Any development in a designated floodplain in Wyoming County needs a county floodplain permit, and any significant development outside it needs a certificate of compliance, both from the Office of Emergency Services (1022 River Road, Pineville, 304-732-6953), which enforces the floodplain ordinance; the county publishes no separate building permit. The Health Department permits septic systems ($185 for a single-family system), and the Town of Oceana issues its own building permits.
What requires a permit in Wyoming County?
The county’s permit rules come from its floodplain ordinance, which the Office of Emergency Services enforces. The county also asks for a sign-off on significant development outside the flood zone, through a certificate of compliance.
Office of Emergency Services
- Floodplain permit: any development in a designated floodplain
- Certificate of compliance: any significant development outside the floodplain
Health Department
- Septic system for a single-family home, or any other septic system
- New water well
The ordinance and the county floodplain maps can be read at the County Clerk’s Office and at the Office of Emergency Services.
Who handles permitting in Wyoming County?
The Wyoming County Commission set up the county 911 Center in 1991, and its Office of Emergency Services now plans for disasters and manages development in the floodplain.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Floodplain permits and certificates of compliance | Office of Emergency Services, 1022 River Road, Pineville, WV 24874 (mail: PO Box 568); 304-732-6953 |
| Unincorporated county on the state floodplain manager list | 304-732-7504 |
| Septic systems and wells | Wyoming County Health Department, 44 Cedar Avenue (Courthouse Annex), Pineville; 304-732-7941; weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| County Commission | PO Box 376, Pineville; 304-732-8000; fax 304-732-9659 |
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Get a free quote →The three towns:
- Oceana: the town code requires written permission from the town building inspector before any building is erected, altered or improved; apply to the Town Recorder (1325 Cook Parkway, 304-682-6231). Oceana’s floodplain chapter also requires a permit and standard site plan from the Floodplain Administrator for any development in town, and the state list gives the county emergency services number as Oceana’s floodplain contact.
- Pineville (county seat): the published sources do not say whether the town issues building permits; ask the town office (304-732-6255, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Its floodplain contact on the state list is also 304-732-6953.
- Mullens: the published sources do not say whether the town issues building permits; ask the town office at 316 Moran Avenue (304-294-7132), which is also Mullens’ own floodplain contact.
Wyoming County permit types
Floodplain permit (county). Required before any development within a designated floodplain. Call the Office of Emergency Services with the parcel location to find out what the application needs.
Certificate of compliance (county). Required for significant development outside the floodplain, issued by the same office.
Oceana building permit (town). A written application to the Town Recorder giving the building’s size, kind, location and use, with complete plans and specifications showing materials, flues and water and sewer connections. It must comply with Oceana’s planning and zoning chapter, which sets residential, mobile home and commercial districts; a project that needs a special use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission also pays the legal notice cost, at least $10.
Septic and well permits (Health Department). Applied for before the system or well is installed.
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Get a free quote →Permit costs and fees in Wyoming County
The Office of Emergency Services (304-732-6953) quotes any fee for a county floodplain permit or certificate of compliance. Published fees:
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Septic system, single family (Health Department) | $185 |
| Any other septic system (Health Department) | $375 |
| Water well permit (Health Department) | $125 |
| Water test (Health Department) | $50 |
| Oceana building permit, first $1,000 of cost (projects over $100) | $4 |
| Oceana building permit, each additional $1,000 of cost | $2 |
| Oceana floodplain determination, all proposed development | $5 |
| Oceana floodplain permit, flood hazard area: first $1,000 of estimated cost | $4 |
| Oceana floodplain permit, flood hazard area: each additional $1,000 | $2 |
Under Oceana’s building permit rate, a $50,000 project pays $4 for the first $1,000 and $2 for each of the other 49 thousands: $102. If the finished cost is higher than the estimate the owner pays the difference, and if it is lower a refund can be ordered by the Council on request within six months.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work
Neither the county nor its towns publish electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits. In Oceana, the building permit plans must show the flues and the water and sewer connections, and a home on a septic system needs the Health Department’s permit before the plumbing is connected to it.
What to have ready
County floodplain
- Parcel location and flood zone from the West Virginia Flood Tool
- Description, size and use of the building or fill
- Site sketch showing the work and nearby streams
- Elevation information if the site is in a mapped flood zone
Oceana building permit
- Written application to the Town Recorder
- Size, kind, location and intended use of the building
- Complete plans and material specifications
- Location of flues and of water and sewer connections
- Estimated cost, which sets the fee
How to apply: 5-step Wyoming County process
Check the parcel on the West Virginia Flood Tool and see whether it is inside Oceana, Pineville or Mullens.
Call 304-732-6953 or visit 1022 River Road, Pineville, for a floodplain permit or a certificate of compliance.
In Oceana, file the written building permit application with the Town Recorder; in Pineville or Mullens, check with the town office.
Apply to the Wyoming County Health Department at 44 Cedar Avenue for a septic or well permit.
In Oceana, pay any difference if the final cost is above the estimate; keep all county certificates with the property records.
Rather not deal with the Wyoming County building department?
Get a free quote →Wyoming County inspections
The Office of Emergency Services decides whether development complies with the floodplain ordinance before issuing a certificate of compliance, and the Health Department inspects septic systems. In Oceana, the town building inspector gives the written permission to build.
Local Wyoming County details that matter
Commission meetings: the County Commission meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in the Courthouse Annex in Pineville; to be on the agenda, book an appointment by 3:30 p.m. the Friday before.
Oceana zoning: Oceana has a Planning and Zoning Commission and residential, mobile home and commercial districts, and the boundaries of its mobile home districts are mapped in an appendix to the town code.
Unincorporated places: communities such as Baileysville, Glen Fork, Hanover, Itmann and Kopperston are not incorporated, so the county floodplain rules apply there with no town permit.
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
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Official Wyoming County permitting resources
- Wyoming County Office of Emergency Services: floodplain ordinance
- Wyoming County Commission
- Wyoming County services and town contacts
- Wyoming County Health Department: sewage systems
- Wyoming County Health Department permit fee schedule
- Wyoming County public notices (Board of Health fee revision)
- Town of Oceana Code §150.075: building permits and fees
- West Virginia county and town floodplain managers list
- West Virginia Flood Tool
- Town of Oceana Code Chapter 152: floodplain regulations
- WV Code 15A-11-5: State Building Code
- State Fire Marshal laws and rules
Wyoming County permit FAQs
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Do I need a building permit in Wyoming County?
The county publishes no building permit of its own. You need a floodplain permit for development in a designated floodplain and a certificate of compliance for significant development elsewhere, both from the Office of Emergency Services. Oceana issues its own building permits.
Where is the Wyoming County permit office?
The Office of Emergency Services, 1022 River Road, Pineville, 304-732-6953.
How much is a building permit in Oceana?
$4 for the first $1,000 of cost and $2 for each additional $1,000, so a $50,000 job pays $102.
How much is a septic permit in Wyoming County?
$185 for a single-family system and $375 for other systems on the Health Department’s posted schedule; a well permit is $125.
Can I see the floodplain maps?
Yes. The ordinance and county floodplain maps are on file at the County Clerk’s Office and the Office of Emergency Services, and the West Virginia Flood Tool shows them online.
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More West Virginia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Wyoming County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.