Taxes & Utilities

Major Taxes Affecting Businesses in Newport News

State Corporate Income Tax 6%
State Indivudual Income Tax 5.75% maximum rate
State Sales Tax 5.0% plus 1% local option
State Motor Vehicles Tax 4.15% or $75 whichever is greater
Real Property Tax $4.50/$100, assessed value
Machinery and Tool Tax $3.75/$100
Business Personal Property Tax $4.50/$100
Vehicle Tax 4.15%/assessed vehicle gross price
Hotel Tax 5%
Meal Tax 7.5% (plus sales tax)
Business License: Business License Tax Rate Schedule
Updated 2.19.19

Top of Page

Taxes (Paid by Individuals)

State Income Tax 5.75% (top rate)
Municipal Income Tax None
Real Property Tax $1.24/$100, assessed value
Personal Property Tax (vehicles* and boats) $4.50/$100, assessed value
Sales Tax 5.0% plus 1% local option
Meals Tax 7.5% (plus sales tax)
*The tax on the first $20,000 of the assessed value of qualified personal property will be reduced for tax years 2006 and forward.
Source: City of Newport News, Department of Development
Updated 2.19.19

Top of Page

State Corporate Income Tax Rates, Select States

Pennsylvania 9.99%
New Jersey 9.0%
Connecticut 8.25%
California 8.84%
Maryland 8.25%
Massachusetts 8.0%
Illinois 9.5%
Rhode Island 7.0%
New York 6.5%
Tennessee 6.5%
Alabama 6.5%
Georgia 6.0%
VIRGINIA 6.0%
Kentucky 6.0%
Florida 5.5%
South Carolina 5.0%
North Carolina 3.0%
Source: Federation of Tax Administrators Updated 2.19.19

Top of Page

State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Selected States

Tennessee 9.46%
Alabama 9.15%
New York 8.49%
California 8.55%
South Carolina 7.43%
Ohio 7.15%
Rhode Island 7.00%
New Jersey 6.60%
Georgia 7.43%
North Carolina 6.95%
 Florida  6.80%
Connecticut 6.35%
Pennsylvania 6.34%
Massachusetts 6.25%
Kentucky 6.00%
Michigan 6.00%
 Maryland  6.00%
VIRGINIA 5.65%
Updated 02.19.19

Source: Tax Foundation.org

Top of Page

Total Taxes as a Percentage of Personal Income, 2015

Region and State 2015
United States 10.08%  
New England 10.41  
Connecticut 10.86
Maine 11.92
Massachusetts 10.10
New Hampshire 8.52
Rhode Island 10.90
Vermont 11.87
 
Mideast 12.40  
Delaware 10.13
District of Columbia 14.31
Maryland 10.41
New Jersey 11..09
New York 14.94
Pennsylvania 9.94
 
Great Lakes 10.19  
Illinois 11.31
Indiana 9.17
Michigan 9.31
Ohio 10.08
Wisconsin 11.15
 
Plains 10.29  
Iowa 10.40
Kansas 9.35
Minnesota 11.64
Missouri 8.61
Nebraska 10.20
North Dakota 16.55
South Dakota 8.05
 
Southeast 8.57  
Alabama 8.23
Arkansas 9.91
Florida 7.60
Georgia 8.58
Kentucky 9.83
Louisiana 9.22
Mississippi 10.57
North Carolina 9.16
South Carolina 8.83
Tennessee 7.76
Virginia 8.56
West Virginia 11.23
 
Southwest 8.87  
Arizona 8.79
New Mexico 10.96
Oklahoma. 8.42
Texas 8.81
 
Rocky Mountain 9.13  
Colorado 8.86
Idaho 8.85
Montana 9.52
Utah 9.14
Wyoming 11.35
 
Far West 10.38  
California 10.72
Nevada 9.53
Oregon 9.85
Washington 8.99
Alaska 6.20
Hawaii 12.51

2.19.19 Source: Tax Policy Center  

Top of Page

Newport News Building Permit Activity, 2010-2018

2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Residential
Single Family 74 Units 48 Units 125 Units 101 Units 111 Units 111 Units 121 Units 77 Units 95 Units
Multi Family 187 Units 652 Units 454 Units 14 Units 9 Units 306 Units 11 Units 9 Units 0
Industrial $10.1 million $1.2 million $4.4 million $6.0 million $7.3 million $4.2 million $11.8 million $12.4 million $48.1 million
Office $0.9 million $8.9 million $8.7 million $6.1 million $491,613 $66.1 million $6.7 million $19 million $30.8 million
Retail $0.9 million $1.2 million $8.9 million $3.0 million 0 $4.4 million $6.5 million $3.1 million $11.4 million
Hotel 0 0 0 $22,000 0 $88,084 $235,000 $273,3250 $171,078
Source: City of Newport News Department of Codes Compliance Updated 02.28.2019

Top of Page

Newport News Tax Rates, Utility Charges and Development Fees Effective July 1, 2012

Business License Fees
Total Gross Receipts
$0 – $50,000
$50,001 – $100,000
$100,001 – $500,000
$500,001 and over
Contracting & Constructing $30 $50 $0.15 per $100 total gross receipts
Financial, Real Estate or Professional Services Receipts $30 $50 $0.58 per $100 total gross receipts
Repair, Personal, Business and Other Services $30 $50 $0.36 per $100 total gross receipts $0 – $5,000,000 $18,000 on first $5,000,000 gross receipts plus $0.05 per $100 on gross receipts over $5,000,000
Retail Merchants $30 $50 $0.20 per $100 gross receipts $0 – $500,000 $100,000 on first $50,000,000 plus $0.05 per $100 gross receipts over $50,000,000
Wholesale Merchants $50.00 on first $10,000 purchases plus $0.20 per $100 of gross purchases over $10,000
Note: Minimum license fees may apply. Not all business license categories are represented above.
Taxes
Real Estate Tax $1.10/$100, assessed value
Business Personal Property Tax $4.50/$100, assessed value
Vehicle Tax $4.50/$100, assessed value
Boats under 5 tons $1.00/$100, assessed value
Boats 5 tons and over $0.90/$100, assessed value
Boat Motors/RVs/Campers $1.00/$100, assessed value
Airplanes $.50/$100, assessed value
Mobile Homes $1.22/$100, assessed value
Handicap Equipment $1.00/$100, assessed value
Machinery and Tool Tax $3.75/$100, assessed value
Public Service Corporations
Personal Property $1.22/$100, assessed value
Airplane/Car/Truck $4.50/$100, assessed value
State Communications Sales Tax 5%
Public Right-of-Way Use Fee $0.91 monthly per subscriber per line (applies to cable television and landline telephone service)
State Telephone 911 Tax $0.75 monthly per landline telephone line
NNE 911 System Tax $2.58 per line
Local Telephone Utility Tax 20% on first $300.00
Electrical Utility Tax
Residential $1.54 + $0.016398 per kWh, $3.08 maximum monthly levy
Commercial $2.29 + $0.013859 per kWh on first 2,721 kWhs + $0.003265 per kWh on remainder, $80.00 maximum monthly levy
Industrial $2.29 + $0.015455 per kWh on first 2,440 kWhs (Tier One) +$0.003482 per kWh on remainder (Tier Two) $80.00 maximum monthly levy
Gas Utility Tax
Residential $1.51 per month
Commercial/Industrial $1.29 + $0.067602 per CCF on first 128.91 CCFs (Tier One) +$ 0.032576 per CCF on remainder (Tier Two) $55.00 maximum monthly levy
Sales Tax 5.0% (4.0% state and 1% local option)
Meals Tax 7.5% (plus sales tax)
Hotel Tax 7.5%
Admissions Tax 10%
Daily Rental Tax 1.0%
Cigarette Tax 20’s/ $0.85 25’s/ $1.0625 30’s/ $1.275
Utilities: Water
Meter Size
Monthly Rate
Meter Charge 5/8″ $6.60
3/4″ $7.90
1″ $10.60
1-1/2″ $26.00
2″ $39.00
3″ $83.00
4″ $120.00
6″ $221.00
8″ $342.00
10″ $480.00
Fire Hydrant Deposit 1″ $290.00
3″ $755.00 with RPZ backflow preventer
3″ $600.00 truck mount without RPZ backflow preventer
Fire Hydrant 1″ $42.00
3″ $160.00
Flow Charge $3.55 per 100 cubic feet consumed
Fire Protection Service Fee 5/8″ $1.40
3/4″ $1.40
1″ $2.00
1-1/2″ $2.70
2″ $4.10
3″ $5.40
4″ $5.40
6″ $6.80
8″ $6.80
10″ $6.80
Annual Fire Sprinkler
Connection Size
Charge/ Month
2″ $5.25
3″ $6.83
4″ $8.33
6″ $13.58
8″ $16.67
10″ $19.83
12″ $24.00
Connection Fees
Tap and Pipe Size
Complete Installation
Meter Yolk, Box & Water Meter
1/2″ tap, 3/4″ pipe $690.00 $285.00
3/4″ tap, 3/4″ pipe $715.00 $300.00
1″ tap, 1-1/2″ pipe $800.00 $360.00
1-1/4″ tap, 1-1/2″ pipe $1,700.00 $610.00
2″ tap, 2″ pipe $1,900.00 $700.00
System Development Meter Size Charge
5/8″ $1,990.00
3/4″ $2,990.00
1″ $4,980.00
1-1/2″ $16,920.00
2″ $22,890.00
3″ $53,140.00
4″ $124,380.00
6″ $262,680.00
8″ $431,240.00
10″ $689,940.00
Utilities: Sewer Connection Fees
Single-family, existing $676.00 per unit ($336.00, if paid within 12 months of sewer extension completion)
New Subdivision $3,093.00, plus $1,237.00 lateral installation fee
Multi-family $473.00 per unit, plus $52 per linear front foot (frontage on public street)
Commercial $676.00, plus $473.00 for each additional lateral, plus $52 per linear foot (frontage on public street)
Industrial $676.00, plus $52 per linear foot (frontage on public street)
Mobile Home $432.00 per unit, plus $52 per linear foot (frontage on public street)
Utilities: Wastewater/Sewer Meter Rate
Facility Charge (Hampton Roads Sanitation District – HRSD) 5/8″ $1,895.00
3/4″ $4,510.00
1″ $7,630.00
1-1/2″ $16,130.00
2″ $27,490.00
3″ $58,180.00
4″ $99,110.00
6″ $209,920.00
8″ $357,580.00
10″ $540,610.00
Sewer User Fee $3.37/100 c.f.
Sewer Treatment Charge Cubic Ft of Flow Quarterly Rate
0-3000 $2.79/100 c.f. ($4.91/minimum)
Sewer Treatment Surcharges
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in excess of 250 mg/l $24.05 per 100 lbs.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in excess of 250 mg/l $22.51 per 100 lbs.
Phosphorus (PO4-P) in excess of 6 mg/l $239.83 per 100 lbs.
Total kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) in excess of 35 mg/l $28.54 per 100 lbs.
Stormwater Management Fees
Single-family Residential $89.40 annually per single family unit
Multi-family Residential $37.56 annually per unit
Non-residential $44.70 semi-annually per 1,777 square feet of impervious surface
Development Fees
Subdivisions
Preliminary Plan Filing Fee $250.00, plus $10.00 per lot
Development Plan Filing Fee $400.00, plus $30.00 per lot
Resubmittal Fee $275.00
Inspection Fee Schedule $250.00, plus length of street x 1.8%
Site Plans
Class I Filing Fee $375.00, plus $130.00 per acre
Class I Inspection Fee $125.00, plus $125.00 per acre
Class I Resubmittal Fee $250.00
Plat Filing Fee $200.00, plus $20 per lot; plus $70.00 (mylar & printing per sheet) and $21.00 (recordation)
Class II Filing Fee $220.00
Class II Inspection Fee $35.00
Class II Resubmittal Filing Fee $100.00
Land Disturbance Permit
Agreement in lieu of plan $75.00
Up to 10,000 square ft. $175.00
Up to 20,000 square ft. $225.00
Up to 30,000 square ft. $275.00
Up to 40,000 square ft. $300.00
Up to 50,000 square ft. $325.00
Over 50,000 square ft. $350.00 plus $25.00 for square footage in excess of 60,000 square feet (in increments of 10,000 square feet or portion thereof)
Open Burning Permit $25.00 per acre
Reinstatement Fee $50.00
Right-of-way Permit $100,000 public liability insurance holding City harmless; performance bond equal to cost of right-of-way construction, $5,000.00 minimum
Residential entrance $65.00
Commercial entrance $200.00
Working within a Right-of-way $50.00
Building Plans, Review Fee $30.00 > 2,499 square feet
$55.00 2,500 – 4,999 square feet
$110.00 5,000+ square feet
Special Exception Zoning Application $250.00 non-refundable fee; $100.00 deferral fee, if applicant requests it
Conditional Use Permit Application $800.00; $200.00 deferral fee, if applicant requests it
Change of Zoning $650.00 + $150.00/acre or portion thereof, $800.00 minimum; $200.00 deferral fee, if applicant requests it
Traffic Signal Information Request $50.00 per request (may be more for maps and detailed investigations)
Wetlands Application $200.00 permit application fee
Building Permits – Construction Permit
Residential Building Permit Fee Schedule
Non-Residential Building Permit Fee Schedule
Building Permits – Plumbing $10.20 per fixture; $15.30 per water distribution system, or building drain connection; $30.60 per sewer connection, manhole, roof drain or area drain; $51.00 per gas line or medical gas line ($56.10 minimum)
Annual Plumbing Permit $56.10 for up to 5 fixtures
Service Panels Amperes Charge
0-125 $55.00 single-phase/ $85.00 three-phase
126-150 $85.00 single-phase/ $110.00 three-phase
151-200 $110.00 single-phase/ $165.00 three-phase
Over 200 $165.30 single-phase/ $195.00 three-phase plus $30.60 for each additional 50 amperes or fraction thereof
Temporary Service $51.00
Increase of Service $51.00 up to 200 amps + $15.30 for each 50 amps over 200
Residential 0.44% of installation and materials cost ($56.10 minimum)
Non-Residential 0.48% of installation and materials cost ($56.10 minimum)
Elevator Operating Permits
Semi-annual inspection $50.00
Maintenance inspection $85.00
Sign Permit 2% of installation and materials ($50.00 minimum/$252.50 maximum)
Utility Reset Inspection Fee $35.00
Alteration or Repair Permit
Residential 0.44% of construction cost ($56.10 minimum)
Non-Residential 0.48% of construction cost ($56.10 minimum)
Demolition Permit
0-250 sq. ft. $40.00
250 square feet + $100.00
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy $40.00
Certificate of Occupancy $55.00
NOTE: There is a state surcharge of 2% of the permit fee for all building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits Taxes, charges and fees are those commonly applicable to businesses in Newport News. The foregoing list may not include specialized circumstances.
Updated 07.01.12

For the most updated permit information follow this link.

Top of Page

Your firm can be assured of comprehensive, reliable and moderately priced utility services when locating in Newport News. Utility providers serving Newport News offer ample capacity in the power, water, sewage and telecommunications systems to serve your firm now and to meet its expanding needs into the future.

ELECTRIC
Electric power is provided by Dominion Virginia Power, a subsidiary of Dominion Resources, Inc. The electric utility serves more than 3.8 million customers in five states. Dominion Virginia Power has 89 interconnected generating units, providing a generating capability of more than 18,600 megawatts. An efficient mix of fossil fuel and nuclear generating plants, combined with judicious purchases of electricity from other systems keeps electric rates at moderate levels.

The utility has 6,000 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion Virginia Power expects to maintain a reserve capability of between 17 and 23 percent in the twenty-first century. System wide reliability reached 99.98% during 2001 and is even higher in most Newport News industrial and business parks. Dominion Virginia Power can also offer incentive rate pricing to high-demand users.

Typical Electric Utility Costs, Winter 2007

Newport News
Atlanta
Chicago
New York
Philadelphia
40 kw/10,000 kwh/mo
$802
$1,030
$961
$2,096
$1,450
1,000 kw/400,000 kwh/mo
$21,834
$31,397
$45,556
$67,686
$40,964
50,000 kw/15,000,000 kwh/mo
$962,792
$1,154,999
n/a
$3,066,069
$1,878,587
Source: Edison Electric Institute

Top of Page

Dominion Virginia Power Capacity and Demand, 2010

Summer
Winter
Total Capability
19,961 MW
21,006 MW
Peak Customer Demand
16,783 MW
15,244 MW
Source: Dominion Virginia Power, capability includes NUGs and capacity purchases.
*Customer demand is based on Summer and Winter peak dates. Winter peak demand is based on preliminary data.

Top of Page

Virginia Power Incentive Rate Pricing Qualifying Demand: 500 Kw – 5 Mw Savings on Demand Portion of Electric Bill

Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
Source: Dominion Virginia Power

Top of Page

Dominion Energy Generating Capability,

Nuclear
33.8%
Coal-fired 26.5%
Natural Gas 33.6%
Oil .5%
Hydro/Biomass/Wind 5.6%
Source: Dominion Virginia Power

 

NATURAL GAS
New industrial natural gas service is readily available from Virginia Natural Gas (VNG), a subsidiary of AGL Resources. Its service area stretches from Virginia Beach to Hanover County near Richmond. VNG serves more than 218,000 residential households. It provides service to more than 12,100 commercial and industrial customers, including 150 large industrial customers with interruptible service. VNG has more than 8,000 miles of main. Natural gas is delivered via three pipeline gates on the Virginia Peninsula.

Top of Page

Typical Gas Utility Costs, in Newport News, 2009

Top of Page
Average Natural Gas Prices (Dollars per thousand cubic feet), 2012
WATER
Water is provided regionally by the Newport News Waterworks. Service is provided to over 111,000 customers in five jurisdictions. The raw water system is currently rated with an annual average safe yield of about 60 million gallons per day (MGD). Actual usage of raw water is about 52 MGD. The system is served by two terminal reservoirs with a total treatment plant capacity of 85 MGD, expandable to 104 MGD. On an annual basis, present customer demand on the system is 50 MGD, with the maximum day of record at almost 70 MGD. Current plans call for a 5-10 MGD expansion of raw water capacity in the short term through desalination of low-level brackish well water supplies north of Newport News. (See pages G-8 and G-9 for water rates).

Top of Page
Typical Monthly Water Bills, Hampton Roads Water Systems, 2010
SEWER
Sewage treatment and disposal is handled by a regional authority. The Hampton Roads Sanitation District Commission operates four sewage treatment plants on the Peninsula. The Sanitation District’s Industrial Waste Division provides special technical assistance in order to aid new industries in determining the costs and alternatives associated with industrial waste treatment. The City, through its Engineering and Public Works Departments, constructs, upgrades and maintains sanitary sewer and wastewater feeder lines throughout Newport News.SOLID WASTE
Solid waste disposal is a function of the City’s Public Works Department. The City uses a private regional landfill and has developed a comprehensive recycling program for households and businesses. Residential solid waste collection is provided by the City. Commercial and industrial solid waste collection is provided by the private sector.

Industrial
Commercial
VIRGINIA
$5.14
$8.14
Connecticut
$6.63
$9.20
Delaware
$9.91
$10.37
District of Columbia
NA
$10.87
Florida
$6.97
$10.97
Georgia
$4.68
$8.07
Illinois
$5.76
$7.25
Maine
$9.24
$11.33
Maryland
$9.84
$10.27
Massachusetts
$9.90
$10.16
Michigan
$6.04
$7.02
New Jersey
$7.92
$9.14
New York
$7.81
$7.39
North Carolina
$6.24
$8.92
Ohio
$6.71
$5.99
Pennsylvania
$8.38
$9.42
Rhode Island
$8.48
$12.98
South Carolina
$4.90
$9.30
Tennessee
$5.05
$8.35
Vermont
$6.65
$4.55
Dollars per Thousand Cubic Feet

Source: Energy Information Administration

 

NEWPORT NEWS
Chesapeake
Norfolk
Williamsburg
Portsmouth
Suffolk
Virginia Beach
Small User
(5,000 gal/day)
$791
$864
$788
$641
$652
$1,190
$677
Moderate User (25,000 gal/day)
$3,393
$4,271
$3,942
$3,203
$3,238
$5,948
$3,367
Large User
(2.5 MM gal/day)
$325,325
$425,910
$394,213
$320,250
$323,305
$594,750
$336,267
Source: 2010 Hampton Roads Statistical Digest