Huntington building department

The City of Huntington Inspections and Permits Division issues permits for additions and repairs to houses and buildings inside Huntington city limits and inspects the work. It has three inspectors: one each for building, electrical, and plumbing. They also inspect buildings for the city’s Unsafe Buildings Commission. The office is in Room 100 of City Hall, 800 Fifth Avenue. Cabell County addresses outside the city use a different permitting process. Planning and Zoning’s online Boundary Lookup will show whether a parcel is inside the city.

When a permit is required

Huntington City Code Article 1711.05 requires a permit whenever an owner or authorized agent plans to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, or demolish a building or structure, or change its occupancy. The same applies to installing, altering, converting, or replacing any code-regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system. The city says most structural work on houses needs a permit, so ask before you start.

Codes in force: 2018 International Building Code, 2018 International Plumbing Code, 2020 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), and NFPA 1 (2021 edition) Fire and Life Safety Code.

Who can pull permits

Huntington requires anyone doing contracting work inside city limits to hold a City of Huntington contractor license. The permit system checks three records for every request: your city contractor license, your liability insurance, and your West Virginia contractor license. If any one has lapsed, the request is blocked. It is also blocked if the permit type falls outside the work your license covers. To fix license records, call the Finance Division at (304) 696-5540 ext. 2399.

The contract-copy rule

Since January 2, 2016, the permit office has required copies of the official contract between the general contractor and the property owner. It also requires each contract between the GC and its subcontractors. Each contract must show the total amount for labor and materials and the contractor’s name, phone, and mailing address. If you don’t have the contracts when the permit is issued, the office may accept a “Notice to Proceed” form for each contractor. In that case the contracts must be turned in before the Building Final is issued. The Supervisor of Inspections & Permits can waive this rule.

Applying online through eSuite Permits

Huntington takes online permit requests through Tyler eSuite Permits, which is linked from the city’s online payments page under “Building Permits.” Contractors activate an account with their business name, the license type “Contractor,” and their city license number. To request a permit:

1. Log in and choose Request Permit.
2. Pick the permit type.
3. Select the worksite address from the drop-down list. A typed address that isn’t picked from the list causes an error.
4. Enter the Estimated Improvement Value, meaning labor plus materials.
5. Upload an invoice, quote, or proposal.
6. Pay by card under Billing & Payment.
7. Pick up the permit in Room 103, or ask Finance to mail it.

Some permit types need plan review, such as residential additions. To check on plan status, email [email protected]. Paper applications are also accepted at the Permitting Office.

Permit fees

The permit fee comes from a valuation table based on total project cost (labor and materials). The city adds a $20 application fee to each building permit. Sample amounts from the posted schedule:

Project cost	Permit fee
$0 to $499	$0
$500 to $1,100	$20.00
$4,001 to $5,000	$50.50
$9,001 to $10,000	$80.50
$24,001 to $25,000	$170.50
$49,001 to $50,000	$283.00
$99,001 to $100,000	$433.00
Over $100,000	$433.00 plus $2.50 per additional $1,000 or part thereof

Inspections

Inspectors meet the public 8 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. To set up an appointment or an inspection, call Permit Technician Kim Estep at (304) 696-5540 ext. 2003 or email [email protected]. The permit office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Direct lines for the inspectors are building ext. 2205, electrical ext. 2206, and plumbing ext. 2209. The Huntington Fire Marshal’s office is at (304) 696-5950.

Certificate of Occupancy

A Certificate of Occupancy is required before any new building is occupied or an existing building is put to a new use. That includes every time a new business moves in or a business changes owners. The steps:

1. Meet with Planning and Zoning ((304) 696-5540 option 3, [email protected]) to confirm the zone, discuss signs, and fill out the CO application.
2. The permit technician processes the application.
3. Pay the $75 CO fee in Room 103. Card payments carry a 3.75% service fee, with a $2.50 minimum.
4. Schedule the CO inspection. Building, electrical, plumbing, and fire inspectors check the space against the 2018 IBC and IPC, the 2020 NEC, and NFPA 1.
5. Pick up the certificate, then apply for your Huntington business license.

Planning, zoning, and rentals

Planning and Zoning reviews permits and plans for commercial and residential projects. It handles zoning permits, site plans, sign permits, and floodplain regulations. The Board of Zoning Appeals meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, the Planning Commission on the 1st Monday, and the Historic Preservation Commission on the 2nd Thursday. Planning’s hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, 1 to 4 p.m.

Under a 2018 ordinance, rental units must be registered and licensed. Housing inspectors inspect one- and two-family rentals no more than once every 12 months. Multi-family buildings are inspected by the building, electrical, and plumbing inspectors and the Fire Marshal.

Covered commercial occupancies may also need West Virginia State Fire Marshal plan review, which has been portal-only since March 1, 2025. The State Fire Code does not apply to one- and two-family dwellings.