Virginia Law

A. Sole proprietor (principal broker owner). A real estate broker's license shall be issued to an individual trading under an assumed or fictitious name, that is, a name other than the individual's full name, only after the individual signs and acknowledges a certificate provided by the board that sets forth the name under which the business is to be organized and conducted, the address of the individual's residence, and the address of the individual's place of business. The board will consider the application of an individual only after the individual is authorized to conduct business in accordance with Chapter 5 (§ 59.1-69 et seq.) of Title 59.1 of the Code of Virginia.

B. Sole proprietor (nonbroker owner), partnership, association, limited liability company, or corporation. Every sole proprietor (nonbroker owner), partnership, association, limited liability company, or corporation must secure a real estate license for its firm before transacting real estate business. This license is separate and distinct from the individual broker license required of each partner, associate, manager of a limited liability company, and officer of a corporation who is active in the firm's brokerage business. Each applicant for such license shall disclose, and the license shall be issued to, the name under which the applicant intends to do or does business and holds itself out to the public. Each applicant shall also disclose the business address of the firm. The board will consider the application of any partnership, association, corporation, or limited liability company only after the entity is authorized to conduct business in accordance with Chapter 5 (§ 59.1-69 et seq.) of Title 59.1 of the Code of Virginia.

C. Each real estate firm is required to have a principal broker whose license is in good standing with the board in order to transact real estate business.

D. Branch office license. If a real estate broker maintains more than one place of business within the state, a branch office license shall be issued for each additional place of business maintained other than the broker's primary place of business noted on the firm license application. Application for the license shall be made on forms provided by the board and shall reveal the name of the firm, the location of the branch office, and the name of the supervising broker for that branch office. The branch office license shall be maintained at the branch office location. No branch office license shall be required for:

1. A location that the principal broker or those employed by or affiliated as an independent contractor with the principal broker does not own, lease, or maintain exclusive access to, maintenance of, and control of, unless it is held out to the public as a location where such persons or entities are regularly engaging in the activities of a real estate broker or salesperson;

2. A motor vehicle or watercraft;

3. A place that is solely devoted to advertising real estate matters of a general nature or to making a real estate broker's business name generally known, such as a trade show or expo;

4. A residence, unless it is held out to the public as a location where the principal broker or those employed by or affiliated as an independent contractor with the principal broker is regularly engaging in the activities of a real estate broker or salesperson;

5. A post office box, mail drop location, or other similar facility; or

6. A public location, such as a coffee shop or restaurant.