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Resource Guide for Member Businesses

Year-Round Sign-Up Opportunities: 

Friends of Cville Newsletter 

Make sure you’re signed up for the Friends of Cville newsletter and the Friends of Cville business newsletter to stay up to date!

Security Camera Interest

These cameras are being rolled out slowly and we may not be able to accommodate all requests. 

Downtown Cville Events Calendar 

Add your events and get the word out!

Business Resources

OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

610 E Market Street, Room B226 - Charlottesville, VA 22902
(434) 970-3110

The Charlottesville Office of Economic Development is the city's economic development organization --supporting entrepreneurs and existing Charlottesville companies, as well as encouraging companies to relocate to the Charlottesville area.

CHARLOTTESVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

209 Fifth Street N.E. - Charlottesville, VA 22902
(434) 295-3141

The Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based organization dedicated to maintaining a healthy and balanced business climate. It is the leading advocate for small businesses on public policy issues, as well as a forum for networking, education, and promotion.

Business Assistance 

Trespass Notification Form

Downtown Mall Outdoor Cafes

Downtown Mall restaurants wishing to operate an outdoor sidewalk cafe on the Downtown Mall, or adjacent public side street, must obtain an annual Downtown Mall Outdoor Café Space permit.

Sidewalk Cafes on the Downtown Mall are regulated by the City of Charlottesville City Code Chapter 28 Article VI, and the Charlottesville Architectural Design Control Districts Design Guidelines Section V.E. Sidewalk Café operators are responsible for knowing and complying with these regulations.

  • Renewals: All restaurants wishing to continue to operate an existing outdoor sidewalk café space must obtain an Annual Permit Agreement for Sidewalk Café on Public Property (“Permit Agreement”). Existing café spaces will be provided with a new Permit Agreement for signature, annually, in addition to being invoiced annually for the space.
  • New applications: Restaurants seeking to establish a new outdoor café space must apply for an Annual Permit Agreement for Sidewalk Café on Public Property. New applications are also required when taking over a previously existing restaurant café space.
  • See Outdoor Sidewalk Café Rules and Regulations (PDF).
  • Applications are made by contacting Brenda Kelley via email or (434) 970-3040.
  • All Outdoor Café spaces are permitted annually at a cost of $125.00 per year PLUS the cost per square foot of the leased area.

Downtown Mall Vendor

Any person wishing to sell food, beverages, services or merchandise on the Downtown Mall, or adjacent public street, must obtain a Downtown Mall Vendor permit. There are limited, identified Vendor space locations.

  • All Vendors must first contact Brenda Kelley via email or (434) 970-3040, to determine if there is a space available.
  • Vending on the Downtown Mall is regulated pursuant to the Charlottesville Architectural Design Control Districts Design Guidelines Section V.
  • All Vendors wishing to set up on the Downtown Mall, or adjacent street, must obtain:
    • a one-time Certificate of Appropriateness from the Zoning Administrator’s office (through the Application link below)
    • an annual Peddler’s License from the Commissioner of Revenue’s office. [Scroll down to new application]
  • See Vendor Rules and Regulations (PDF).
  • Applications are made through the City’s permitting portal.
  • All Vendors are permitted quarterly during a calendar year. There are two types of Vendor permits:
    (1) Assigned space, at a cost of $250.00 per calendar quarter, or $1000.00 for an annual permit, or
    (2) first-come, first-serve (unassigned) space, at a cost of $200.00 per calendar quarter.

Special Events on the Downtown Mall

Special Event permit(s) are required for the use of public property by non-City organizations and individuals for the purpose of conducting events expected to draw 50 or more persons.

Please find information regarding special events and the link to submit an application here.