Business Licensing & Operations in Arlington County, VA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Arlington County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Secondhand Dealers
Arlington County requires a $200 annual police-issued license to buy, sell or barter secondhand goods, bars purchases from anyone under 18, and forces dealers to hold every item for 15 days before resale so police can inspect it.
Arlington County Secondhand Dealer License
Some RestrictionsArlington County Code § 62-36(A)-(C)(1)
Except as required in §62-43 regarding permits for secondhand dealers exclusively engaged in the purchase, sale or barter of building fixtures, no natural person shall engage in the business of a secondhand dealer without having a valid license authorized by the Arlington County Police Department, issued to the primary applicant of the business... upon filing a completed application, the primar...
Pawnbrokers
Arlington County caps the number of pawnshops at four countywide and requires anyone lending against pledged property to hold a $200 annual license issued by the County Police Department under a Circuit Court order, backed by a $50,000 bond.
Arlington County Pawnbroker Licensing
Significant RestrictionsArlington County Code § 62-3(A), (C), (D)
No natural person shall engage in the business of a pawnbroker without having a valid license authorized by the Arlington County Circuit Court and issued by the County Police Department... Upon furnishing the court order authorizing the County Police Department to issue a pawnbroker license, filing the completed application and paying an application fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00), the app...
Towing Companies
Arlington County caps non-consent trespass towing fees under Chapter 14.3: $160 for vehicles up to 7,500 pounds, $250 up to 10,000 pounds and $500 above that, plus a $50-per-24-hours storage cap and a $30 after-hours surcharge. Operators must also hold a County locality permit and post specific signage, or forfeit the right to charge any fee.
Arlington County Trespass Towing Fee Caps
Significant RestrictionsArlington County Code § 14.3-9(B)
B. Pursuant to §46.2-1233 of the Code of Virginia, the maximum fees that may be charged for the towing of vehicles and for the storage of such towed vehicles are as follows: 1. for the towing of a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of seven thousand five hundred (7,500) pounds or fewer, the maximum fee shall be one hundred sixty dollars ($160.00); 2. for the towing of a vehicle with a g...
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