Business Licensing & Operations in Prince William County, VA (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Prince William County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Operating an adult bookstore, adult motel, adult movie theater or similar adult business in Prince William County requires a $400.00 permit from the chief of police under Sec. 20-51 before opening. The chief must act within 30 days, and a felony, sex-offense or obscenity conviction within specified lookback periods is grounds to deny or later revoke the permit.
Prince William County Adult Business Permits
Significant RestrictionsPWC Code § 20-51
Every person either operating or desiring to operate an adult business shall apply to the chief of police, or his designee, for a permit to conduct such activity. Each such application shall be accompanied by a fee in the amount of $400.00 to defray the costs of the administration of this article. An application and application fee shall be required for each location where adult business is tra...
Massage Establishments
Operating a massage establishment in Prince William County without a valid permit from the Health District director is unlawful under Chapter 12. Applicants pay a $65 non-refundable investigation fee plus a $10 annual permit fee, submit fingerprints and a criminal history, and the county can revoke the permit for a sex-offense conviction or a false application statement.
Massage Establishment Permit Rules, Prince William County
Significant RestrictionsPWC Code §§ 12-31, 12-32(b), 12-34
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, operate or conduct a massage establishment without a valid, nonsuspended permit issued pursuant to this article for such establishment... Each application for a massage establishment permit shall be accompanied by an investigation fee of $65.00, no part of which shall be refundable. Such fee shall be in addition to any permit fee required by this arti...
Secondhand Dealers
Prince William County requires every pawnbroker and secondhand merchant, dealers in used electronics, tools, appliances and instruments, to hold a Chief of Police-issued license before transacting any business. Applicants are fingerprinted, background-checked, and barred if convicted of a felony or crime of moral turpitude within ten years. The county caps pawnbroker locations at twelve and bars purchases from anyone under eighteen.
Secondhand Dealer & Pawnbroker Licensing in Prince William County
Significant RestrictionsPWC Code §§ 20.4-7, 20.4-8
No pawnbroker or secondhand merchant shall transact any business, regardless of the quantity, in the County of Prince William without first being issued a pawnbroker and/or secondhand merchant license from the chief of police of Prince William County. ... Not more than twelve (12) places in the County of Prince William shall be licensed where the business of a pawnbroker may be conducted. ... A...
Pawnbrokers
Prince William County caps pawnbroker locations at twelve countywide and requires a police-issued license, Circuit Court approval and a state-mandated bond before anyone can open a pawn shop, under Sec. 20.4-7. Secondhand merchants need the same background check and fingerprinting, and every pawnbroker must also renew a secondhand merchant license each year.
Prince William County Pawnbroker Licensing
Significant RestrictionsPWC Code § 20.4-7
No pawnbroker or secondhand merchant shall transact any business, regardless of the quantity, in the County of Prince William without first being issued a pawnbroker and/or secondhand merchant license from the chief of police of Prince William County. ... Not more than twelve (12) places in the County of Prince William shall be licensed where the business of a pawnbroker may be conducted.
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Prince William County zoning limits at-home auto repair to vehicles owned by the resident or an immediate family member, and hobby repair on agricultural or semi-rural lots over an acre caps out at two extra unrelated helpers and two vehicles at a time. Commercial repair is never allowed. Zoning Ordinance § 32-300.02.2.
Home Auto Repair Rules in Prince William County
Some RestrictionsPWC Zoning Ordinance § 32-300.02.2
2.Motor vehicle repair.(a)Repair or service of motor vehicles in agricultural districts on lots less than one acre in size or in any residential district or residential portion of a planned development district shall be limited to permitted vehicles titled and registered to the owner and/or occupant or a member of the immediate family of the owner or occupant of the dwelling unit where service ...
Towing Companies
Prince William County requires every tow truck company to hold a valid county (or specified town) business license before removing a vehicle, and caps what it can charge: $210 to hook up a passenger car and no storage fee for the first 24 hours.
Towing Company Licensing Rules, Prince William County
Significant RestrictionsPrince William County Code Sec. 13-498
(a)No tow truck company or operator shall remove any vehicle from public or private property unless the tow truck company possesses a valid Prince William County business license, or a business license issued by the City of Manassas, the City of Manassas Park, the Town of Dumfries, the Town of Haymarket or the Town of Occoquan.(b)All tow trucks operated by a tow truck company shall display the ...
All Prince William County ordinances
See every category we cover for Prince William County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Prince William County Ordinance Hub →