Unincorporated Lewis County

Building permits required for new residential construction, commercial construction, substantial repairs, and structures with electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems.

• Exempt Agricultural buildings and structures used exclusively for agricultural purposes (barns, silos, sheds, equipment storage, livestock/poultry housing)
• Exempt Detached residential storage sheds ≤120 square feet, one-story, with no plumbing or electrical connections (varies by local enforcement)

Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Agricultural structures must be designed to be occupied by no more than 10 persons to qualify for exemption.

Building code

Building code adoption status varies; Lewis County has not universally adopted the West Virginia State Building Code for unincorporated areas. West Virginia State Building Code (2018 edition based on IBC 2018 and IRC 2018) applies where local code officers are certified.

Contractor requirements

Residential work ≥$2,500 requires contractor license from WV Contractor Licensing Board. Commercial work ≥$25,000 requires contractor license. Electrical work >$1,000 requires electrical contractor license.

1. 01
   Contact Lewis County Planning and Zoning Department at (304) 269-8200
2. 02
   Inquire about building permit requirements for your specific project
3. 03
   If building code enforcement is active in unincorporated areas, determine applicable compliance standards
4. 04
   For projects involving land disturbance ≥1 acre, file WV/NPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit through WV DEP
5. 05
   For onsite sewage systems, obtain separate DHHR permit from WV Department of Health and Human Resources

• (304) 269-8200 (phone)

Inspection hours

Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (standard office hours)

Typical sequence: Standard inspection types if enforced: foundation/excavation, framing, mechanical/electrical/plumbing, final inspection. Availability depends on whether Lewis County actively enforces building codes.