Get an Ambulance License

NAICS CODE: 621910-1

NAICS DESCRIPTION: This classification applies if you provide transportation of patients by ground along with medical care. These services are often provided during a medical emergency but are not restricted to emergencies. Vehicles are equipped with lifesaving equipment operated by medically trained personnel.

You must procure a license from the Director of Motor Vehicle Services to operate or drive any ambulance. You will need a separate license for each vehicle. Your ambulance license is only valid if you have a valid Basic Business License.

Endorsement Class: Inspected Sales & Service

Legal Authority: DC Code: 47-2851.03a; 47-2829 DC Municipal Regulations Title 29 Chapter 5

License Duration: Two (2) Years

License Available Online: No

Category License Fee: $91.00

Application Fee: $70.00

Endorsement Fee: $25.00

Technology Fee: 10 percent of total

Step-by-Step Application Requirements

STEP ONE : Zoning Compliance

Certificate of Occupancy/Home Occupancy for Compliance for Zoning Regulations
Before applying for your BBL, you'll need a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) or a Home Occupation Permit for the location where your business is conducted to demonstrate that your business does not conflict with building and zoning codes. (If your business is located in an office building, you may operate under the umbrella of the C of O issued to the owner of the building, as long as the C of O was issued for the entire building; check with your building owner or management company for the C of O holder name, number, and issue date.) If you have any questions about Certificates of Occupancy, please call Permit Operations Customer Service at (202) 442-4589.

NOTE: You DO NOT need to attach a copy of the Certificate of Occupancy to your application. You DO need to provide C of O number and issue date on your application.

STEP TWO: Corporate Registration
Corporation Division Requirements

If you are a corporation, partnership or limited liability company you must be registered in the District and in good standing. For instructions on how to register, please go to DCRA Corporate Registration Information Center. If you are a sole proprietor, no registration is necessary and you can skip this step. For more information, please call the Corporation Division at (202) 442-4432.

If you are not a resident of the District of Columbia, you'll need to appoint a Resident Agent or an Attorney-in-Fact who lives or works in an office in the District, who will be the official recipient of any financial, process, or legal notices that we need to send to you. If you are not a DC resident, please complete the Certified Resident Agent Appointment Form*.

Every corporation needs to have a registered agent office in the District of Columbia. This office can but does not need to be the same as your place of business. Foreign corporations doing business in DC need to certify that their named registered agent is duly authorized to represent that corporation.

If your business uses a Trade Name, you'll need to register the name with DCRA and indicate both the trade name and the official business name (including its corporation, LLC, or partnership classification) if applicable.

STEP THREE: Taxes
Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) Registration
Before applying for your BBL, you'll also need to register your business with OTR and submit a copy of your tax registration certificate with your application. If you're not already registered, simply complete and file a Combined Business Tax Registration Application (Form FR500). You get all the necessary forms and submit your application online at the Business Tax Service Center. For more information, please call the Tax Customer Center at (202) 727-4829.

STEP FOUR: Clean Hands Certification
You'll also need to certify that you don't owe more than $100 to the District of Columbia government as a result of fees, penalties, interest, or taxes through completion of a Clean Hands form provided in your BBL application package. A signed form from the Office of Tax and Revenue may also be required.

STEP FIVE: Basic Business License Application

To make sure you get your BBL as quickly as possible, you must submit a properly completed Basic Business License Application after completing steps 1 through 4. All of your responses should be printed clearly in English.

Note on PDF Forms: To download and fill out the Basic Business License Application form you should open the form and save to your desktop. We recommend you also rename the form as you save to your desktop. For most users, you should be able to save your work. If you cannot, you should print the form before closing.

STEP SIX: Specific Category Requirements

Medical Certificate from Department of Health
You must submit a Medical Certificate issued by the Department of Health, Emergency Health and Medical Services Administration, located at 64 New York Avenue NE, Ste 5000, Washington, DC, 20001 or call the Emergency Health and Medical Services Administration at (202) 671-4222 for additional information regarding certification.

Certificate/ Documentation Showing Training Completion
You must submit documentation showing the training and experience of the applicant in the transportation and care of patients.

Locations of Where Ambulance Will Work From
The address of the place or places from which the ambulance will operate.

Description of Ambulance
A description of the ambulance to be licensed, including the make, model number, year of manufacture, vehicle identification number, license number, the length of time the ambulance has been in use, the color scheme, insignia, name, monogram, or other distinguishing characteristics to be used to designate the applicant’s ambulance.

Department of Public Works Inspection
No license for an ambulance shall be issued unless the ambulance has been physically inspected to determine compliance with the Department of Public Works. Located 3200 Benning Road NE Washington, DC 20002, or call (202) 727-5610.

Proof of Liability Insurance
You must provide proof of current liability insurance.

Department of Motor Vehicle Services Approval
You must obtain the approval to operate a new or used car dealership from the Department of Public Works, Bureau of Motor Vehicle Services at 301 C Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20001 or call them at (202) 727-5383 for additional details. You must attach an Investigation Certification Form from Motor Vehicle Services to the BBL application.

STEP SEVEN: Additional Business Activities

If you conduct more than one business activity (endorsement type), you'll need to indicate those activities on your BBL application. You might have any number of additional business activities connected to this particular license endorsement.

Special Notes: If your business includes any of the above endorsement activities, you can get additional fact sheets and application forms by contacting DCRA's License Center at (202) 442-4400, or by email at bbl.infocenter@dc.gov.

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