Nicholas County has no county zoning and publishes no county building permit or code; anyone building a new structure, making a substantial improvement or placing a manufactured home applies to the county floodplain permit officer (304-872-7892 or 7893), who decides whether the site is in the floodplain. Septic systems need a Nicholas County Health Department permit, and Summersville and Richwood each run their own building permits.
What requires a permit in Nicholas County?
The County Commission says Nicholas County has no zoning regulations outside the city limits of Summersville and Richwood. Since the county was reinstated in the National Flood Insurance Program in April 1994, three kinds of work must go to its floodplain permit officer:
County floodplain check
- New construction
- Substantial improvement of an existing building
- Placing or moving any structure, including a manufactured home
Other county permits
- Septic systems: Nicholas County Health Department
- Salvage yards: permit under the county salvage yard ordinance
- New addresses under the county E-911 addressing ordinance
Inside Summersville, the City’s building permit covers new construction, remodeling, additions, accessory structures, excavation and demolition.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who issues permits in Nicholas County?
| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| Floodplain administrators (Emergency Services, flood zone information and 911 matters) | 304-872-7892 or 304-872-7893; Homeland Security and Emergency Management/E911, 449 Water Street, Summersville |
| Nicholas County Health Department (septic) | 304-872-5329 |
| Nicholas County Commission | 700 Main Street, Suite 1, Summersville, WV 26651, 304-872-7830, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| City | Who issues them |
|---|---|
| Summersville | City Building Code Official Joey Groves, 400 North Broad Street, 304-872-1211, ext. 103 |
| Richwood | City building official under Chapter 5 of the City code; City Hall, 6 White Street, 304-846-2596, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
Summersville’s floodplain work is done by the county administrators (304-872-7893) under a support agreement shown on the state list of October 24, 2025; Richwood keeps its own floodplain manager at City Hall.
The County Commission meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m.; to get on the agenda, call the office by 4 p.m. on the Thursday before.
Summersville and Richwood permits
Summersville: the Department of Building Safety and Inspection Services uses one application for residential and commercial work, listing the owner, contractor and license, size, square footage, stories, construction type, use group and total cost. Jobs over $10,000 need a copy of the owner’s contract with the contractor. The City’s Building Code Official is the starting point for which form and documents a project needs.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Richwood: the City code creates the office of building official, who receives applications, issues permits and inspects work. A mobile home needs a building permit approved by City Council before it is placed anywhere in the city, and Council must also approve the water and sewer hook-ups on the standard building permit form. City Hall keeps the current version of the code; the City lists its code enforcement officer post as open.
What Summersville asks for
With the application
- A site plan showing the building footprint, distances to the property lines, lot size, water and sewer taps or lines, driveway and other structures
- A flood zone determination, with an elevation certificate if the property is in a flood zone
- Two sets of construction drawings with a materials list
- The contract, for jobs over $10,000
How plans are handled
- The site plan is used to check the zoning district, permitted use, floodplain and setbacks
- Home-drawn plans can be approved if they are readable
- All plans are reviewed for code compliance
- One set stays in the permit file for 180 days after the project closes
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get permits in Nicholas County: 5 steps
Inside Summersville or Richwood, go to the City; elsewhere, the county has no zoning and posts no building permit.
Before new construction, a substantial improvement or placing a mobile home, call 304-872-7892 or 7893 to find out if the site is in the floodplain.
Apply to the Nicholas County Health Department (304-872-5329) for any new septic system.
New structures need an address under the county’s E-911 addressing ordinance; the Emergency Services office handles 911 matters (304-872-7890).
Submit the application with the site plan and two sets of drawings, and wait for plan review before building.
Codes and design loads in Summersville
Summersville has adopted the State Building Code effective August 1, 2022: the 2018 International Building, Residential (without Chapter 11), Existing Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Property Maintenance and Swimming Pool and Spa Codes, the 2020 National Electrical Code and the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code for homes.
The City’s residential design criteria are a 30 psf ground snow load, 90 mph wind speed, seismic design category B, severe weathering, footings at least 30 inches deep and moderate to heavy termite risk, with ice barrier underlayment required. Richwood’s posted code adopts the West Virginia Building Code with the 2015 editions of the International Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes, and has its own floodplain ordinance.
Rather not deal with the Nicholas County building department?
Get a free quote →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 Nicholas County permitting resources
County and city pages:
- Nicholas County Commission FAQs: zoning, floodplain and septic
- Nicholas County ordinances in force
- Nicholas County Commission contacts and meetings
- Nicholas County Homeland Security and Emergency Management/E911
- City of Summersville Code Enforcement
- Summersville residential and commercial building permit application
- Summersville code Article 1711, State Building Code
- City of Richwood
- City of Richwood charter and codes
- 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 →Nicholas County permit FAQs
Do I need a building permit in Nicholas County, WV?
The county posts no building permit and has no zoning outside Summersville and Richwood. New construction, substantial improvements and manufactured homes still go to the county floodplain permit officer (304-872-7892 or 7893).
Who issues building permits in Summersville?
The City’s Building Code Official, Joey Groves, at 400 North Broad Street (304-872-1211, ext. 103). Plans are reviewed against the 2018 codes the City has adopted.
Can I draw my own plans in Summersville?
Yes. The City says home-drawn plans may be approved if they are readable, and staff will help with construction documents.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Who issues septic permits in Nicholas County?
The Nicholas County Health Department (304-872-5329).
Do I need a permit to place a mobile home in Richwood?
Yes. City Council must approve a building permit, and the water and sewer hook-ups, before a mobile home is placed in the city.
Simplify Nicholas 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.
Ready to break ground in Nicholas County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Nicholas County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More West Virginia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Nicholas County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.