McDowell County, West Virginia Building Permit Guide

One office answers for floodplain permits across McDowell County: the County Commission’s Permit Officer (304-436-8549), who handles county permits and serves as floodplain manager for the unincorporated county and, by agreement, for all ten municipalities. Septic systems are permitted by the McDowell County Health Department in Wilcoe, and the Town of Kimball takes its own building permit applications.

What requires a permit in McDowell County?

The state’s list of local floodplain managers puts every part of McDowell County, from Welch and War to Iaeger and Bradshaw, under the county floodplain manager. Building, adding to a building, placing a manufactured home or filling land in a mapped flood zone therefore goes through the county Permit Officer before work starts.

The county’s comprehensive plan, posted in the Commission’s Document Center, records that McDowell County first adopted a building code ordinance in 1992 and recommends updating it and having a certified code enforcement officer enforce the State Building Code. Ask the Permit Officer which approvals apply to a building outside the flood zone.

Who handles permitting in McDowell County?

The Permit Officer sits in the McDowell County Commission office. The same phone number appears on the state’s list as the floodplain contact for the county and for each of the ten towns.

The ten towns. When the comprehensive plan was prepared, none of the ten municipalities enforced land use regulations. Kimball now posts its own building permit application (Town Hall 304-585-7913). For the others the published sources do not say whether the town issues a building permit; ask town hall:

• Welch (county seat): 88 Howard Street, 304-436-3113
• War: 14127 Rocket Boys Drive, 304-875-3111, weekdays 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Iaeger: 304-938-3035
• Keystone: 304-862-2239
• Northfork: 304-862-3414
• Anawalt, Bradshaw, Davy and Gary: contact the county Permit Officer, who is also their floodplain manager, at 304-436-8549

McDowell County permit types

County floodplain permit. Covers development in a mapped flood zone in the county and in all ten towns. The Permit Officer is the contact for the application and any elevation requirements.

Kimball building permit. The town’s one-page application, addressed to the Mayor and Town Council, asks for the contractor’s name, business licence and contractor numbers, the estimated cost, the start date and a description of the work (build, repair or construct). Town staff record the permit fee, any B&O tax assessed and whether the site is in the floodplain, and the Mayor signs the approval.

Septic and well permits. Issued by the McDowell County Health Department after a site evaluation.

Permit costs and fees in McDowell County

Ask the Permit Officer (304-436-8549) or the town clerk for the fee when you apply. The Kimball application leaves the permit fee to be filled in by town staff and also records any business and occupation tax assessed on the job. The Health Department sets its own fees for septic and well permits.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work

No county or town office in McDowell County publishes electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits. Plumbing that discharges to a septic system is part of the Health Department’s septic permit and inspection.

What to have ready

• The parcel’s location and flood zone from the West Virginia Flood Tool
• A description and sketch of the building or fill, with its size and estimated cost
• Contractor name and West Virginia contractor licence number
• For Kimball, the contractor’s town business licence number
• For an unsewered lot, the septic evaluation by a certified installer for the Health Department

How to apply: 5-step McDowell County process

McDowell County inspections

Floodplain compliance and any county inspection are arranged with the Permit Officer, and the Health Department inspects a new septic system before it is covered.

Local McDowell County details that matter

Floodplain goals: the comprehensive plan calls for county and municipal officials to fully enforce the local floodplain ordinances, and for FEMA mitigation lots to be used for floodplain-appropriate uses such as community gardens and parks.

Planning Commission: McDowell County formed a Planning Commission in 2016, and all ten towns agreed to adopt the county comprehensive plan as their own.

Abandoned buildings: the plan proposes a countywide inventory of abandoned and dilapidated structures and a shared certified building code inspector, so demolition and rehabilitation rules may change as the county acts on it.

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 McDowell County permitting resources

• McDowell County Commission directory (Permit Officer)
• McDowell County Commission Document Center
• McDowell County Comprehensive Plan
• West Virginia county and town floodplain managers list
• West Virginia Flood Tool
• McDowell County Health Department office listing
• Town of Kimball forms, incl. building permit application
• City of War
• WV Code 15A-11-5: State Building Code
• State Fire Marshal laws and rules

McDowell County permit FAQs

Who issues permits in McDowell County?

The McDowell County Commission’s Permit Officer, 304-436-8549, who is also the floodplain manager for the county and all ten towns.

Do I need a permit to build in Welch?

For a site in a flood zone, yes: Welch relies on the county floodplain manager. For other local requirements, call Welch City Hall at 304-436-3113.

Does McDowell County have a building code?

The county’s comprehensive plan says a county building code ordinance was first adopted in 1992 and recommends updating it and hiring a certified code enforcement officer. Ask the Permit Officer how it applies to your project.

Does Kimball require a building permit?

Yes. Kimball publishes an application for a permit to build, repair or construct, approved by the Mayor; call Town Hall at 304-585-7913.

Who permits septic systems in McDowell County?

The McDowell County Health Department, 7292 Black Diamond Highway, Wilcoe, 304-448-2174.

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