1. En Español
Food Establishment Licenses
The construction and operation of all food establishments in Arlington County must
comply with Chapter 9.2, Food and Food Handling Code of the Arlington County Code.
Plans for new or remodeled establishments must be submitted for review prior to
construction. The owner, or his agent, shall submit seven sets of plans to Inspection
Services Division, Arlington County Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 804.
Building Services (703-228-3800) will forward a copy of the plans to the Environmental
Health Bureau. The Environmental Health Bureau charges a $200 plan review fee. You
may view the Restaurant Construction Guidelines online at this site.
A Health License is required for new food establishments or whenever there is a change
of ownership, and the license must be renewed annually. An application processing fee of
$100, made payable to Arlington County Treasurer, must accompany the license
application and should be mailed or delivered to the Environmental Health Bureau at 800
S. Walter Reed Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22204.
Applications are available from the Environmental Health Office, or you may download
the application here.
All food establishments must have a Certified Food Manager on site during hours of
operation. One may become a Certified Food Manager by passing a nationally recognized
test and obtaining a Northern Virginia Food Manager's picture identification card at ORS
Interactive.
For more information on safe food, visit the Northern Virginia Alliance for Safe Food
website.
Hotel and Motel Establishment Permits
Tourist establishments such as hotels and motels are inspected to determine compliance
with health and safety laws governed by Commonwealth of Virginia Rules and
Regulations, and to initiate enforcement procedures when necessary. Permits are issued
annually for the lodging facility. Additional permits may be issued for on site restaurants,
continental breakfasts, swimming pools and spas.
A Health License is required for new tourist establishments or whenever there is a change
of ownership, and the license must be renewed annually. An application processing fee of
$100, made payable to Arlington County Treasurer, must accompany the license
application and should be mailed or delivered to the Environmental Health Bureau at 800
S. Walter Reed Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22201.
Applications are available from the Environmental Health Office, or you may download
the application here.

2. Massage Therapist Licenses
Permit applications and renewals for Massage Therapists may be obtained in person at
the Arlington County Department of Human Services, Environmental Health Office, 800
S. Walter Reed Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22204, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays.
You may call 703-228-7400 to request that the be mailed to you. Click here to download
application.
Applicants are required to bring the following items to the Department of Human
Services at the address given above:
• A completed Massage Therapist application signed by the applicant and
notarized;
• Cash or certified check or money order (made payable to Treasurer, Arlington
County) for $50 to cover the initial investigation fee, or $20 for renewals;
• The physician certification form signed by a medical doctor stating that he or she
has examined the applicant within 30 days of the application date and has found
the applicant to be free of any identifiable disease which would create a
significant medical risk to the massage subject;
• A diploma or certificate of graduation from a recognized school or other
recognized institution of learning that has as its purpose the teaching of the
theory, method, profession, and work of massage therapists NOTE: if the school
from which you received a diploma or certificate is not on the AMTA list (this list
is attached to the Permit Application), you must submit the following information:
o Transcripts that show the total number of hours for which you received
training in massage therapy
o The address, phone number, and name of the Director of the school
• Two front facing photographs, passport size, taken within 90 days of the
application date;
• A copy of the State of Virginia Certification to practice as a Massage Therapist
(note that a State Massage Therapist License is prerequisite for an Arlington
County license). To obtain the State Application for Certification, including
Virginia State Board of Nursing Regulations governing certification of massage
therapists, contact the Arlington County Environmental Health offices at the
address above.
• FBI Record Check- Fingerprints may be obtained from the Arlington County
Sheriff's Department, 1425 North Courthouse Road, 9th Floor, between the hours
of 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Fee for fingerprints is $10
for first card; $5 for each additional card. If you have any questions regarding the
fingerprint process, please contact the department at (703) 228-4460. Please note
that the FBI record check can take 12 weeks or longer to process.
A Massage Therapist Permit will be issued within 30 days after the Department of
Human Services has received all the necessary documentation, including the FBI Record
Check, and staff have verified that all conditions of Chapter 49 of the Arlington County
Code are met. Massage therapy licenses must be renewed every two years from the date

3. of expiration. Please obtain and submit thirty (30) days prior to the day of expiration a
completed renewal application form along with required information and documentation.
Mobile Food Unit and Vendor Licenses
The Guidelines for Itinerant Vendors contains complete regulations pertaining to vending
in Arlington County and are available online here in PDF format. Or, obtain a copy of
these Guidelines from the Environmental Health Bureau of the Department of Human
Services, at 800 S. Walter Reed Drive, Arlington, or by calling 703-228-7400. In brief,
vendors require a peddler's/itinerant merchant's license; and mobile food units must
complete a license application and a depot letter (both available online). These are
renewable annually in June. See the Guidelines for complete details about the application
and licensing process, or request an application and depot letter from the Environmental
Health Bureau (703-228-7400).
Swimming Pool Licenses
The construction and operation of public swimming pools and spas in Arlington County
must comply with Chapter 24.1, Water Recreation Facilities Ordinance , of the Arlington
County Code. Plans for new or remodeled establishments must be submitted for review
prior to construction. The owner, or his agent, shall submit seven sets of plans to Building
Inspection Services, Arlington County Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite
804. Building Services (703-228-3800) will forward a copy of the plans to the
Environmental Health Bureau. The Environmental Health Bureau charges a $160 plan
review fee.
A Health License is required for new swimming pools or whenever there is a change of
ownership and the license must be renewed annually. Each swimming pool license
application must be accompanied by a pool electrical certification, completed by a Master
Electrician, and an application-processing fee of $400 for year-round pools, $200 for
seasonal pools, and $100 for each additional body of water. The checks should be made
payable to Arlington County Treasurer and mailed or delivered to the Environmental
Health Bureau, 800 S. Walter Reed Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22204.
All swimming pools must have a certified life guard and person in charge on site during
all hours of pool operation. The person in charge shall be able to demonstrate his/her
skills in the areas of water chemistry, hydraulics, microbiology and other relevant areas
related to the safe operation of public swimming pools and public spas.
Follow CDC Guidelines to ensure that you have a healthy swimming experience each and
every time: Healthy Swimming - English or Healthy Swimming - Spanish
Temporary Food Licenses
The Environmental Health Bureau of the Department of Human Services issues
Temporary Food Licenses for special events such as fairs and festivals where food will be

4. prepared or served. Contact the Environmental Health Bureau at 703-228-7400 to obtain
a copy of the Temporary Food service Application packet, or you may download the
application packet. Each food vendor must submit an application and the $100
application processing fee at least 10 days prior to the date of the event.
Beer and Wine License: Permits the sale of malt and vinous liquors only to the public
for consumption on the licensed premises.
Bed and Breakfast Permit: Allows complimentary alcohol beverages to be provided
only to overnight guests during limited hours for consumption on the premises.
Brew Pub License: Allows sale and consumption on premises of malt, vinous and
spirituous liquors, and permits the manufacture of malt liquor on the licensed premises.
Malt liquor which is manufactured on licensed premises may be sold for consumption on
the premises, sold to an independent wholesaler for distribution to other licensed retailers,
or sold to the public in properly labeled sealed containers "to go."
Club License: Permits qualifying non-profit corporations to sell malt, vinous, or
spirituous liquors to members and their guests for consumption on the premises.
Delivery Permit: A llows the delivery of alcohol beverages to locations off the licensed
premises in sealed containers. Permits are only available to off premises retail licensees
and to 3.2 beer licensees who hold on/off combination licenses.
Hotel and Restaurant: Permits restaurants, and hotels with restaurant facilities, to sell
malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors to the public for consumption within the licensed
premises.
Liquor Licensed Drugstore: Permits licensed drugstores to sell malt, vinous, and
spirituous liquors to the public in sealed containers for consumption off the premises.

5. Mini Bar Permits: Allow a hotel and restaurant licensee (owner) who has a separate
hotel facility, if located within 1,000 feet of its existing hotel and restaurant license, to
establish mini bars in guest rooms at the hotel.
Optional Premises: Permits the sale on a licensed outdoor sports and recreational
facility of malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors by the drink to customers for consumption
on the premises.
Public Transportation System License: Permits operators of a public transportation
system to sell malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors to the public for consumption on the
conveyances, cars, or planes of the system, or in private club rooms in airports or airport
concourses.
Race Track: Permits racetracks with pari-mutuel wagering to sell malt, vinous, and
spirituous liquors to customers for consumption on the premises.
Retail Gaming Tavern License: Allows sale of malt, vinous and spirituous liquor by
the drink for consumption on the premises.
Retail Liquor Store License: Permits the sale to the public of malt, vinous, and
spirituous liquors in sealed containers for consumption off the premises.