Part of: United States

This page maps civic, regulatory, and legal processes governed by the Commonwealth of Virginia — organized by the Code of Virginia, its agencies, and their relationship to local governments. Use the sections below to navigate state-level processes, find the right agency, or follow a link to a deeper process page.

Primary law references:

• Code of Virginia — Full Text (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS)
• Virginia.gov — Official Commonwealth Portal
• Office of the Attorney General

The Code of Virginia is organized into 67 titles covering all areas of state law. The titles most relevant to civic and regulatory processes are listed below. Each links to the official text.

• General Assembly — Bicameral legislature: House of Delegates (100 members) + Senate of Virginia (40 members)
• Legislative sessions: Regular session begins second Wednesday in January; special sessions as called
• Bill tracking: Virginia LIS — search by bill number, subject, or patron
• Who's My Legislator: whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov

Virginia courts operate in a four-tier structure:

Online court resources: eApps.courts.state.va.us

• State Corporation Commission (SCC) — Register LLCs, corporations, partnerships, and other business entities; regulate utilities, insurance, securities, and financial institutions. Filing portal: Clerk's Information System (CIS)
• Department of Taxation — State income tax, sales tax, corporate tax, withholding registration. Online filing: Virginia Tax Online
• Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) — Licenses contractors, architects, engineers, real estate agents, barbers, cosmetologists, and 30+ other professions (Title 54.1). License lookup and applications: DPOR License Lookup
• Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD) — Small Business certification, SWaM certification for state procurement
• Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) — Business incentives, site selection, grants for economic development

• Alcoholic Beverage Control: Virginia ABC — Licenses for retail, restaurant, brewery, winery, distillery (Title 4.1)
• Cannabis: Retail cannabis licenses issued by Virginia ABC (Title 4.1, Ch. 6)
• Contractor licenses: DPOR — Class A/B/C contractor licensing (Title 54.1, Ch. 11)
• Real estate: DPOR — Real Estate Board (Title 54.1, Ch. 21)
• Health care facilities: Virginia Department of Health (VDH) — Hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, restaurants (Title 32.1)
• Motor vehicle dealers: Motor Vehicle Dealer Board (MVDB) (Title 46.2)
• Insurance: SCC Bureau of Insurance — Insurance company licensing (Title 38.2)

• Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) — Air, water, and land permits; stormwater VPDES permits; Chesapeake Bay Act; land disturbance (Title 10.1)
• Department of Historic Resources (DHR) — State historic preservation, Section 106 review, Virginia Landmarks Register
• Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) — State parks, natural heritage, stormwater management programs
• Department of Forestry (DOF) — Timber harvesting permits, reforestation, prescribed burns
• Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) — State highway permits, land use permits, traffic engineering (Title 33.2)
• Building Code: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC), enforced locally — governed by Title 36; administered by DHCD

• Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) — Virginia Occupational Safety & Health (VOSH), wage payment, child labor (Title 40.1)
• Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) — Unemployment insurance, employer tax registration (Title 60.2)
• Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission (VWC) — Workers' comp claims, employer compliance (Title 65.2)
• Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) — State employee HR, classification, benefits

• Virginia Department of Health (VDH) — Vital records (birth/death/marriage certificates), restaurant permits, epidemiology, maternal health (Title 32.1)
• Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) — Virginia Medicaid and CHIP administration
• Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) — Mental health, substance use treatment, developmental disabilities (Title 37.2)
• Department of Social Services (DSS) — SNAP, TANF, child protective services, adult protective services (Title 63.2)
• Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) — Services for people with disabilities, older adults

• Department of Education (DOE) — K-12 policy, school accreditation, teacher licensure (Title 22.1)
• State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) — College oversight, financial aid, academic approval
• Teacher licensure: DOE — Teacher Licensure Portal (Title 22.1, Ch. 13)
• Home instruction: Parents must annually notify their local school division superintendent (§ 22.1-254.1)

• Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — Driver's licenses, vehicle registration/titling, dealer licenses (Title 46.2)
• VDOT — Road construction, highway permits, oversize/overweight permits (Title 33.2)
• Department of Rail and Public Transit (DRPT) — Transit funding, rail planning
• Department of Aviation (DOAV) — General aviation, airport development (Title 5.1)

• Department of State Police (VSP) — Criminal history background checks, concealed handgun permits (Title 9.1, 18.2)
• Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) — Law enforcement training, crime lab accreditation, victim services (Title 9.1)
• Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) — Emergency preparedness, disaster declaration, hazard mitigation (Title 44)
• Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) — Firefighter training, fire prevention, arson investigation (Title 27)

• Department of Taxation — Individual and corporate income tax, sales and use tax, withholding, estate tax (Title 58.1)
• Department of the Treasury — Unclaimed property, debt setoff, Commonwealth's investment programs
• SCC — Franchise taxes for certain entities regulated by the SCC
• Local taxes (real property, BPOL, meals, lodging) are assessed and collected by local constitutional officers (Commissioner of Revenue, Treasurer)

• Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) — Food safety inspections, pesticide registration, weights & measures, plant protection (Title 3.2)
• Marine Resources Commission (MRC) — Tidal wetlands permits, shellfish licensing, waterfront structures (Title 28.2)
• Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) — Hunting/fishing licenses, boating registration (Title 29.1)

• Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) — VUSBC administration, affordable housing programs, community development block grants (Title 36)
• Virginia Housing — Mortgage programs, rental housing financing, homebuyer assistance
• Landlord-Tenant: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA), Title 55.1, Ch. 12 — governs most residential leases; enforcement through general district courts

• Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA): Title 2.2, Ch. 43 — governs all state and local procurement above threshold amounts
• eVA Procurement Portal: eva.virginia.gov — all state agency purchases over $500 must be posted; vendors register here to sell to the state
• SWaM Certification (Small, Women, Minority-owned businesses): SBSD — required to bid on set-aside contracts

• Virginia FOIA (§§ 2.2-3700 – 2.2-3715): Governs access to records and meetings of all public bodies in the Commonwealth — state and local
• FOIA Advisory Council: foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov — free advisory opinions, FOIA officer registry, training resources
• Charlottesville FOIA deep-dive: Charlottesville FOIA Process Guide — includes BPMN workflows, SpiffWorkflow implementation, form schemas, and DMN exemption table

Virginia's Administrative Process Act (APA), Title 2.2, Ch. 40, governs how state agencies create and amend regulations:

• Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) — agency publishes intent to regulate
• Proposed rulemaking — published in the Virginia Register; 60-day public comment period
• Final rule — effective 30 days after publication in the Virginia Register (or later as specified)
• Emergency regulations — effective immediately; valid for 18 months
• Virginia Register of Regulations: register.dls.virginia.gov
• Virginia Administrative Code (VAC): law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode — all current agency regulations

Virginia has a unique Dillon's Rule tradition: local governments only have authority explicitly granted by the General Assembly (Title 15.2). Key local government processes are governed by:

• Zoning and Land Use: Title 15.2, Ch. 22 (§ 15.2-2200 et seq.) — all localities must adopt a comprehensive plan; zoning ordinances must be consistent with it
• Local FOIA: Same Virginia FOIA applies to all localities (§ 2.2-3700); any conflicting local ordinance is void
• Local Taxes: Commissioner of Revenue assesses; Treasurer collects; BPOL, real property, personal property (Title 58.1, Title 15.2)
• Utilities: Localities may operate utilities under Title 15.2, Ch. 51; rates set by local authority
• Charter Authority: Cities and some counties operate under charters granted by the General Assembly

• Charlottesville — Full process guide with BPMN diagrams for business licensing, building permits, zoning, BAR/historic review, signs, and FOIA
• Albemarle County
• Lexington

All agencies listed at virginia.gov/agencies. Below is a categorized reference:

• ABC — Alcoholic Beverage & Cannabis Control
• DEQ — Environmental Quality (air, water, land permits)
• DPOR — Professional & Occupational Regulation (30+ boards)
• SCC — State Corporation Commission (utilities, insurance, business entities)
• VDACS — Agriculture & Consumer Services
• VDH — Health (vital records, facilities, restaurants)
• MVDB — Motor Vehicle Dealer Board

• DMV — Motor Vehicles
• VDOT — Transportation (highways, permits)
• DRPT — Rail & Public Transit
• DOAV — Aviation
• VPA — Port Authority

• VSP — State Police
• DCJS — Criminal Justice Services
• VDEM — Emergency Management
• VDFP — Fire Programs
• DOC — Corrections

• DSS — Social Services
• DMAS — Medical Assistance (Medicaid)
• DBHDS — Behavioral Health & Developmental Services
• DARS — Aging & Rehabilitative Services
• DOE — Education
• SCHEV — Higher Education

• TAX — Department of Taxation
• Treasury — Department of the Treasury
• DOA — Department of Accounts
• DPB — Department of Planning and Budget
• SBSD — Small Business & Supplier Diversity

• DOLI — Labor & Industry (VOSH, wage law)
• VEC — Employment Commission (unemployment insurance)
• VWC — Workers' Compensation Commission
• DHRM — Human Resource Management

• DCR — Conservation & Recreation (state parks)
• DOF — Forestry
• DHR — Historic Resources
• MRC — Marine Resources Commission
• DWR — Wildlife Resources (hunting/fishing licenses)

• OSIG — Office of the State Inspector General (fraud/waste hotline)
• APA — Auditor of Public Accounts
• JLARC — Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission
• FOIA Council — Freedom of Information Advisory Council
• OAG — Office of the Attorney General

Governed by § 18.2-308.06. Virginia issues “shall-issue” permits. Apply through the general district court in your jurisdiction. Virginia State Police conducts the background check. Permit valid 5 years; reciprocity with many states. Online application available in most localities.

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records maintained by VDH Division of Vital Records (§ 32.1-250 et seq.). Online orders: VDH Vital Records Portal.

All business entities (LLCs, corporations, partnerships, nonprofits) register with the SCC:

1. Online filing: CIS — Clerk's Information System
2. Annual report fee and registered agent required
3. Nonprofit status requires both SCC registration and IRS 501© determination

DPOR administers 30+ boards regulating professions. Common licenses and their boards:

License lookup for all DPOR-regulated professions: DPOR License Lookup

Governed by Title 24.2. Administered by the Department of Elections (ELECT) and local General Registrars.

• Register to vote: Virginia Voter Registration Portal
• Voter ID requirements: photo ID or acceptable non-photo alternative
• Absentee / mail voting available to all registered voters without excuse
• Campaign finance disclosure: ELECT Campaign Finance

Governed by Title 65.2. All employers with 3+ employees must carry workers' compensation insurance or qualify as self-insured. Claims filed with the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission (VWC):

• Employer must notify VWC within 10 days of workplace injury causing 7+ lost days
• Employee has 2 years from injury date to file a claim
• Online claims: vwc.state.va.us

Governed by Title 55.1, Ch. 12 (Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). Applies to most residential leases. Key provisions:

• Security deposit limited to 2 months' rent
• Landlord has 45 days after tenancy ends to return deposit with itemized deductions
• Emergency repairs: tenant may request in writing; landlord must respond within 14–21 days depending on severity
• Unlawful detainer (eviction) filed in general district court

Governed by Title 60.2. Administered by VEC. Employers pay FUTA/SUTA; employees who lose jobs through no fault of their own may file claims. Weekly benefit amount based on prior wages; maximum 26 weeks. Online filing: VEC portal.

State agency regulations are codified in the Virginia Administrative Code (VAC), organized by agency. The VAC is the regulatory equivalent of the Code of Virginia for executive agency rules.

• Full text: law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode
• Proposed and recent regulations: Virginia Register of Regulations
• Comment on proposed regulations: Citizens may comment during the 60-day public comment period on any proposed regulation — comments are part of the public record

• Charlottesville — Full Regulatory Process Guide (BPMN workflows for business, building, zoning, historic, signs)
• FOIA Deep-Dive (Virginia FOIA process flows, SpiffWorkflow implementation, exemptions reference)
• Albemarle County
• Lexington
• United States