Boone County, West Virginia Building Permit Guide

Any development in Boone County outside the towns, from a new house to a business building, needs a development permit from the Boone County Emergency Management Agency, whose Director is the county Floodplain Administrator. It costs $50 for a stick-built house and $500 for business construction, the EMA addresses the new structure as part of the fee, and septic systems are permitted separately by the Boone County Health Department. Madison and Danville have their own building inspectors.

What requires a permit in Boone County?

The Boone County Floodplain Ordinance makes it unlawful to carry out any development, new construction, substantial improvement, repair of substantial damage, or placement or relocation of a structure, manufactured homes included, without a permit from the Floodplain Administrator. The EMA reads “development” as any man-made change to property, and says some projects may be exempt after a call to the office. The permit applies whether or not the site is in a mapped flood zone: the office first checks the flood status, then sets the building requirements.

Who handles permitting in Boone County?

The Boone County Commission appointed the Director of the Boone County Emergency Management Agency as Floodplain Administrator, so development permits come from the EMA’s Floodplain/Permitting office, which also runs E-911 addressing for the county. The county publishes no separate building code permit or building inspection service; the development permit is the county’s construction approval.

The four towns. Inside town limits the town’s own rules apply:

• Madison (county seat): the city code establishes an office of building inspector that issues all permits and certificates under the ICC 2015 codes and later State Building Code updates, and the city’s own Emergency Management Director is Madison’s floodplain administrator. City Hall is at 255 Washington Avenue, 304-369-2762.
• Danville: the Town’s Office of the Building Inspector takes a permit application for building, repairing, wrecking, moving or erecting a sign (304-369-5428).
• Sylvester and Whitesville: the published sources do not say who issues building permits; ask town hall (Sylvester 304-854-1930; Whitesville, which is partly in Raleigh County, 304-546-8333).

The state’s list of local floodplain managers shows each of the four towns running its own floodplain management rather than relying on the county EMA, so a floodplain permit inside a town also comes from the town.

The Boone County development permit application

The county uses one Development Permit Application for every type of project. It asks for:

• The applicant, the property owners (with signatures) and the physical address and map number of the site
• The nature of the work (residential, non-residential, fill, or a change to a waterway) and whether it is new construction or a repair
• The structure type: house, modular, single-, double- or triple-wide, or commercial with the business name
• Estimated cost of construction and start and end dates
• Frame type, sewage disposal (public sewer or a private septic system), heating fuel and water supply
• For homes: stories, floor area, bedrooms and bathrooms

Under the ordinance the permit file also carries the names and West Virginia licence numbers of all contractors on the site, or an affidavit that the work is exempt from contractor licensing, and the tax map, parcel number and deed book and page. The applicant certifies that Miss Utility of West Virginia will be called before digging. Once issued, the permit placard must be displayed on the site while work is under way.

Boone County permit costs and fees

The EMA publishes flat development permit fees by type of structure. The fee includes the visit to address the new structure and the address verification letter.

The ordinance adds that work found to be in the special flood hazard area pays an additional fee to the Sheriff of Boone County on a schedule set by the County Commission, and the applicant reimburses the county for any engineering or surveying review it needs. Government agencies and nonprofit organizations still need a permit but pay no fee. A septic or well construction permit is a separate Health Department charge.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work

Boone County publishes no electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit. The development permit does affect utility hook-ups in flood hazard areas: a temporary electrical connection may not be inspected or installed until the EMA has issued the permit placard, and a permanent utility connection waits for the Floodplain Administrator’s certificate of compliance. The ordinance also requires electrical, heating, plumbing and air-conditioning equipment in those areas to be designed or placed so that flood water cannot enter it.

In Madison the city code makes the building inspector the electrical and plumbing official as well, so trade permits there go through the city building inspector’s office.

Documents for a Boone County permit

The ordinance asks for Health Department approval of water and sewer as part of the permit review, so a septic construction permit should be in hand for an unsewered lot.

How to apply: 6-step Boone County process

Boone County inspections and closeout

During construction the Floodplain Administrator or staff may inspect the site to check the work against the permit, and can issue a stop-work order for development under way without a permit. A violation notice gives 15 days to correct before the permit can be revoked, and a conviction carries a fine of $50 to $500, with each day counted as a separate violation.

In the flood hazard area the building may not be occupied until the Floodplain Administrator issues a certificate of compliance, based on the inspections and the finished-construction elevation certificate. The Health Department inspects a new septic system before it is covered, and a well driller files a completion report within 30 days.

Local Boone County details that matter

Flood maps: the county’s regulated flood areas come from FEMA’s Flood Insurance Study and rate map dated May 16, 2013, plus any local flood hazard map the county recognizes. Detached garages or sheds below the base flood elevation must be limited to parking or storage, no more than 200 sq ft and valued under $5,000.

Assessor and 911: the EMA sends a copy of every permit to the County Assessor and, for new structures, to the E-911 addressing coordinator, so the permit also starts the address and tax record.

Appeals: decisions of the Floodplain Administrator can be appealed in writing to the Boone County Commission within 30 days.

Danville and manufactured homes: Danville’s land use ordinance bars placing a manufactured home, mobile home or house trailer inside town limits, except homes already there and double-wides at least 24 ft wide that the Town Council exempts by majority vote after notice to neighbors and on a foundation with a concrete footing at least 12 inches deep. The fine is $100 a day.

West Virginia building code

West Virginia lets each county and city adopt the State Building Code or no building code at all; no other building code may be adopted, and floodplain, sewage and fire rules can apply either way. West Virginia rules

Official Boone County permitting resources

• Boone County EMA Floodplain/Permitting: fees, ordinance and application
• Boone County EMA Addressing Department
• Boone County Health Department: sewage systems and water wells
• City of Madison Code of Ordinances (Municode)
• Town of Danville permits, forms and applications
• Town of Danville ordinances
• West Virginia Flood Tool
• WV Code 15A-11-5: State Building Code
• State Fire Marshal laws and rules

Boone County permit FAQs

Do I need a permit to build a house in Boone County?

Yes. Outside the towns, a new house needs a development permit from the Boone County Emergency Management Agency, whatever the flood zone, and an unsewered lot also needs a septic construction permit from the Health Department.

How much is a Boone County building permit?

The development permit is $50 for a stick-built home, $35 for a double-wide, $25 for a single-wide, $500 for business construction and $1,000 for a communication tower, with the address verification letter included.

Does Boone County inspect construction?

The county publishes no building code inspection. The Floodplain Administrator may inspect for compliance with the development permit, and in a flood zone issues a certificate of compliance before the building is occupied.

How long is a Boone County permit good for?

Work must start within 180 days of issue, or the permit expires unless the Floodplain Administrator grants a written extension.

Who issues permits in Madison?

The City of Madison’s building inspector issues building permits inside city limits, and the city’s Emergency Management Director handles floodplain permits there. Call City Hall at 304-369-2762.

Can I put a mobile home in Danville?

Generally not. The town bars new manufactured homes, mobile homes and house trailers, apart from replacements of homes already there and double-wides the Town Council exempts.

Where is the Boone County permit office?

1267 Smoot Avenue, Danville, 304-369-7273, open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Simplify Boone County permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in West Virginia. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Boone County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.