Fayette County, West Virginia Building Permit Guide

A county building permit in Fayette County costs 1% of the cost of construction and comes from the Fayette County Building Safety Department (304-574-4320), which also issues electrical permits outside the towns; its Code Official is the county floodplain manager. An electrical service upgrade is $85, and homes, mobile homes and commercial buildings need county zoning approval first. Fayetteville, Oak Hill, Ansted and Montgomery issue their own permits.

What requires a permit in Fayette County?

The Building Department’s homeowner guide follows the residential code rule: anyone who intends to build, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building, or install or change an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, needs a permit first. Its examples include:

Separately, the county floodplain ordinance requires a permit from the Floodplain Administrator for any development, repair or placement of a structure, manufactured homes included, anywhere in the county.

Who handles permitting in Fayette County?

The Building Safety Department (also called the Building & Zoning Division) handles building permits, electrical permits and floodplain management. Allen Ballard is the county Code Official and Flood Plain Manager. The zoning office in the same division applies the county Unified Development Code.

Towns with their own permits:

• Fayetteville (county seat): Town building, electrical, demolition and sign permits from the Zoning/Code Enforcement office, 125 North Court Street (304-574-0101). The town’s permit sheet sends inspection requests to 304-574-4320, the county Building Department’s number.
• Oak Hill: the City’s Code Enforcement Office, 100 Kelly Avenue (304-469-9541), takes building, electrical service, fence, pool and demolition applications online.
• Ansted: adopted the State Building Code on September 4, 2025; apply in writing to the town’s building permit officer.
• Montgomery (partly in Kanawha County): the city code requires a permit from the city building inspector to build, enlarge, alter or move a building; City Hall 304-442-5181.

Gauley Bridge, Meadow Bridge, Mount Hope, Pax, Smithers and Thurmond: the published sources do not say who issues building permits; ask town hall (Gauley Bridge 304-632-2505, Meadow Bridge 304-484-7492, Mount Hope 304-877-2211, Pax 304-877-2407, Smithers 304-442-5282). Pax uses the county floodplain manager; the other towns except Thurmond run their own floodplain management.

Fayette County permit forms

The county uses one Electric & Building Permit Application for residential and commercial construction and electrical work, with these companion forms:

• Assessor and Zoning Form: signed by the Assessor’s office (district, tax map and parcel) and by the zoning office and floodplain manager, with a site sketch and setbacks. It is needed for every dwelling, mobile home and commercial structure, except a home in a mobile home park or subdivision.
• Contractor Compliance Verification: the general contractor certifies workers’ compensation coverage and state licence renewal, notarized, before the permit is issued.
• Sub-Contractor Register: each sub-contractor’s name, phone and WV licence number; the final inspection and certificate of occupancy wait until it is returned.
• Owner-builder declaration: a homeowner doing their own work on the house they live in is exempt from contractor licensing but must say so on the application; anyone else doing part of the work, such as the electrician or plumber, must be licensed.

Zoning matters such as special use permits, rezonings and variances go through the zoning office and the Planning Commission under the 2009 Unified Development Code.

Permit costs and fees in Fayette County

A $150,000 house in unincorporated Fayette County therefore pays a $1,500 building permit fee. Pay by check made out to the Fayette County Clerk. County permit fees are not refunded unless the permit is cancelled before work begins.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits

The Building Safety Department issues electrical permits on the same application as building permits, with a flat $85 fee for a service upgrade or new service and $85 for each failed electrical inspection. The homeowner guide lists plumbing, mechanical and gas work among the jobs that need a permit, and anyone other than the resident homeowner doing that work must hold a West Virginia contractor licence.

In Fayetteville, the town charges $85 to re-inspect a failed electrical service, and an AEP work request number must accompany every electrical inspection request. Commercial new construction and major remodels in Fayetteville need plans approved by the State Fire Marshal, with the approval letter attached to the town application.

Application documents

How to apply: 6-step Fayette County process

Fayette County inspections

The owner is responsible for calling for every required inspection and keeping the work accessible; a final inspection, approval and certificate of occupancy are required before the building is occupied. Call the Building Safety Department at 304-574-4320.

Fayetteville’s permit sheet lists its required inspections: footers and slabs before the pour, water and sewer connections, decks of more than 144 sq ft or 3 ft in height, foundation, flooring and roofing, rough-in electrical, framing, plumbing and mechanical before insulation, insulation before covering, and final electrical; mobile homes get their final only once the landings are built. Requests made before 2:00 p.m. are inspected the next working day, without set appointments.

Local Fayette County details that matter

County zoning: Fayette County’s 2009 Unified Development Code governs land use for county permits, so a building permit starts with zoning approval, and uses that need a special use permit or rezoning go through the zoning office and Planning Commission.

Floodplain: the county floodplain ordinance requires new structures in the special flood hazard area to be built with the structure, ductwork and electrical connections 2 ft above the base flood elevation.

Fayetteville’s historic district: properties in the town’s historic district need the Historical Committee’s approval before work begins, and the town asks for building permit applications 7 business days before the project starts.

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 Fayette County permitting resources

• Fayette County Building Department: fees, forms and floodplain
• Fayette County Electric & Building Permit Application
• Fayette County Homeowner Guide to the Building Permit Process
• Fayette County Floodplain Ordinance
• Fayette County Zoning and Unified Development Code
• Fayette County Health Department: septic systems
• Town of Fayetteville Zoning/Code Enforcement forms
• City of Oak Hill construction permit applications
• Town of Ansted building permit fees, Code §150.19
• West Virginia State Building Code, 87 CSR 4
• West Virginia Code §15A-11-5

Fayette County permit FAQs

How much is a building permit in Fayette County?

1% of the cost of construction for a county permit, so $1,500 on a $150,000 house. An electrical service upgrade is $85.

Do I need zoning approval before a building permit?

Yes, for any dwelling, mobile home or commercial structure, through the county’s Assessor and Zoning Form, unless the home is in a mobile home park or subdivision.

Do I need a permit for a new roof in Fayette County?

Yes. The county homeowner guide lists re-roofing an existing structure as work that needs a building permit.

Can I pull my own permit as a homeowner?

Yes, for work you do yourself on the house you live in; declare it on the application. Any part of the job done by someone else, such as electrical or plumbing, needs a licensed contractor.

Who issues permits in Fayetteville and Oak Hill?

Each town issues its own: Fayetteville through its Zoning/Code Enforcement office (304-574-0101), Oak Hill through its Code Enforcement Office (304-469-9541).

How much is a septic permit in Fayette County?

$222, paid to the Fayette County Health Department with Form SS-182A and the septic precautions acknowledgment.

Simplify Fayette 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 Fayette County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.