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Important Business Information
Over 250 businesses make their home in Wise. The Town does not regulate these businesses, but does assess an annual license tax based on the yearly gross receipts of a business. The Business, Professional, and Occupational License (BPOL) tax is as follows:
Contractors - .15/$100 gross receipts
Retail - .20/$100 gross receipts
Repair & Service - .25/$100 gross receipts
Financial, Real Estate, & Professionals - .32/$100 gross receipts
Wholesale - .05/$100 gross receipts
Businesses licenses are issued by the Treasurer’s Office. Initial applications for a new business are $30.
When re-applying for a business license you will need to provide the gross receipts for your business as reported to the Virginia Department of Taxation. The filing and payment deadline for the BPOL tax is May 1st of each calendar year.
PROPERTY TAXES
Real Estate: 0.2988/$100 Value (reassessed on 6 year intervals)
Personal Property: .63/$100 Value
Mobile Homes: .245/$100 Value
EXCISE TAXES:
Cigarette Tax: $.10/Pack
Transient Occupancy Tax: 6%
Meals Tax: 7%
UTILITY CONSUMER'S TAX:
Residential Electric: .80 + .009644/KWH; $3 Maximum
Commercial Electric: 1.50 + .0123367/KWH; $10 Maximum
Industrial Electric: 7.50 + .0047528/KWH; $10 Maximum
IN-TOWN WATER OUT-OF-TOWN WATER
$15.82 For 1st 1,000 $23.00 For 1st 1,000
Thereafter every 1,000 gal $6.33 Thereafter every 1,000 gal $9.20
Sewer Charge as a percent of Water 125.00% Sewer Charge as a percent of Water 125%
Flat fee for sewer if no Town Water $45.10 Flat fee for sewer if no Out-of-Town Water $65.55
FY 14 an annual waterworks operation fee, not to exceed $3 shall be charged to each water customer account.
GARBAGE COMMERCIAL: GARBAGE RESIDENTIAL:
$24.00/Month per Dumpster for 1 Pick-Up/Week $12.00/Month for 1 Pick-Up/Week
$48.00/Month per Dumpster for 2 Pick-Ups/Week $24.00/Month for 2 Pick-Ups/Week
$72.00/Month per Dumpster for 3 Pick-Ups/Week $36.00/Month for 3 Pick-Ups/Week
$96.00/Month per Dumpster for 4 Pick-Ups/Week $48.00/Month for 4 Pick-Ups/Week
$120.00/Month per Dumpster for 5 Pick-Ups/Week $60.00/Month for 5 Pick-Ups/Week
$144.00/Month per Dumpster for 6 Pick-Ups/Week $72.00/Month for 6 Pick-Ups/Week
BUILDING & ZONING
The Town of Wise requires that a Zoning Permit be obtained before making most improvements to your property. Once obtained, the Zoning Permit should be taken to the Wise County Building Inspector’s Office in order to secure a building permit. A landowner should call the town’s Zoning Officer at 328-6013 to determine if a Zoning Permit will be required for planned activities.
For most new construction, including but not limited to constructing a new driveway, installing a storage building, adding onto your building, or constructing a new building, you must complete a zoning permit application. Said application must be accompanied by a copy of your deed and property survey or plat. The fee for issuance of a standard Zoning Permit is $25.
Some uses requiring the exercise of planning judgment as to location and site development will involve additional permits and a more extensive protocol of review by the Planning Commission, Town Council, and/or the Board of Zoning Appeals. They are as follows:
Appeal of an Administrative Decision $ 50
Application for a Special Exception $ 50
Application for a Variance $ 50
Application for Site Plan Review $100
Application for a Conditional Use $150
Petition for Rezoning $150
BUILDING/ZONING PERMITS
Building permits for construction activity may be obtained from the Inspector’s office in the Wise County Courthouse. Before a building permit can be issued you must present a copy of a Zoning Permit. Zoning Permits for construction activity in the Town are obtained from the office of the Town Zoning Administrator located in the Wise Municipal Building. Any one requesting a Zoning Permit must complete an application and provide a copy of the property deed and survey. In addition, if a contractor will be performing the work, the contractor must obtain a license to do business in Wise. In many cases significant repairs and building additions require permits as does demolition. Check with the Town Zoning Administrator and the County Building Inspector before starting any work.
SIGN PERMITS
A sign permit is required before any exterior sign may be erected or installed in the Town of Wise. This requirement applies to all types of signs including but not limited to free standing, wall mounted, and marquee signs. The following information is necessary to process a sign permit application:
Contractors - .15/$100 gross receipts
Retail - .20/$100 gross receipts
Repair & Service - .25/$100 gross receipts
Financial, Real Estate, & Professionals - .32/$100 gross receipts
Wholesale - .05/$100 gross receipts
Businesses licenses are issued by the Treasurer’s Office. Initial applications for a new business are $30.
When re-applying for a business license you will need to provide the gross receipts for your business as reported to the Virginia Department of Taxation. The filing and payment deadline for the BPOL tax is May 1st of each calendar year.
PROPERTY TAXES
Real Estate: 0.2988/$100 Value (reassessed on 6 year intervals)
Personal Property: .63/$100 Value
Mobile Homes: .245/$100 Value
EXCISE TAXES:
Cigarette Tax: $.10/Pack
Transient Occupancy Tax: 6%
Meals Tax: 7%
UTILITY CONSUMER'S TAX:
Residential Electric: .80 + .009644/KWH; $3 Maximum
Commercial Electric: 1.50 + .0123367/KWH; $10 Maximum
Industrial Electric: 7.50 + .0047528/KWH; $10 Maximum
IN-TOWN WATER OUT-OF-TOWN WATER
$15.82 For 1st 1,000 $23.00 For 1st 1,000
Thereafter every 1,000 gal $6.33 Thereafter every 1,000 gal $9.20
Sewer Charge as a percent of Water 125.00% Sewer Charge as a percent of Water 125%
Flat fee for sewer if no Town Water $45.10 Flat fee for sewer if no Out-of-Town Water $65.55
FY 14 an annual waterworks operation fee, not to exceed $3 shall be charged to each water customer account.
GARBAGE COMMERCIAL: GARBAGE RESIDENTIAL:
$24.00/Month per Dumpster for 1 Pick-Up/Week $12.00/Month for 1 Pick-Up/Week
$48.00/Month per Dumpster for 2 Pick-Ups/Week $24.00/Month for 2 Pick-Ups/Week
$72.00/Month per Dumpster for 3 Pick-Ups/Week $36.00/Month for 3 Pick-Ups/Week
$96.00/Month per Dumpster for 4 Pick-Ups/Week $48.00/Month for 4 Pick-Ups/Week
$120.00/Month per Dumpster for 5 Pick-Ups/Week $60.00/Month for 5 Pick-Ups/Week
$144.00/Month per Dumpster for 6 Pick-Ups/Week $72.00/Month for 6 Pick-Ups/Week
BUILDING & ZONING
The Town of Wise requires that a Zoning Permit be obtained before making most improvements to your property. Once obtained, the Zoning Permit should be taken to the Wise County Building Inspector’s Office in order to secure a building permit. A landowner should call the town’s Zoning Officer at 328-6013 to determine if a Zoning Permit will be required for planned activities.
For most new construction, including but not limited to constructing a new driveway, installing a storage building, adding onto your building, or constructing a new building, you must complete a zoning permit application. Said application must be accompanied by a copy of your deed and property survey or plat. The fee for issuance of a standard Zoning Permit is $25.
Some uses requiring the exercise of planning judgment as to location and site development will involve additional permits and a more extensive protocol of review by the Planning Commission, Town Council, and/or the Board of Zoning Appeals. They are as follows:
Appeal of an Administrative Decision $ 50
Application for a Special Exception $ 50
Application for a Variance $ 50
Application for Site Plan Review $100
Application for a Conditional Use $150
Petition for Rezoning $150
BUILDING/ZONING PERMITS
Building permits for construction activity may be obtained from the Inspector’s office in the Wise County Courthouse. Before a building permit can be issued you must present a copy of a Zoning Permit. Zoning Permits for construction activity in the Town are obtained from the office of the Town Zoning Administrator located in the Wise Municipal Building. Any one requesting a Zoning Permit must complete an application and provide a copy of the property deed and survey. In addition, if a contractor will be performing the work, the contractor must obtain a license to do business in Wise. In many cases significant repairs and building additions require permits as does demolition. Check with the Town Zoning Administrator and the County Building Inspector before starting any work.
SIGN PERMITS
A sign permit is required before any exterior sign may be erected or installed in the Town of Wise. This requirement applies to all types of signs including but not limited to free standing, wall mounted, and marquee signs. The following information is necessary to process a sign permit application:
- size (area) and dimension of sign
- location of sign on the property or building
- copy of sign text
