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Know when it’s time to permit up in W.Va.

By Staff | Mar 28, 2018

Building any type of structure, home addition or taking time to remodel your West Virginia home is exciting. You may have already chosen a contractor, set your plans and want to begin work. However, permits may be required to fulfill the work that is planned. It is important to consider your specific city or town’s requirements for permits for the type of work being performed.

When working with licensed professional local contractors, they will usually know which what permits are required for the work you need done. Since the contractor is the one who will complete the work, they will also do the application and hand it in for you, so you do not have to worry about not having the proper permit for the job. Permits however, must be approved before the work can begin.

Building Permits in West Virginia

Before doing any remodeling or repairing work on your property, a floodplain permit must be obtained in West Virginia. If the build is in an area that is within the boundary of the 100-year floodplain, information will be given to find out how to build a stronger, safer structure overall depending on the project you’re currently working on.

A building permit application, as well as 1% cost of construction permit fee will be needed when applying for any permit to build. Additionally, an $85 fee is charged to those that require an electrical permit. If the electrical work does not pass inspection after the work has been completed, the owner of the home or business must pay another $85 fee to continue to bring the electrical to where it needs to be.

When You Need

or Don’t Need a Permit

Permits are often required for larger projects including new business or home construction, room additions or other large structural builds that will be going on the property. Swimming pools require a permit to install and if you plan to have a fence that is over 6 feet high, you’ll need a permit for that as well. Other projects that require a permit to complete include electrical installation, major plumbing remodels or installs and siding as well as specialized roofing including tin roofs and other unique materials for roofing.

Smaller jobs that are done around the property, such as painting, repairing roofing materials or siding repairs do not need a permit to be completed. These small projects often do not require a lot of time or materials. They do not interfere with the safety of the structure thus ensuring the home or business owner won’t need a permit to complete the work.

Final Inspection

Inspections are required for all home additions, structural changes, roofing and siding, electrical, plumbing and large projects. Schedule an appointment with your specific county to have an inspector come out and review the project once it is completed. If the inspection is for electrical, be sure the inspector can see the work at hand to verify it has been completed in a safe manner. If you hire a contractor, the inspector will come out to evaluate the work the contractor has done and will let you as well as the contractor know if the work is up to code or not.

Once everything is complete, the inspector will come back out to check one last time to make sure everything is up to code and if it is, the work will be approved. Once everything is complete and the inspector files the report, they will file the report as well as the permit with the building department and will also provide a copy to the home or business owner for their records.

To find out more information about building permits in the state of West Virginia, visit the state’s permit page at www.fayettecounty.wv.gov/building/Pages/default.aspx. It is also important to check with your specific county’s permit office to get specifics on permit applications, fees and other information for the work you’d like to perform.