In unincorporated Harrison County the Harrison County Planning Department issues the county building permit, which its forms call a Location Improvement Permit, and applications go in through the county’s GovWell portal. Fees are flat by project type: $100 for residential work, $400 for a commercial or industrial building, and $300 or $600 for residential or commercial work in the floodplain.
The department works with the County Planning Commission and also runs subdivision review, floodplain management and property maintenance enforcement. The codes it publishes are the subdivision and land development ordinance, a 2014 floodplain ordinance and the International Property Maintenance Code, which the County Commission adopted for the unincorporated areas in December 2009. No county ordinance adopting the State Building Code is posted with them.
The county permit applies only outside the municipalities. Clarksburg, Bridgeport, Shinnston, Salem, Stonewood, Nutter Fort, Anmoore, West Milford and Lumberport take permit applications at their own offices; the town-by-town list is under Who handles permitting.
The permit comes before the 911 address. The county’s address request form for new construction asks for a copy of the approved Harrison County building permit, the names of the adults who will live in the home, the road it is addressed from, and GPS coordinates for the center of the structure and the start of the driveway.
What requires a building permit in Harrison County?
The GovWell portal lists the county’s building permit applications by project type, and the Planning Department’s fee sheet also charges a small fee for ordinary maintenance such as new windows, doors or steps.
County permit applications
- Residential New: a stick-built or modular home, a trailer or a tiny home
- Residential Addition/Remodel: additions, remodels, decks, fences, accessory buildings, roofing, electrical work, new windows and doors
- Commercial: new construction, remodels or additions for a business, including roofing and electrical work
- Demolition of any structure
- Flood Plain: any work in the floodplain
- Land Altering: excavation and other soil disturbance
- Solar panels, cell phone towers, oil and gas facilities and agricultural structures
Approvals the county asks to see
- Driveway permit from the WV Division of Highways
- Septic or well permit from the Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department, on the county’s verification form
- Water and sewer tap receipts from the city or public service district
- A notarized approval letter from the homeowners’ association in a subdivision that has one
- A notarized letter from the owner when the applicant does not own the land outright
Agricultural structures
Building or altering a structure used for agriculture goes on the Agriculture application, which lists drawings, proof of water and sewer service and the septic sign-off among its documents. The fee sheet lists agricultural use of land at $0, or $50 in the floodplain, and the county’s property maintenance ordinance does not apply to agricultural structures and premises.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →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
Harrison County building department: who handles permitting
On land outside the municipalities, the Harrison County Planning Department takes the application, collects the fee and may send staff to inspect the property and the work described on the permit. Inside the cities and towns the municipality is the permit office, and nine of the ten publish their own application or permit contact.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 229 S. Third Street, 2nd Floor, Clarksburg, WV 26301 |
| Phone | (304) 624-8690 |
| planning@harrisoncountywv.gov | |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm |
| Online | GovWell portal: building permits, planning permits, contractor registration and a permit search |
| Director | Charlotte Shaffer, Director of Planning |
| Septic and wells | Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department, 330 West Main Street, Clarksburg, (304) 623-9308 |
In 2025, building permits issued in unincorporated Harrison County authorized 35 new privately owned housing units, 23 of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
Who issues permits in each municipality
| Municipality | Who issues permits | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Clarksburg | City Code Enforcement Office, second floor of the Municipal Building; administers the State Building Code, city zoning and the city floodplain program; applications and inspection requests through Cloudpermit | (304) 624-1633 |
| Bridgeport | City building permit under the State Building Code; applications emailed or dropped off at 515 West Main Street; contractors register with the city ($15) | (304) 842-8218 |
| Shinnston | City building permit reviewed against the WV State Building Code; city office, 40 Main Street | (304) 592-2126 |
| Salem | City building permit; the application refers to the WV State Building Code; City Hall, 229 West Main Street | (304) 782-1318 |
| Nutter Fort | Town has adopted the State Building Code; Construction Permit Application at 1415 Buckhannon Pike | Code enforcement (304) 838-9460; town office (304) 622-7713 |
| Stonewood | City building permit, applied for online; City Hall, 8052 Southern Avenue; $30 up to $2,000, then 1.5% of the total job cost | (304) 623-2919 |
| Anmoore | Town building or demolition permit for all construction, repairs and remodels; Municipal Office, 56 Plainfield Avenue | (304) 622-7431 |
| West Milford | Town code enforcement officer issues building permits and inspects; Town Hall, 623 Liberty Street | Code enforcement (304) 476-0070; Town Hall (304) 745-3131 |
| Lumberport | Town Construction Permit Application; town office, 548 Main Street | (304) 584-4370 |
| Lost Creek | The town’s published pages do not describe a permit process; ask the town office | (304) 745-3466 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Shinnston prints its plan review times on the application: 1 to 5 business days for decks, roofs, sheds, driveways and fences, and 10 to 20 business days for a new house of up to 1,000 square feet (15 to 22 days above that).
Permit types
Residential permits
For a new home the Residential New application lists a plan set or drawings, a Division of Highways driveway permit, proof of water and sewer service (or a payment receipt or letter from the public service district), the Health Department’s septic sign-off, the homeowners’ association letter in a subdivision, and a notarized letter from the property owner. Additions and remodels use the Residential Addition/Remodel application with drawings, the driveway permit, the septic sign-off and the association letter where they apply.
Building or remodeling a home here? Alliance handles home building permits, so the crew isn't waiting on the counter.
Commercial permits
The Commercial application is also used by a business doing residential work. It asks for a plan set, proof of water and sewer service or the septic sign-off, and the association letter where one applies. The fee is $400, or $600 in the floodplain.
For tenant improvements and new commercial builds, Alliance handles commercial permit filing through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.
Demolition, land altering and floodplain work
A demolition permit needs an asbestos test and, where asbestos is removed, the removal certificate; the paper application also asks for a hazardous-material inspection and a plan for dealing with asbestos, heavy metals and similar materials. Excavation and other soil disturbance go on the Land Altering application with drawings, and work in the floodplain goes on the Flood Plain application, which can call for a floodproofing certification.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →West Virginia licenses contractors at state level through the Contractor Licensing Board, run by the Division of Labor, valid statewide. West Virginia rules
Harrison County permit costs and fees
The Planning Department’s permit fee sheet charges a flat amount by project type rather than a percentage of construction value, and GovWell bills the same fee categories when an application is submitted.
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential (the fee listed for a new home) | $100 |
| Commercial or industrial | $400 |
| Additions or remodeling costing less than $2,500 | $10 |
| Normal maintenance such as windows, doors, steps or painting | $25 |
| Demolition of a dwelling, building or structure | $50 |
| Land altering | $50 |
| Agricultural use of land | $0 |
| Residential work in the floodplain | $300 |
| Commercial work in the floodplain | $600 |
| Agricultural use in the floodplain | $50 |
| Land altering in the floodplain | $350 |
Six months to start. By signing the application the owner accepts that construction must start within six months of the date the application is approved.
Trade permits and who may pull them
County applications
- Electrical work at a home is filed on the Residential Addition/Remodel application
- Electrical and roofing work for a business is filed on the Commercial application
- Solar panel installation and repair has its own application, with a plan set and a structural report
- Contractors register with the county through the GovWell Contractor Registrations form
Contractor paperwork
- Every contractor and subcontractor is listed on the application
- A copy of each West Virginia contractor licence, or proof from the Division of Labor, before the permit is issued
- A certificate of insurance for the contractor
- Inside Bridgeport, city registration as well ($15; $50 penalty for working without it)
Rather not deal with the Harrison County building department?
Get a free quote →Trade work is permitted separately where the jurisdiction enforces the code and done by state-licensed contractors. West Virginia rules
How to apply for a Harrison County building permit
Check the tax district and parcel, or call the Planning Department at (304) 624-8690. Inside a city or town, use that municipality’s application from the table above.
The property tax receipt from the Sheriff’s Office (304-624-8685), a notarized statement from the owner or co-owner if you are not the sole owner, and the subdivision name and association letter where they apply.
A driveway permit through the Division of Highways portal, the Health Department permit for a septic system or well, or tap receipts from the water and sewer provider, and a Miss Utility confirmation number (call 1-800-245-4848 at least 48 business hours before digging).
Name every contractor and subcontractor and attach each West Virginia licence and a certificate of insurance.
Pick the matching application, upload the documents it lists and pay the fee from the table. The printable PDF application still shows the department’s old 301 West Main Street address; the office is now at 229 S. Third Street.
Begin work within six months of approval and send the approved permit with the 911 address request for a new home.
Changes and covenants
The application makes the owner responsible for meeting any private restrictive covenants on the land; a county permit does not override them.
Inspections in Harrison County
By signing the county application the owner agrees that county staff may inspect the property and the activities listed on the permit to confirm they comply. For the visits a particular county permit needs, call the Planning Department at (304) 624-8690. Inside the cities the municipal office inspects: Bridgeport takes inspection requests 24 hours ahead at (304) 842-8218 and inspects between 8:30 am and 3:00 pm on weekdays, and Clarksburg schedules and cancels inspections through Cloudpermit.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Harrison County permit search and official resources
- Harrison County — the county government and planning commission
- Harrison County Planning Department — contacts, services and planning documents
- Harrison County GovWell portal — building and planning permit applications, contractor registration and permit search
- Location Improvement Permit fee sheet — county permit fees by project type
- Location Improvement Permit application and checklist — paper application, Health Department verification and 911 address request
- International Property Maintenance Code adoption ordinance (2009) — the county’s property maintenance code for unincorporated areas
- Clarksburg Code Enforcement — city building permit application, fees and forms
- Bridgeport building permits — city application and final inspection requirements
- Shinnston documents and forms — city building permit application
- Salem documents — city building permit application
- Stonewood building permit application — online application and fee estimate
- Nutter Fort Code Enforcement — town construction permit and occupancy forms
- Anmoore Municipal Office — town permit applications and contacts
- West Milford Building Permits and Inspections — town permit contact
- Lumberport forms — town construction permit application
- West Virginia State Fire Marshal — the State Building Code, adoption notifications and code official certification
- West Virginia Code 15A-11-5 — the statute on the State Building Code, local adoption and enforcement, and the priority of stricter local rules
- West Virginia Division of Labor — runs licensing for the Contractor Licensing Board, plus plumber and HVAC licences
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
How much is a building permit in unincorporated Harrison County?
The county charges flat fees: $100 for residential work, $400 for a commercial or industrial building, $10 for an addition or remodel costing less than $2,500, $25 for maintenance such as windows, doors or steps, and $50 for a demolition. Work in the floodplain is $300 for residential and $600 for commercial projects.
Does Harrison County enforce the State Building Code?
The county’s posted codes are the 2009 International Property Maintenance Code, the 2014 floodplain ordinance and the subdivision ordinance, and no ordinance adopting the State Building Code is posted with them. Clarksburg, Bridgeport and Nutter Fort enforce the State Building Code inside their own limits.
Do I need a county permit for a deck, fence or new roof?
Yes. The Residential Addition/Remodel application on GovWell covers decks, fences, accessory buildings, roofing, electrical work and new windows and doors as well as additions and remodels.
Who permits a septic system?
The Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department at 330 West Main Street, Clarksburg, (304) 623-9308. Its sign-off goes on the verification form that comes with the county application.
Who issues building permits in Clarksburg and Bridgeport?
Each city issues its own. Clarksburg’s Code Enforcement Office (304-624-1633) takes applications through Cloudpermit, and Bridgeport takes them at 515 West Main Street or by email, (304) 842-8218.
How long is a county permit good for?
The application states that construction must start within six months of the date the permit is approved.
Simplify Harrison County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Harrison County answers land use and building code through different processes. We ask both questions separately and get both answers in writing.
Ready to break ground in Harrison County sooner?
Send us the scope and the parcel. We confirm the review path with the Harrison County Planning Commission and the municipalities within it, assemble the submittal, file it, and track it through issuance — corrections included.
More West Virginia permitting guides
More West Virginia permitting guides
Monongalia County
Read guide →Berkeley County
Read guide →Wood County
Read guide →Huntington Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Jackson County Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Jefferson County Building Permit Guide
Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Harrison County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.