Business Licensing & Operations in Henrico County, VA (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Henrico County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Henrico requires anyone operating an adult bookstore, adult motel, adult nightclub or similar business to hold a $200 permit from the chief of police, on top of a standard business license. County Code §§ 15-181 and 15-182 define the covered businesses and set the application, background-check and renewal rules.
Henrico Adult Business Permit Required
Significant RestrictionsHenrico County Code §§ 15-181, 15-182(a),(g)
Adult business means any adult bookstore, adult video store, adult model studio, adult motel, adult movie theater, adult nightclub, adult store, business providing adult entertainment, or any other establishment that regularly exploits an interest in matter relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas or regularly features live entertainment intended for the sexual stim...
Massage Establishments
Henrico County only allows a massage in exchange for payment when a state-certified massage therapist performs it for medical, relaxation, remedial or hygienic purposes, and only at specific locations such as a massage establishment, beauty salon, health club, tanning salon, care facility, public gathering or private residence. The therapist must post his state certificate where patrons can see it.
Henrico County Massage Establishment Rules
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code §§ 12-1, 12-27
Massage establishment means a fixed place of business where a certified massage therapist gives a patron a massage. ... It is unlawful for any person to give a massage in exchange for consideration within the county unless: (1) The massage is given for medical, relaxation, remedial or hygienic purposes; and (2) The person giving the massage is a certified massage therapist.
Secondhand Dealers
Henrico taxes junk dealers and secondhand paper dealers the same way it taxes wholesale merchants: on purchases, not receipts, under a sliding per-$100 rate. Sec. 20-693 carves out one exception: a retail store that simply buys back wastepaper or recyclable containers doesn't need the wholesale merchant license.
Henrico Junk & Secondhand Dealer License
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code § 20-693
Every junk dealer and secondhand paper dealer must pay, for the privilege of transacting business, the merchant's license tax prescribed by this division for wholesale merchants; provided, however, this section does not apply to a retail merchant who receives and purchases at his retail store wastepaper, recyclable containers or other such recyclable material.
Pawnbrokers
Henrico caps pawnshops at ten countywide, spaced at least a mile apart, and requires a $200 license from the chief of police plus a circuit court order before anyone can operate. County Code §§ 15-144 through 15-147 set the license process, fees and penalties.
Henrico Pawnbroker License Rules
Significant RestrictionsHenrico County Code §§ 15-144, 15-146(a), 15-147
the term "pawnbroker" means any natural person who lends or advances money or other things for profit on the pledge and possession of personal property or other valuable things, other than securities or written or printed evidences of indebtedness or title, or who deals in the purchasing of personal property or other valuable things on condition of selling the property or other things back to t...
Towing Companies
Henrico County Code lets a parking lot, building or lot owner have an unauthorized vehicle towed once it has sat unattended for more than ten days without permission. Notice must go to the state DMV and county police before or as the vehicle is removed, and the vehicle's owner is billed for towing and storage.
Henrico Rules for Towing Vehicles From Private Lots
Some RestrictionsHenrico County Code § 22-161
It is lawful for any owner, operator or lessee of any parking lot or parking area or space therein or part thereof or any lot or building, publicly owned, to have any motor vehicle or other vehicle occupying such lot, area, space or building or part thereof left unattended for more than ten days without the permission of such owner, operator, lessee or authorized agent of the one having the con...
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