Unincorporated Calhoun County

No local residential building permit is required in unincorporated Calhoun County. However, stormwater permits are mandatory for land disturbance ≥1 acre, and septic/well permits are mandatory for all properties without public wastewater service. Commercial buildings are technically subject to the West Virginia State Building Code, but local enforcement is inconsistent.

• Exempt Residential construction in unincorporated Calhoun County is exempt from local building permit requirements.
• Exempt However, stormwater permits are mandatory for projects disturbing 1 or more acres, regardless of permit exemption.
• Exempt Septic and well permits are mandatory for all properties without public wastewater service.
• Exempt Projects under $2,500 (residential) or $5,000 (commercial) do not require a licensed contractor.

Note: Exempt from local residential building permit does not mean exempt from stormwater, septic, well, or contractor licensing requirements. Verify all applicable state and federal requirements before proceeding.

Building code

No local residential building code adopted. West Virginia State Building Code (based on International Building Code) technically applies to commercial/public buildings, but enforcement in unincorporated areas is inconsistent due to lack of local certified code officials.

Permit validity

Stormwater permits valid as issued. Septic/well permits valid per DHHR determination. Contractor licenses must remain current throughout project.

Owner-builder

No owner-builder disclosure forms required locally, but contractor licensing thresholds ($2,500 residential, $5,000 commercial) apply uniformly.

Contractor requirements

Any residential project exceeding $2,500 or commercial project exceeding $5,000 requires a licensed West Virginia contractor. License fee: $90 application. Bond requirement: typically $10,000+ depending on contractor history and project scope.

Source: Calhoun County Commission ↗

1. 01
   No local residential building permit required for unincorporated areas. Verify project scope with Calhoun County Commission.
2. 02
   For stormwater (land disturbance ≥1 acre): submit WV/NPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit application through WV DEP Electronic Submittal System (ESS).
3. 03
   For septic or well systems: submit completed Form SS-182A (completed by property owner and certified WV septic system installer) to WV DHHR Public Health Sanitation Division.
4. 04
   Contractor licensing verification (required if project exceeds $2,500 residential or $5,000 commercial) through West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board.
5. 05
   All environmental and septic/well permits must be obtained before construction begins.

Typical processing time: Stormwater: 2–4 weeks via WV DEP ESS. Septic/well: 2–4 weeks via DHHR. Contractor license verification: immediate online lookup.

Source: Calhoun County Commission ↗

Typical sequence: No local building inspections. Stormwater inspections conducted by WV DEP. Septic/well inspections conducted by DHHR Public Health Sanitation Division.