Monroe County, West Virginia Building Permit Guide

Any new construction, substantial improvement or placement of a structure in Monroe County, manufactured homes included, needs a floodplain development permit and site plan under the floodplain ordinance enacted December 12, 2024, issued by the county floodplain manager in the 911/OEM office (304-772-5137); the county publishes no separate building code permit. The Monroe County Health Department permits septic systems, $222 plus a $30 DEP fee for a house. An improvement location permit ordinance proposed in 2022 does not appear among the county’s adopted ordinances.

What requires a permit in Monroe County?

The 2024 floodplain ordinance makes it unlawful to carry out any development, new construction, substantial improvement, repair of substantial damage, or placement or relocation of a structure in Monroe County without a permit application, a standard site plan and a permit from the Floodplain Administrator. Subdividing land or creating a manufactured home park partly in the flood hazard area also needs a detailed site plan approved first.

Who handles permitting in Monroe County?

The ordinance appoints the Monroe County Floodplain Manager as Floodplain Administrator; the county names its Senior 911/OEM Director as floodplain manager. If no administrator is formally appointed, the President of the County Commission fills the role.

The three towns:

• Union (county seat): runs its own floodplain management; the published sources do not say whether it issues building permits; town office 304-772-5522.
• Peterstown: the state list gives the county floodplain manager together with a town contact; ask the town office (304-753-9509, weekday mornings) about local permits.
• Alderson (mostly in Greenbrier County): town permits from the Floodplain and Zoning Officer, 311 Monroe Street South (304-445-2916).

Monroe County permit types

Floodplain development permit. Applications go to the Floodplain Administrator with a standard site plan. The ordinance gives the administrator up to 90 days from submission to review the application and plans. Work must start within 180 days of issue and be finished within 18 months, unless a written extension is granted for a justifiable delay.

Proposed improvement location permit. In June 2022 the County Commission held hearings on a proposed improvement location permit ordinance, which would require a $5 permit before building or altering homes and farm buildings, $50 for commercial work, and more in the floodplain. The posted draft has no enactment date, and the county’s list of ordinances does not include it.

Septic and well permits. Issued by the Monroe County Health Department under its permit fee rule effective January 1, 2026.

Permit costs and fees in Monroe County

The floodplain ordinance charges a flat floodplain determination fee on all proposed development and an extra fee, based on estimated construction value, for development in the special flood hazard area; the county sets both amounts by schedule. Work started before the permit pays double, and triple for each later occurrence by the same person. Health Department fees from January 1, 2026:

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work

Monroe County publishes no electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit. In the flood hazard area the ordinance requires ductwork and electrical connections, along with the structure, to sit 3 ft above the base flood elevation. A manufactured home there must be set up by a contractor with a West Virginia manufactured home installer’s licence, with its lowest floor, ductwork and utilities, heat pump included, 3 ft above that level.

What to have ready

• Standard site plan showing the size and location of the work, existing buildings, roads and streams
• Parcel location and flood zone from the West Virginia Flood Tool
• Contractor details and estimated construction value
• In the flood hazard area: elevation data from a surveyor or engineer, plans showing the 3 ft freeboard, and a finished-construction elevation certificate at the end
• Copies of any other federal or state permits the project needs
• For a septic system: the Health Department permit before construction

How to apply: 5-step Monroe County process

Monroe County inspections

The Floodplain Administrator can inspect permitted development and issue stop-work orders, and a building in the special flood hazard area may not be occupied until a certificate of compliance is issued. The Health Department inspects septic systems.

Local Monroe County details that matter

3 ft freeboard: the 2024 ordinance requires new structures in the flood hazard area to be built 3 ft above the base flood elevation, uses FEMA flood maps dated January 17, 2025, and limits detached sheds or garages below that level to 300 sq ft and less than $7,000 in value, for parking or storage only.

Comprehensive plan: the County Commission holds a public hearing on its draft comprehensive plan on October 27, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the James Monroe High School auditorium in Lindside; copies are at the Union and Peterstown libraries and the County Clerk’s Office.

Other county ordinances: Monroe County also enforces an unsafe or unsanitary structures and refuse ordinance and a wireless telecommunications facilities ordinance.

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 Monroe County permitting resources

• Monroe County Floodplain Management
• Monroe County Floodplain Ordinance (2024)
• Monroe County ordinances
• Notice of a proposed Improvement Location Permit Ordinance (2022)
• Monroe County Health Department
• Monroe County Board of Health permit fees, effective January 1, 2026
• Monroe County comprehensive plan public hearing, October 27, 2026
• WV Flood Tool
• WV Code 15A-11-5: State Building Code
• State Fire Marshal laws and rules

Monroe County permit FAQs

Do I need a building permit in Monroe County?

The county publishes no building code permit, but any new construction, substantial improvement or placement of a structure needs a floodplain development permit from the county floodplain manager.

Who issues the Monroe County floodplain permit?

The county floodplain manager in the 911/OEM office at the courthouse in Union, 304-772-5137.

How much is a septic permit in Monroe County?

$222 plus a $30 DEP fee for a conventional single-family system, and $450 plus $30 for other systems, from January 1, 2026.

How high must a house be built in a Monroe County flood zone?

The structure, ductwork and electrical connections must be 3 ft above the base flood elevation.

Did Monroe County adopt an improvement location permit?

It was proposed and taken to public hearings in June 2022, but the county’s posted list of ordinances does not include it.

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