Business In Clarksville

A guide to resources and information for Clarksville businesspeople

Special Permits

The Town Zoning Ordinance has provisions for home occupations.  In some cases, a special use permit is required .  Please contact the Town office at 434-374-8177 for more information.

Special permits also may be needed based on your type of business, such as:

  • ABC license
  • Building permits
  • Dance permit
  • Environmental determination
  • Health Department permit
  • Home Occupation permit
  • Parking permit
  • Sign permit
  • Zoning compliance

Business Licenses

A business license is required in the Town of Clarksville.  Business licenses are required each calendar year.  You can apply at Town Hall, 321 Virginia Avenue,434-374-8177.  The business license fee is based on gross receipts and the business, professional and occupation license rate as determined by industry.

BPOL Tax Rates per $100
Contracting (First $100,000) $0.16
Contracting (>$100,000) $0.12
Retail $0.15
Hotels/Motels (8 rooms or greater) $0.32
Repair & Personal Services $0.22
Financial $0.27
Real Estate & Professional $0.32
Wholesale Gross Receipts or Purchases $0.05

The business license application will require you provide the following:

  • Your federal ID number or your social security number.
  • Fiscal year or calendar year operation.
  • An initial business license is $30. Note: Out-of-town contractors are required to obtain a Clarksville business license when their gross receipts exceed $25,000 within town limits.In-town contractors report gross receipts not required to be reported to another locality.
  • A copy of the incorporation papers from the State Corporation Commission. If your business is not incorporated and is using a trade name, you are required with the Commission of Revenue Office to register the trade name with the Clerk of Circuit Court.

Other considerations:

  • If you have two separate locations in the Town of Clarksville you will be required to have two separate licenses.
  • If you are a retail business, you will need to register with the State Department of Taxation for a sales tax number. To download Form R-1, go to www.tax.virginia.gov.
  • Clarksville has a Meals Tax.  Meals tax forms are available at Town Hall.   If you will be offering food and beverages, you will need to register with the State Department of Taxation for a sales tax number and with the Mecklenburg County Commission of Revenue. You also will need to contact the Health Department.
  • If you expect to have employees, contact the Virginia Employment Commission regarding withholding information. Call or visit the VEC office. 
  • If you are a contractor, you will need to file a Certificate of Insurance for Workers' Compensation with the Commissioner of the Revenue when applying for a business license in each Virginia locality in which you are required to have a license. To download Form 61A, go to www.vwc.state.va.us/printable/insurance/form61a.pdf.

Registering with the police department

When establishing a business in Clarksville it is helpful to stop by the police department to provide contact information in the event of an emergency. 

Town of Clarksville Incentives

Industrial Real Estate Discount - Discount of 50% off the listed price of the property for businesses which make a $10 million private investment and within 30 months will create a minimum of 75 full time jobs as defined by the Commonwealth of Virginia

Economic Stimulus Grant - A six-year stimulus grant based on machinery/tools tax payments (tax rate $0.30/$100) for businesses which create a minimum of 50 full time jobs within 30 months.  Recipients of the Economic Stimulus Grant are ineligible to receive Job Grants. Grant percentages are 100% in year 1, 80% inyear 2, 60% in year 3, 40% in year 4, 20% in year 5 and 10% in year 6.

Job Grants – Grants of $400 per job for industries creating 15 to 50 full time jobs within 30 months.  One-time payment made when LEZA is satisfied with certainty of the jobs creation.  Recipients of Job Grants are ineligible to receive the Economic Stimulus Grant.

Waiver of Zoning Permit Fees - Businesses locating in the zone will have zoning permit fees waived.

Waiver of Water and Sewer Connection Fees - Water and sewer connection fees will be waived for businesses locating in the zone.

Central Business District Stimulus Grant - A four-year stimulus grant based on the Business, Professional, &Occupational License (BPOL) tax payment for businesses making a $100,000 private investment and creating a minimum of 5 full time jobs within 18 months.  This is a four-year stimulus grant based on the Business, Professional, & Occupational License (BPOL) tax payment: 100% in Years 1 & 2, 75% in year 3, and 50% in year 4.

Central Business District Tax Assessment Relief - Business renovations in the Central Business District will be taxed on the pre-renovated condition of the property for three years. Renovations must be implemented in the Central Business District.  Renovations must total at least $20,000.

Industrial Parks

Two industrial parks are located in Clarksville.

Lake Country Industrial Park – 32 acres located off Hwy 15 South of 58 on Noblin Farm Road.

Virginia Lakeside Commerce Park – 265 acres located on Hwy 58 east of downtown.    

The zoning in the industrial parks is M1, industrial, and they are sub-dividable.

Utilities

Electricity: Dominion Virginia Power (LakeCountry)  Mecklenburg Electric (Lakeside)
Gas: Columbia Gas of Virginia
Water: Town of Clarksville, 1,000,000 GPDcapacity
Sewer: Town of Clarksville, 550,000 GPD capacity
Telecom Providers: Verizon (fiber-opticsat site)

Transportation
Highway: US route 15 & 58 at site, I-85 25 miles
Commercial Air: Raleigh/Durham International 60 miles
General Aviation Air: Marks Municipal Airport 5 miles
4,500 ft. Runway

Workforce
Size: 24,508 within 30 mile radius, 38,590 within 60 miles
Training: New state-of-the-art center where business can train employees ontheir own equipment while their new facility is under development

Pricing
Price: $20,000 to $25,000 per acre
Options: Build-to-suit available, lease/purchase
For more information about doing business ina Mecklenburg Country industrial park, contact:

Angie Kellett
Director of Economic Development
Mecklenburg County
PO Box 307
Boydton, VA 23917
Phone: (434) 738-6388
Fax: (434) 738-6804
Email: angie.kellett@mecklenburgva.com