Braxton County’s permit role is floodplain management: the county E-911, Emergency Management, Floodplain Management and 911 Addressing office at 687 Days Drive in Sutton (304-765-3320) issues floodplain permits and new addresses, and the Braxton County Health Department permits septic systems. Inside the Town of Sutton, the Town issues a construction permit that is free up to $500 and costs $20 or $30 above that.
What requires a permit in Braxton County?
The county lists one building-related ordinance, the Braxton County Floodplain Ordinance, and its permits come from the floodplain management office. The county publishes no county building code or building permit. What a project needs depends on where it is:
Braxton County
- Floodplain permit for development in a mapped flood area
- A 911 address for a new home or building
- Septic permit from the Braxton County Health Department
Town of Sutton
- New construction and additions
- Garages, sheds, carports and other accessory structures
- Alterations, renovations and demolition
- Routine maintenance and storm or emergency repairs (listed on the permit form)
- House trailers, which must meet the same plumbing, electrical, sanitary and building rules as fixed buildings
Who handles permits in Braxton County?
| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| E-911, Emergency Management, Floodplain Management and 911 Addressing | 687 Days Drive, Sutton, WV 26601, 304-765-3320 |
| Braxton County Commission | 300 Main Street, PO Box 486, Sutton, WV 26601, 304-765-2835 |
| Braxton County Health Department (septic) | 617 Old Turnpike Road, Sutton, 304-765-2851, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Assessor / County Clerk | 304-765-2805 / 304-765-2833 |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Braxton County has four incorporated towns:
| Town | Who to ask |
|---|---|
| Sutton (county seat) | Town of Sutton construction permit; Town office, 450 4th Street, PO Box 366, 304-765-5581 |
| Gassaway | Town hall, 416 Elk Street, 304-364-5111; the town posts no permit rules, and its online code is not yet published |
| Burnsville | Town office, 106 Municipal Street, 304-853-2605; no permit rules posted |
| Flatwoods | Town office, 5 Doctors Lane (PO Box 52), 304-765-7235, open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 6 to 9 p.m. or by appointment; the town’s website posts no permit rules |
On the WV Flood Tool list of floodplain managers (October 24, 2025), Sutton, Burnsville and Flatwoods rely on the county floodplain office (304-765-3320) by agreement, and Gassaway’s floodplain contact is its own town hall.
The Town of Sutton construction permit
Sutton’s Application for Construction Permit (form TOS-BUILD-001) is on the Town’s Forms & Payments page. It asks for the applicant, the property and parcel number, whether the site is in a floodplain, the type of work, a description, the estimated cost and the start and finish dates, and whether the job will be done in phases. A contractor must give a West Virginia contractor license number with proof of the license, liability insurance and, where required, workers’ compensation.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →The Town’s office checks zoning and whether floodplain review is needed, and the permit is approved by the Mayor or an authorized official. Under Chapter 5 of the 2022 Sutton Municipal Code, building applications go before Town Council, which can set conditions to guard against fire and protect neighbors and the public.
Permit fees in Braxton County
| Cost of construction | Permit fee |
|---|---|
| $0–$500 | No charge |
| $501–$5,000 | $20 |
| $5,001 and above | $30 |
Checks are made out to the Town of Sutton and mailed to PO Box 366. The county does not publish a fee for its floodplain permit; ask the floodplain management office (304-765-3320) when you apply.
What Sutton asks for
Required submittals
- Site plan showing where the work is on the property
- Construction drawings or descriptions detailed enough for review
- Contractor documentation, if a contractor is used
- Any state or federal permits the work needs
Signatures
- Applicant
- Property owner, if different
- Contractor
A Sutton permit does not replace other permits, including floodplain and West Virginia Division of Highways permits.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get permits in Braxton County: 5 steps
In Sutton, apply to the Town; in Gassaway, Burnsville or Flatwoods, ask the town office first.
Look the site up on the WV Flood Tool and call the county floodplain office (304-765-3320) if it is in or near a flood area.
Register a new building with the county’s 911 addressing office at the same number.
Apply to the Braxton County Health Department for any new septic system.
A Sutton permit expires if work has not started within 180 days or stops for 180 days, unless the Town extends it.
Inspections and enforcement in Sutton
By signing the Sutton application, the owner lets Town representatives enter the property at reasonable times to inspect the work. The Town can stop work done without a permit, work that departs from the approved plans and unsafe conditions, and can suspend or revoke a permit for false statements or broken conditions.
Under the Town code, building without the required approval carries a fine of up to $100, and each day the work continues counts as a separate violation. The applicant must also repair any damage the work causes to streets, sidewalks, alleys, utilities or other public property.
Local Braxton County details that matter
Sutton streets: no building, porch, fence or other structure may be built over a Sutton street, alley, sidewalk or public ground, and no cellar door or steps may take up part of a street or sidewalk.
Rather not deal with the Braxton County building department?
Get a free quote →Sutton ordinances under review: the Town is reviewing a rewrite of Chapter 8 of its code (public health and safety) and adoption of the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, and takes public comments on its website and at Council meetings.
Septic: the Braxton County Health Department has a registered sanitarian on staff and handles environmental health services, including septic permits, from Old Turnpike Road in Sutton.
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 Braxton County permitting resources
County, town and state pages:
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- Braxton County 911 Center: addressing and floodplain permits
- Braxton County directory
- Braxton County ordinances list
- Braxton County Commission office
- Braxton County Health Department
- Town of Sutton forms and payments
- Town of Sutton Application for Construction Permit
- Sutton Municipal Code, Chapter 5: building permits
- Town of Sutton ordinances and ordinances in review
- Town of Gassaway
- Town of Burnsville
- Town of Flatwoods website
- West Virginia Flood Tool
- WV.gov Braxton County listing
- WV Flood Tool floodplain managers list (October 2025)
- West Virginia Code 15A-11-5, State Building Code
- State Fire Marshal laws and rules
Braxton County permit FAQs
Does Braxton County, WV issue building permits?
The county publishes no county building permit; its permits are for floodplain development and 911 addressing, from the E-911 and Emergency Management office (304-765-3320). Septic permits come from the Health Department.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much is a construction permit in Sutton?
Nothing for work up to $500, $20 for $501 to $5,000, and $30 for $5,001 and above.
How long is a Sutton permit good for?
It expires if work does not start within 180 days or stops for 180 days, unless the Town extends it.
Who issues septic permits in Braxton County?
The Braxton County Health Department, 617 Old Turnpike Road, Sutton (304-765-2851).
What about Gassaway, Burnsville and Flatwoods?
None posts permit rules online. Call Gassaway (304-364-5111), Burnsville (304-853-2605) or Flatwoods (304-765-7235) before building inside town limits.
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More West Virginia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Braxton County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.