WV
West Virginia permits & licenses
Last verified October 15, 2026
General information, not legal advice.
License thresholds and permit rules change, and your city or county enforces the permit. Local rules vary. Anything this research could not confirm is shown as “Check with your local building department,” not as a rule you can rely on.
Contractor license
West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (WV Division of Labor)
Contractor license required when cost is $5,000 or more for residential work, or $25,000 or more for commercial work (WV Code 30-42-3). The older $2,500 figure is repealed law.
Licensing board
https://wvclboard.wv.gov/License lookup
https://wvclboard.wv.gov/Homeowner exemption
Summary
WV Code 30-42-6 reportedly exempts owner-performed work on an owner-occupied home (secondary source - verify statute text).
Electrical
Check with your local building department
Plumbing
Check with your local building department
HVAC
Check with your local building department
Permit notes for common projects
Permit triggers are set and enforced locally (county/city building department), under the state code listed. Always confirm with the local building department.
Governing code
Check with your local building department
Water heater
Check with your local building department
Toilet
Check with your local building department
Ceiling fan, outlet, or GFCI
Check with your local building department
Fence
Check with your local building department
Deck
Check with your local building department
Shed
Check with your local building department
What this page does not confirm
- The owner exemption came from a secondary source.
- Trade rules and permits are unverified.
Sources
Projects that hit these rules
Published by Fixit Express. Last verified October 15, 2026. Full disclaimer