In Lincoln County, building permits come from the County Commission at the courthouse in Hamlin; call 304-824-3423 and choose option 3. A permit is needed for any substantial construction, remodeling, a mobile home or other work on land, it is free when the improvement costs less than $1,000, and in the floodplain the county’s flood rules decide how high the lowest floor must be.
What requires a permit in Lincoln County?
The County Commission’s building permit page casts a wide net. You need a county building permit to:
Buildings
- Any substantial construction
- Setting up a mobile home on a site to live in
- Remodeling
- Building or placing any structure or other man-made improvement
Land work
- Developing or improving land in any way
- Mining, dredging, filling and grading
- Paving, excavation and drilling
- Storing equipment or materials on land
Septic systems, water wells and subdivisions are permitted separately by the Lincoln County Health Department at 8008 Court Street in Hamlin (304-824-3330, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), which posts its septic and water well applications on its permitting page.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who handles building permits in Lincoln County?
Building permits are run by the Lincoln County Commission, which lists a building permit line separate from the Commission office. The county’s permit page explains them as part of its floodplain management, and asks owners to check with Floodplain Management before spending money on any improvement to land.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Building permits | 304-824-3423, option 3 |
| County Commission office | 304-824-7990, ext. 221 |
| Address | Lincoln County Courthouse, 8000 Court Avenue, Hamlin; mail to PO Box 497, Hamlin, WV 25523 |
| Commission meetings | First and third Thursday evenings; ask 48 hours ahead to be put on the agenda |
| Parcel maps | Lincoln County Parcel Viewer on the county GIS page |
The county has two incorporated towns, and neither posts permit rules online:
| Town | Who to ask about building permits |
|---|---|
| Hamlin (county seat) | Town of Hamlin, 220 Main Street, 304-824-5500; the town publishes no permit rules, so ask town hall |
| West Hamlin | Town of West Hamlin, PO Box 221, 304-824-3055, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the town publishes no permit rules, so ask town hall |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Neither town has a floodplain manager of its own: the state’s October 24, 2025 list assigns Hamlin and West Hamlin to the county under a support agreement, and the Commission page sends building permit calls to that same official.
Lincoln County permit fees
The Commission charges nothing for a building permit until the cost of the improvement reaches $1,000. Above that, its fee structure applies; ask for the amount when you call the permit line (304-824-3423, option 3). Septic permit fees are charged separately by the Health Department.
How to get a Lincoln County permit: 5 steps
Look the parcel up on the WV Flood Tool and the county Parcel Viewer before you plan anything.
304-824-3423, option 3, for the application, the fee and whether the site is in a mapped floodplain.
If the site needs a septic system, apply to the Lincoln County Health Department.
Inside Hamlin or West Hamlin, check with town hall as well.
That includes mobile home set-ups, grading and remodeling, not only new buildings.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Floodplain rules in Lincoln County
Lincoln County joined the National Flood Insurance Program in 1987, and its permit page says parts of the county are prone to flooding. Two rules from that page matter most when budgeting:
Older homes: if a house built before 1987 has its lowest floor below the 100-year flood level and the project costs 50% of the house’s value before work starts, the house falls under the floodplain regulations and its lowest floor must be raised to or above the 100-year flood elevation.
Non-residential buildings: these may be built below the 100-year flood level if they are waterproofed up to or above it.
The county explains its flood zones this way: Zone A is land known to flood where no flood elevation has been set, and Zone AE has been shown by hydrological studies to lie in the 100-year floodplain.
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
Rather not deal with the Lincoln County building department?
Get a free quote →Official Lincoln County permitting resources
County, town and state pages:
- Lincoln County Commission: building permits and floodplain guidance
- Lincoln County, WV official website
- Lincoln County GIS and Parcel Viewer
- Lincoln County forms and courthouse contact
- Lincoln County Health Department permits and applications
- Town of Hamlin officials and contacts
- Town of West Hamlin
- West Virginia Flood Tool
- WV Flood Tool floodplain managers list (October 2025)
- West Virginia Code 15A-11-5, State Building Code
- State Fire Marshal laws and rules
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Lincoln County permit FAQs
Do I need a building permit in Lincoln County, WV?
Yes, for any substantial construction, remodeling, placing a mobile home to live in, and for grading, filling, paving, excavation or other land development.
How much is a Lincoln County building permit?
Nothing if the improvement costs less than $1,000. Above that the Commission’s fee structure applies; ask the permit line, 304-824-3423, option 3.
Does a remodel need a permit?
Yes. If a pre-1987 house in the floodplain is being improved by 50% or more of its value, the lowest floor must also be raised to or above the 100-year flood elevation.
Who issues septic permits in Lincoln County?
The Lincoln County Health Department, 8008 Court Street, Hamlin (304-824-3330).
Do Hamlin and West Hamlin have their own permits?
Neither town posts permit rules online. Call Hamlin town hall (304-824-5500) or West Hamlin (304-824-3055) before you build inside town limits.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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More West Virginia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Lincoln County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.