Virginia Law

A. General. Every business entity shall secure a license before transacting business.

B. Name. The business name shall be disclosed on the application. The name under which the entity conducts business and holds itself out to the public (i.e., the trade or fictitious name) shall also be disclosed on the application. Business entities shall register their trade or fictitious names with the State Corporation Commission in accordance with Chapter 5 (§ 59.1-69 et seq.) of Title 59.1 of the Code of Virginia before submitting their applications to the board.

C. Address. The applicant shall disclose the firm's mailing address and the firm's physical address. A post office box is only acceptable as a mailing address when a physical address is also provided.

D. Form of organization. Applicants shall meet the additional requirements listed below for their business type:

1. Corporations. All applicants shall have been incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia or, if a foreign corporation, shall have obtained a certificate of authority to conduct business in Virginia from the State Corporation Commission in accordance with § 13.1-544.2 of the Code of Virginia. The corporation shall be in good standing with the State Corporation Commission at the time of application to the board and at all times when the license is in effect.

2. Limited liability companies. All applicants shall have obtained a certificate of organization in the Commonwealth of Virginia or, if a foreign limited liability company, shall have obtained a certificate of registration to do business in Virginia from the State Corporation Commission in accordance with § 13.1-1105 of the Code of Virginia. The company shall be in good standing with the State Corporation Commission at the time of application to the board and at all times when the license is in effect.

3. Partnerships. All applicants shall have a written partnership agreement. The partnership agreement shall state that all professional services of the partnership shall be under the direction and control of a licensed or certified professional.

4. Sole proprietorships. Sole proprietorships desiring to use an assumed or fictitious name, that is a name other than the individual's full name, shall have their assumed or fictitious name recorded by the clerk of the court of the county or jurisdiction wherein the business is to be conducted.

E. Qualifications.

1. Lead contractor. Each applicant for lead contractor licensure shall:

a. Hold a valid Virginia contractor license with a lead specialty issued by the Virginia Board for Contractors and comply with the provisions of Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia governing the regulation of contractors.

b. Certify that:

(1) Only properly licensed lead abatement supervisors and workers will be employed to conduct lead-based paint activities;

(2) A licensed lead abatement supervisor is present at each job site during all work site preparation and during post-abatement cleanup, and shall be on site or available by telephone, pager, or answering service and able to be present at the work site in no more than two hours when abatement activities are being conducted;

(3) The standards for conducting lead-based paint activities established in this chapter and standards established by EPA and OSHA shall be followed at all times during the conduct of lead-based paint activities; and

(4) The company is in compliance with all other occupational and professional licenses and standards as required by Virginia statute and local ordinance to transact the business of a lead abatement contractor.

F. Conviction or guilt. Neither the firm nor the owners, officers, or directors shall have been convicted or found guilty, regardless of adjudication, in any jurisdiction of any felony or of any misdemeanor involving lying, cheating, or stealing or of any violation while engaged in environmental remediation activity that resulted in the significant harm or the imminent and substantial threat of significant harm to human health or the environment, there being no appeal pending therefrom or the time of appeal having lapsed. Any plea of nolo contendre shall be considered a conviction for the purposes of this section. A certified copy of the final order, decree, or case decision by a court or regulatory agency with lawful authority to issue such order, decree, or case decision shall be admissible as prima facie evidence of such conviction or discipline. The board, at its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant in accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia.

G. Standards of conduct and practice. Applicants shall be in compliance with the standards of conduct and practice set forth in Part VIII (18VAC15-30-510 et seq.) and Part IX (18VAC15-30-760 et seq.) of this chapter at the time of application to the board, while the application is under review by the board, and at all times when the license is in effect.

H. Standing. Both the firm and the owners, officers, and directors shall be in good standing in every jurisdiction where licensed, and the applicant shall not have had a license that was suspended, revoked, or surrendered in connection with any disciplinary action in any jurisdiction prior to applying for licensure in Virginia. The board, at its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant based on disciplinary action by any jurisdiction.

I. Denial of license. The board may refuse to issue a license to any lead contractor applicant if the applicant or its owners, officers, or directors have a financial interest in a lead contractor whose lead license has been revoked, suspended, or denied renewal in any jurisdiction.