The Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) licenses businesses in more than 150 categories. Below you will find a list of all license categories organized by type of business activity. Click on the category name to retrieve license application directions and requirements, application forms and supplemental forms.

NOTE: All fees are current as of October 1, 2008. The license fees do not include any fees for incorporating or registering your trade name with the District of Columbia. The fees below also do not include certificate of occupancy fees.

For more information on registering your business, visit the DCRA Corporations Division.

For more information on zoning laws and seeking a certificate of occupancy or home occupation permit, visit the DCRA Permit Center.

NOTE: Click on the Category Name for more information, application materials and requirements. This is a new structure for retrieving business license information. If the information you are looking for is not available, please email us.

New Categories added as of October 1, 2009
Category Name	License Fee	Application Fee	Endorsement Fee	Units	TOTAL
General Contractor/Construction Manager	$500	$70	$25		$595
Valet Parking	$45	$70	$25		$140
Parking Facility	$94-$222	$70	$25		Varies based on square footage
Parking Facility Attendant	$208	$70	$25		$303

General Business
Category Name	License Fee	Application Fee	Endorsement Fee	Units	TOTAL
General Business	$200	$70	$25		$295
Charitable Solicitation	$208	$70	$25		$303

*DCRA expects to begin licensing General Contractors beginning in Fall/Winter 2009. We thank you for your patience as we complete an IT upgrade to support the licensing division.

Entertainment Licenses
Category Name	License Fee	Application Fee	Endorsement Fee	Units	TOTAL
Athletic Exhibition	$34	$70	$25		$129
Billiard Parlor	$102	$70	$25	per table	varies per table
Bowling Alley	$102	$70	$25	per lane	varies per lane
Carnivals and Street Festivals	$158	$70	$25	per day	$95 plus $158.00 per day
Circus	$158	$70	$25	per day	$95 plus $158.00 per day
Mechanical Amusement Machines	$50	$70	$25	per 3 units	varies per machine
Moving Picture Theatre	$1,079	$70	$25		$1,174
Public Hall	$1,300	$70	$25		$1,395
Skating Rinks	$1,300	$70	$25		$1,395
Special Events	$205	$70	$25	per day	varies per day
Theatre (Live)	$2,392	$70	$25		$2,487

Environmental Materials
Category Name	License Fee	Application Fee	Endorsement Fee	Units	TOTAL
Asbestos Abatement Business	$780	$70	$25		$875
Bulk Fuel Metering	$166	$70	$25		$261
Bulk Fuel Storage Plant	$208	$70	$25		$303
Bulk Fuel Above Ground Tank*	$245	$70	$25	per unit	varies per unit
Dry Cleaner	$289	$70	$25		$384
Explosives Retail	$122	$70	$25		$217
Fireworks (Retail)	$130	$70	$25		$225
Fireworks (Wholesale)*	N/A	$70	$25		N/A
Gasoline Dealer	$21	$70	$25	per pump	varies per pump
Kerosene Sales	$78	$70	$25		$173
Mattress Storage	$44	$70	$25		$139
Pesticide Applicator	$130	$70	$25		$225
Pesticide Operator	$260	$70	$25		$355
Pyroxlin	$130	$70	$25		$225
Solid Waste Collectors	$1,235	$70	$25		$1,330
Solid Waste Vehicle	$252	$70	$25	per truck	varies per truck
Solvent Sales	$50	$70	$25		$145
Varsol Sales	$50	$70	$25		$145

*We are currently rebuilding the BBL Categories to provide you with the most accurate information available. Some categories are not complete. If you have questions or need information right now, call the BBL Information Line at (202) 442-4311.

Public Health: Retail Food Establishment
Category Name	License Fee	Application Fee	Endorsement Fee	Units	TOTAL
Candy Manufacturing	$289	$70	$25		$384
Commission Merchant	$1,560	$70	$25		$1,655
Ice Cream Manufacturing	$2,730	$70	$25		$2,825
Marine Food Product	$289	$70	$25		$384
Bakery	$289	$70	$25		$384
Caterers	$222	$70	$25		$317
Delicatessen	$346	$70	$25		$441
Food Product	$289	$70	$25		$384
Food Vending Machine	$21	$70	$25	per machine	varies per machine
Grocery Store	$289	$70	$25		$384
Restaurant	$346	$70	$25	1-10 seats	$441
Restaurant	$432	$70	$25	11-50 seats	$527
Restaurant	$518	$70	$25	51-100 seats	$613
Restaurant	$604	$70	$25	100 + seats	$699
Street Vendor A (Food)	$338	$70	$25		$433

Housing: Transient
Category Name	License Fee	Application Fee	Endorsement Fee	Units	TOTAL
Boarding House	$0	$70	$25	1-4 units	$95
Boarding House	$208	$70	$25	5-10 units	$303
Boarding House	$45	$70	$25	additional 10 units or fraction	$140
Hotels are charged by the number of rooms. *There is no charge for the first kitchen, each additional kitchen is $190.
Hotel	$190	$70	$25	Under 30 rooms	$285
Hotel	$619	$70	$25	30-50 units	--
Hotel	$45	$70	$25	Every additional 10 units over 50	add on
Inn and Motel	$45, $90, $135	$70	$25	10-30 units, $45 per 10 units or fraction	varies per number of units
Inn and Motel	$411	$70	$25	30-50 units
Inn and Motel	$45	$70	$25	Every additional 10 units over 50
Rooming House	See Boarding House above
Bed and Breakfast	$0	$70	$25	1-4 units	$95
Bed and Breakfast	$208	$70	$25	5-10 units	$303
Bed and Breakfast	$45	$70	$25	Every additional 10 units over 10 or fraction	$45

Housing: Residential
Category Name	License Fee	Application Fee	Endorsement Fee	Units	TOTAL
Apartment House	$167	$70	$25	3-4 units	$262
Apartment House	$208	$70	$25	5-25 units	$303
Apartment House	$140	$70	$25	Each additional 25 units over 25 or fraction	varies
Cooperative Association	$37	$70	$25	per unit	varies on number of units
One Family Rental	$35	$70	$25		$130
Two Family Rental	$63	$70	$25		$158

Please step-by-step directions for obtaining a BBL for residental rental properties. This information is included in the fact sheets above as well.