Jackson County’s two cities run their own permits: Ripley’s Building Inspector issues building permits priced per $1,000 of construction cost, and Ravenswood uses a land use application reviewed by its Building Inspector. The County Commission (304-373-2220) posts no county building permit; outside the cities, the county floodplain manager (304-373-2208) handles floodplain questions, and the Jackson County Health Department issues septic permits.
What requires a permit in Jackson County?
It depends on where the land is. Inside Ripley, the City’s permit brochure lists the work that needs a building permit:
Ripley: permit needed
- New homes and fireplaces
- All commercial construction
- Residential remodeling and additions
- New fences, swimming pools and spas
- Driveways, porches, decks and patios
- Roofing, garages and carports
- Electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing systems
Ripley: no permit
- Minor repairs, new floor coverings, wallpaper and paint
- Replacing cabinets without changing the layout
- Replacing existing light fixtures and like-for-like switches, outlets, breakers and fuses
- Low-voltage systems such as doorbells
- Replacing plumbing fixtures, faucets and traps, and repairing or replacing water heaters
Outside the cities, the county posts no building permit requirement and no floodplain ordinance online; the state’s floodplain manager list (October 24, 2025) names a county floodplain manager for unincorporated Jackson County at 304-373-2208, the number to call before building in a mapped flood area. Septic systems need a permit from the Jackson County Health Department.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who issues permits in Jackson County?
| Area | Office |
|---|---|
| Ripley | City of Ripley Building Inspector; Business Office, 203 South Church Street, 304-372-3482 |
| Ravenswood | City of Ravenswood Building Inspector; City Hall, 1 Wall Street, 304-273-2621, also the City’s floodplain contact on the state list |
| Floodplain, outside the cities | County floodplain manager, 304-373-2208 (state floodplain manager list) |
| Rest of the county | Jackson County Commission, PO Box 800, Ripley, WV 25271, 304-373-2220 (administrative assistant 304-373-2222) |
| Septic systems | Jackson County Health Department, 504 South Church Street, Ripley, 304-372-2634, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
For land outside Ripley and Ravenswood, call the county floodplain manager or the Commission office before you build. Use the WV Flood Tool to see whether the parcel is mapped in a flood zone before you call.
Building permit fees in Ripley
Ripley’s fee (Section 1705.06 of the City code) is charged per $1,000 of estimated construction cost, in bands:
| Part of the estimated cost | Fee |
|---|---|
| First $1,000 | $5 |
| Next $99,000 | $4 per $1,000 |
| Next $400,000 | $3 per $1,000 |
| Above $500,000 | $2 per $1,000 |
| Electrical wiring inspection | $10 |
| Plumbing inspection | $10 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →For example, a $200,000 house is charged $5 for the first $1,000, $396 for the next $99,000 and $300 for the remaining $100,000, a $701 permit fee, plus $20 for the two inspections. A modular home is charged on the cost of site preparation, labor and installation. Estimated cost means the reasonable value of all services, labor, materials and equipment needed to finish the work ready for use; the code leaves out some excavation, grading, painting and decorating costs and other work that is only for appearance, so ask the Building Inspector how a borderline item is counted. The permit is not issued until the fee, and any City water and sewer tap fee, has been paid.
Ravenswood’s land use application has a permit fee line and asks for the cost of materials only; ask City Hall (304-273-2621) for the fee.
What Ripley and Ravenswood ask for
Ripley
- Building permit application describing the work, the address, residential or commercial use, valuation, dates and contractor
- Construction documents meeting the building code, in two copies, unless the Building Inspector decides the work does not need them
Ravenswood
- Land use application with the property, contractor and cost of materials
- Sketch of the lot with all existing and proposed buildings and their distances to the lot lines
- Lot size, total lot coverage and its percentage, stories and building height
- A picture or drawing of the proposed building
The Ravenswood form records the land use district and whether the code is met or a variance is needed, so zoning is checked as part of the permit.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get a permit in Jackson County: 5 steps
Inside Ripley or Ravenswood, the City issues the permit; elsewhere, start with the county floodplain manager (304-373-2208).
Look the parcel up on the WV Flood Tool; floodplain sites need floodplain approval wherever they are.
Get a septic permit from the Health Department, or pay the City water and sewer tap fee in Ripley.
Ripley’s form and brochure are on the City’s Government page; Ravenswood’s land use application is on its Forms & Permits page and goes to City Hall.
A Ripley permit expires if work has not started within six months, or if work stops for more than a year.
Local rules worth knowing in Jackson County
Ripley setbacks: no house, addition or alteration may be built within 5 feet of the front, back or side boundary of the lot, and no variance is allowed except through the City’s zoning code.
Water and sewer lines: Ripley will not permit any building or addition that would sit directly over a public water or sewer line.
Ripley floodplain permits: Article 1741 of the City code requires a permit application for any development, new construction, substantial improvement or placement of a structure, including a manufactured home, in Ripley, so the Floodplain Administrator can decide whether the site lies in the regulatory floodplain; floodplain sites need that officer’s permit, and work must start within six months. The article prints its own fee table ($5 up to $1,000, $4 per thousand to $100,000, $3 per thousand to $500,000 and $2.50 for each further thousand, against $2 in Section 1705.06) and lets the City ask for a deposit of up to $500 toward extra review and inspection costs; ask the Business Office (304-372-3482, Ripley’s floodplain contact on the state list) which table applies.
Rather not deal with the Jackson County building department?
Get a free quote →Call before you dig: Ripley’s brochure reminds builders to call WV811 at least 48 hours before digging.
Septic and wells: the Jackson County Health Department permits, inspects and approves septic systems and manufactured home communities, and has well water testing kits at its office.
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 Jackson County permitting resources
County, city and state pages:
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- Jackson County Commission
- Jackson County administrator contact
- Jackson County Health Department contact
- Jackson County Health Department environmental health
- City of Ripley forms and boards
- City of Ripley building permit questions and answers
- City of Ripley building permit application
- Ripley code Article 1705, permits and fees
- City of Ravenswood forms and permits
- City of Ravenswood land use application
- Ripley code Section 1741.07, floodplain permits and fees
- West Virginia Flood Tool
- WV Flood Tool floodplain managers list (October 2025)
- West Virginia Code 15A-11-5, State Building Code
- State Fire Marshal Regulatory and Licensing Division
Jackson County permit FAQs
Does Jackson County, WV issue building permits?
The County Commission posts no county building permit. Ripley and Ravenswood issue permits inside their limits; elsewhere, ask the county floodplain manager (304-373-2208) about floodplain approval, and the Health Department about septic permits.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much is a building permit in Ripley?
$5 for the first $1,000 of cost, $4 per $1,000 up to $100,000, $3 per $1,000 up to $500,000 and $2 per $1,000 above that, plus $10 each for electrical and plumbing inspections. A $200,000 house comes to $701 plus $20.
Do I need a permit for a fence or a roof in Ripley?
Yes. Ripley lists new fences, roofing, decks, porches, driveways, garages and carports among the work that needs a building permit.
Who issues septic permits in Jackson County?
The Jackson County Health Department, 504 South Church Street, Ripley (304-372-2634).
How do I apply in Ravenswood?
Fill in the City’s land use application with a sketch of the lot and submit it at City Hall, 1 Wall Street (304-273-2621), for review by the Building Inspector.
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More West Virginia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Jackson County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.