Virginia Law

A. A small business, farm or nonprofit organization may be eligible to receive a payment, not to exceed $25,000, for expenses actually incurred in reestablishing operations at a replacement site. A small business, farm or nonprofit organization that elects a fixed payment in lieu of actual moving expenses is not eligible for a reestablishment expense payment.

B. Eligible expenses. Reestablishment expenses must be reasonable and actually incurred. They may include the following items:

1. Repairs or improvements to the replacement real property as required by federal, state or local law, code or ordinance;

2. Modifications to the replacement property to accommodate the business operation or make replacement structures suitable for conducting the business;

3. Construction and installation costs for exterior signing to advertise the business;

4. Redecoration or replacement of soiled or worn surfaces at the replacement site, such as paint, paneling, or carpeting;

5. Licenses, fees and permits when not paid as part of moving expenses;

6. Advertisement of replacement location;

7. Increased costs of operation during the first two years at the replacement site for such items as:

a. Lease or rental charges;

b. Personal or real property taxes;

c. Insurance premiums; and

d. Utility charges, excluding impact fees; and

8. Other items that VDOT considers essential to the reestablishment of the business.

A discussion of business reestablishment costs is contained in the "Guidance Document for the Determination of Certain Financial Benefits to Displacees," effective October 1, 2014.

C. Ineligible expenses. The following is a nonexclusive listing of ineligible reestablishment expenditures:

1. Purchase of capital assets, such as office furniture, filing cabinets, machinery or trade fixtures;

2. Purchase of manufacturing materials, production supplies, product inventory or other items used in the normal course of the business operation;

3. Interest on money borrowed to make the move or purchase the replacement property; and

4. Payment to a part-time business in the home that does not contribute materially to the household income.