Welcome to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) Business and Professional Licensing Administration Business Licensing Division.
“Business” means any trade, profession, or activity which provides, or holds itself out to provide, goods or services to the general public or to any portion of the general public, for hire or compensation in the District of Columbia.
Business activity in the District requires owners/operators to be licensed according to the business activity conducted (e.g., convenience stores, home improvement contractors, residential rentals, restaurants).
Each licensed activity has its own set of requirements, see categories below, but all licenses have to complete the four requirements outlined in the Steps to Obtain a Basic Business License.
How to Apply for a License
Online
Visit the DC Business Licensing Portal. You can find personalized checklists with all the requirements you need to kick start your new business.
Want more information?
“Skip the Trip” and use the My DC Business Center to conduct business wherever and whenever you choose. Application requirements may be found below for each category for which an application may be submitted online. If you have more detailed questions about the requirements and/or categories, please contact us at (202) 671-4500.
In PersonYou may visit the DLCP Business License Center, 1100 4th Street, SW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20024, where you will be directed to one of our kiosks to apply for a Basic Business License via the DC Business Center. You may pay with a major credit/debit card. No appointments are required.
Note: For each category, other than the last category (“Regulated Businesses”), the requirements are identical for all licenses in that category. However, the fee schedule may vary depending on the type of license.