - Licensure of Home Care Organizations, of Agency 5 - Department of Health, of Title 12 - Health, of the Virginia Administrative Code.

I want to open my own business. How do I get started?

The Virginia State Corporation Commission provides information on how to Start a New Business and Manage Your Business. Please contact the Office of the Clerk at sccefile@scc.virginia.gov or (804) 371-9733 or 1-866-722-2551 for additional assistance.

The Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD) also provides many tools on the Business One Stop Website for persons wishing to start a new business.  Please contact SBSD at vbic@sbsd.virginia.gov or (804) 786-6585 for assistance.

How do I apply for/renew my Contractor's or other professional license/certification?
What are the differences between a Class A, Class B, and Class C contractor?
Does my handyman need a license to make minor repairs to my home?

The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation issues professional licenses, certificates or registrations for a number of professions — Architects, Asbestos Workers, Athlete Agents, Auctioneers, Automatic Fire Sprinkler Inspector (Tradesman), Backflow Prevention Device Workers (Tradesmen), Barbers, Body Piercers, Boxers (Professional), Branch Pilots, Cemetery Salespersons, Common Interest Community Managers, Contractors,
Cosmetologists, Electricians (Tradesmen), Estheticians, Fair Housing, Gas Fitters (Tradesmen), Geologists, HVAC (Tradesmen), Hearing Aid Specialists, Home Inspectors, Interior Designers, Land Surveyors & Photogrammetrists, Landscape Architects, Lead Abatement Workers, Martial Artists, Nail Technicians, Onsite Sewage System Professionals, Opticians, Plumbers (Tradesmen), Polygraph Examiners, Professional Engineers, Real Estate Appraisers, Real Estate Salespeople & Brokers, Residential Building Energy Analysts, Soil Scientists, Professional Tattooists, Waste Management Facility Operators, Wastewater Works Operators, Water Well System Providers (Tradesmen), Waterworks Operators, Wax Technicians, Wetland Delineators, and Professional Wrestlers.  Please contact the Board, e.g., Board for Contractors, that has oversight of the specific profession for assistance.

Laws relating to professions may be found in Title 54.1 - Professions and Occupations, of the Code of Virginia. Regulations relating to professions may be found in Title 18 - Professional and Educational Licensing, of the Virginia Administrative Code.

Does a child under the age of 18 need a permit to be employed?
What is the minimum wage in Virginia?
Does my employer have to provide lunch breaks, paid vacation, benefits?

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry develops occupational safety and health programs and best employment practices, and publishes information relating to the minimum wage in Virginia.  Contact the Labor and Employment Law Division at laborlaw@doli.virginia.gov or (804) 786-2706 for questions relating to laws that govern employee pay, the employment of children, the right to work, and certain other laws that relate to the workplace. Contact the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Division at boilersafety@doli.virginia.gov or (804) 786-3160 for questions relating to the installation, operation, and repairs of certain boilers and pressure vessels. 

Laws relating to labor, wages, and protection of employees may be found in Title 40.1 - Labor and Employment, of the Code of Virginia.  Regulations relating to labor laws may be found in Agency 15 - Department of Labor and Industry, of Title 16 - Labor and Employment , of the Virginia Administrative Code.

My organization wants to hold a raffle/conduct bingo games/or other charitable gaming activities. Do we need a permit?

Please contact the Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs, with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, for assistance.

Laws relating to charitable gaming may be found in Article 1.1:1 - Charitable Gaming, of Chapter 8 - Crimes Involving Morals and Decency, of Title 18.1 - Crimes and Offenses Generally, of the Code of Virginia.  Regulations relating to charitable gaming may be found in Chapter 20 - Charitable Gaming Regulations, of Agency 20 - Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Charitable Gaming, of Title 11 - Gaming, of the Virginia Administrative Code.

I am moving to Virginia and bringing my pet dog/cat/other animal - do I need a permit?
I want to open an animal shelter/dog kennel in Virginia - do I need a permit?
My neighbor leaves his dog outside all day, is this legal?

Please contact the Office of Veterinary Services, with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, for assistance.

Laws relating to animals may be found in Chapter 65 - Comprehensive Animal Care, of Title 3.2 - Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food, of the Code of Virginia.  Regulations relating to animals may be found in Agency 5 - Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, of Title 2 - Agriculture, of the Virginia Administrative Code.

Taxes and Rebates

I'm an out-of-state/on-line retailer, do I have to collect and pay retail sales taxes in Virginia?
My organization is a 501(c)(3)/ non-profit, are we exempt from retail sales and use taxes?

The Virginia Department of Taxation (TAX) handles matters relating to all types of taxation. The most requested information relates to Retail Sales and Use Taxes and Sales Tax Exemptions. Individuals may contact TAX at (804) 367-8031, and Businesses may contact TAX at (804) 367-8037 for assistance.

Laws relating to taxation may be found in Title 58.1 of the Code of Virginia. Regulations relating to taxation may be found in Title 23 - Taxation, of Agency 10 - Department of Taxation, of the Virginia Administrative Code.

How do I apply for the rebate for my new/used electric motor vehicle?

The Virginia Department of Energy is responsible for the administration of the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program, as found in Chapter 17 - Other Sources of Energy Generally; Energy Policy, of Title 45.2 - Mines, Minerals, and Energy, of the Code of Virginia. Please contact the Department of Energy at vaenergy@energy.virginia.gov or (804) 692-3200 for assistance.

Tenants/Homeowners' Associations

I'm having a problem with my landlord/lease renewal/can my landlord come into my unit any time they want/I haven't received my security deposit.

Please see the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, as found in Chapter 12, of Title 55.1 - Property and Conveyances, of the Code of Virginia.  Please see the Virginia Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act as of July 1, 2024.

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has a number of Tenant and Landlord Resources available, and may be contacted at tenantlandlordinfo@dhcd.virginia.gov or (804) 371-7000.

Where can I locate the laws that govern homeowner associations?
Who do I contact if I’m having problems with the Board of my Property Owners’/Condominium Association?

Please see the Property Owners' Association Act, as found in Chapter 18, or the Virginia Condominium Act, as found in Chapter 19,  of Title 55.1 - Property and Conveyances, of the Code of Virginia.

Please contact the Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman, with the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, at cicombudsman@dpor.virginia.gov or (804) 367-2941 for assistance.

Miscellaneous

How do I become a provider of services for Medicaid recipients? How can my business be compensated by Medicaid and Medicare for services provided?

Contact the Virginia Medicaid Provider Helpline, with Virginia Medicaid/Department of Medical Assistance Services at (800) 552-8627 for Provider Enrollment & Revalidation information, and Fee-for-Service Providers.

My parent died without a will and had very few assets. How can I settle the estate?

You may find useful the Virginia Small Estate Act, as found in Article 1, of Chapter 6 - Transfers without Qualification, of Title 64.2 - Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries, of the Code of Virginia.

What forms are available on this Website?

The Code of Virginia does not provide any forms for printing/downloading but some specific Code sections may set forth information that needs to be included in a specific form.

The Virginia Administrative Code has some forms available for printing, and will be found in the section labeled FORMS at the end of any specific Chapter.

The Virginia's Judicial System has a number of Forms available for printing/downloading/completion on-line. Select the specific Court that has jurisdiction over the subject matter to access a list of available forms.

A search of the Code of Virginia does not return any results. Where can I get a copy of a previous Code of Virginia section?

Please see the instructions for Searching the Code of Virginia and other tools to ensure that you are entering your search criteria correctly.

The on-line version of the Code of Virginia is updated each year on or about July 1 to include those laws that were enacted, amended, or repealed by the Virginia General Assembly during that calendar year's Regular Session. The legislative history for each Code section is listed immediately beneath the text for each section, and you may link directly to the Acts of Assembly Chapter that amended a particular section by accessing/selecting the Chapter number that is hilited in blue that you see next to the calendar year; however, the Legislative Information System only has on-line legislation dating back to 1994. Should you need to review legislation enacted prior to 1994, you will need to access a printed version of the Acts of Assembly for the year the legislation was enacted. Should you need to review laws that were repealed or review an original law that has been re-codified, you will need to access a printed version of the Code of Virginia that existed prior to the effective date for the repeal or re-codification. Printed versions of the Acts of Assembly, and Code of Virginia, may be available in your local library, local law library, and are available in the Library of Virginia.

The Senate Information and Civic Education, who may be contacted at information@senate.virginia.gov or (804) 698-7410, or the House of Delegates Public Information and Engagement (PIE), who may be contacted at HPIE@house.virginia.gov or (804) 698-1520, or the Legislative Reference Center, who may be contacted at (804) 698-1888, may be able to provide you with a copy of the materials you are seeking.