Bolthole Index

Brooke County, West Virginia

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Brooke County, West Virginia

56Index Score / 100
#48 of 55 in West Virginia

Brooke County, West Virginia has no county zoning, but we could not confirm whether the county adopted the State Building Code or requires a general residential building permit in unincorporated areas12. Septic systems require a written permit, and designated-floodplain development requires a county or community permit34. Inside a city or town, contact city hall because municipal rules can differ1.

At a glance

Building permit
General residential permit status is unconfirmed; ask the County Commission before building25
Zoning
No county zoning; incorporated cities and towns may have their own rules61
Septic permit
Required before installation; apply through the Brooke County Health Department378
RV or tiny-home living
Occupancy rules could not be confirmed; ask the County Commission or applicable city hall51
County zoning dimensions
No county zoning-based minimum dwelling size, lot size, setback, lot-coverage or height standard in unincorporated areas910111213
Owner-builder
Personally performed owner or occupant work is exempt from contractor licensure, but not other approvals14
Water well
Local health-department permit required before drilling, modifying or abandoning a well15
Floodplain development
Permit required in designated floodplain areas; the permit cost varies416

Who to call

Septic permits

Brooke County Health Department

Onsite sewage applications, septic-system information and local environmental-health administration

(304) 737-3665

Courthouse 2nd Floor, 204 Courthouse Square, Wellsburg, WV 26070

Floodplain permits

Brooke County Floodplain Manager

Questions and permits for development in designated Brooke County floodplain areas

(304) 737-5002

[email protected]

Also useful

Brooke County Commission

County-government questions not assigned to the Health Department or floodplain manager

304-737-4024

632 Main St. Wellsburg, WV

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Brooke County, West Virginia?

We could not confirm whether unincorporated Brooke County requires a general residential building permit or has adopted the West Virginia State Building Code. West Virginia does not impose that code automatically statewide; it has force only where a county or municipality adopts it, and the available state material does not establish Brooke County's adoption status172. Ask the Brooke County Commission before construction5.

Specific approvals still apply. Development in a designated floodplain needs a county or community permit, and the permit fee varies416. State Fire Marshal inspection covers structures subject to the State Fire Code but excludes one- and two-family dwelling houses from that inspection mandate18. A structure used primarily for agriculture can be exempt from state and local building codes, but eligibility may require a determination from the Commissioner of Agriculture1920.

Who issues permits in Brooke County, and how do you reach them?

No confirmed general residential building-permit office appears in the available Brooke County rules, so call the Brooke County Commission at 304-737-4024 or visit 632 Main St. in Wellsburg to confirm the current requirement and responsible office52. If the parcel is inside an incorporated city or town, contact that city hall because municipal land-use rules may differ1.

For onsite sewage, contact the Brooke County Health Department at (304) 737-3665 or visit Courthouse 2nd Floor, 204 Courthouse Square, Wellsburg, WV 260708. The department provides the local septic application and sewage-rule resources, while West Virginia supplies the statewide permit framework721. For mapped flood-hazard land, contact the Brooke County Floodplain Manager at (304) 737-5002 or [email protected]22.

Does Brooke County have zoning?

Brooke County has no county zoning, and the county directs construction inside incorporated areas to the applicable city hall61. For unincorporated land, Brooke County therefore imposes no zoning-based minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, building setback, lot-coverage limit or building-height limit910111213. Septic, floodplain, subdivision, health rules and private covenants can still constrain a project even where county zoning does not1011.

Municipal land is different. The Town of Bethany has zoning that governs land within its corporate limits and includes historic, residential/commercial and low-density residential districts23. Bethany has also adopted the State Building Code for construction, repair and alteration within town limits24.

How do septic permits work in Brooke County?

A written permit is required before installing or establishing an onsite septic system in Brooke County3. The Brooke County Health Department provides the local application and handles county septic administration under West Virginia's statewide framework25268. The application asks for property, facility, lot, water-source, subdivision, percolation-test and installer information27.

For lots created after July 1, 1970, an individual sewage-disposal permit is withheld until subdivision approval shows that proposed lots can meet the design standards27. Only 16% of Brooke County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so settle septic feasibility early28. A private well requires a local health-department permit before drilling, modification or abandonment; in a subdivision using individual onsite sewage, written subdivision approval comes before well or sewage permits1529.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Brooke County?

Brooke County's rules for living long-term in an RV or occupying a tiny home could not be confirmed, so the absence of county zoning is not permission for residential occupancy6. Ask the Brooke County Commission about unincorporated land and the applicable city hall about municipal land51. Ask the Brooke County Health Department how the dwelling will meet sewage requirements because an onsite system needs a written permit before installation38.

A tiny home does not gain a confirmed occupancy right merely because unincorporated Brooke County has no zoning-based minimum dwelling size9. Inside Bethany, town zoning and the adopted building code apply2324. In West Virginia municipalities, at least one accessory dwelling unit is allowed by right on a parcel with a single-family dwelling, subject to applicable rules; a manufactured home may qualify when it meets the permanent-foundation and code conditions3031.

Building a home in Brooke County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is unincorporated or inside a city or town; incorporated construction goes to the applicable city hall1.
  2. Ask the Brooke County Commission whether the county requires a residential building permit or applies an adopted building code to the parcel52.
  3. Check the flood map and contact the Floodplain Manager before site work if the property is in a designated floodplain422.
  4. Apply to the Brooke County Health Department for the written septic permit and any needed well permit before installation or drilling3158.
  5. If the driveway connects to a state highway, obtain the free Division of Highways permit before building the approach32.
  6. If land disturbance reaches one acre or is part of a larger common development plan, obtain WVDEP stormwater authorization through its electronic system33.
  7. An owner or occupant may personally perform work without contractor licensure, but that exemption does not waive permits, inspections or other approvals14.

What should you check before buying land in Brooke County?

Start with jurisdiction: county zoning does not apply in unincorporated Brooke County, while incorporated municipalities may administer their own rules61. Then check flood status and septic feasibility before treating a house site as buildable434. Conventional septic conditions are challenging across much of the county because just 16% of soils avoid a severe drain-field limitation28.

Terrain can compound site costs: 42.4% of county land has a slope of 15% or less, and 67.5% is wooded3536. Confirm legal access and, for a driveway onto a state highway, obtain the required state permit32. If municipal sewer runs along the street, alley, public way or easement abutting the parcel, a municipality or board of health may compel a residence to connect after written notice37. The effective property-tax rate is about 0.5% and the median annual property-tax bill is about $6903839.

Watch-outs

  • Brooke County's absence of county zoning does not answer whether an RV or tiny home may be occupied as a residence; ask the County Commission or applicable city hall before relying on that use651.
  • Only 16% of Brooke County soils avoid a severe limitation for a conventional septic drain field, so settle septic feasibility before committing to a house site28.
  • Bethany has its own zoning and adopted building code inside town limits, so the unincorporated Brooke County answer does not apply there2324.

Sources

  1. Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  2. 2023 West Virginia State Hazard Mitigation Plan, quoted and re-checked
  3. West Virginia Code §16-1-9, quoted and re-checked
  4. Floodplain Permits, quoted and re-checked
  5. Brooke County Commission (brookecountywv.gov)
  6. Weirton Daily Times - Brooke County commissioners mull zoning regulations (2026 county census)
  7. On Site Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  8. Brooke County Health Department (brookecountyhealthdepartment.com)
  9. Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  10. Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  11. Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  12. Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  13. Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  14. West Virginia Code §30-42-6. Necessity for license; exemptions, quoted and re-checked
  15. Individual Water Supplies, quoted and re-checked
  16. Floodplain Permits, quoted and re-checked
  17. West Virginia Code §15A-11-5. Promulgation of rules and statewide building code., quoted and re-checked
  18. West Virginia Code §15A-10-3. Powers and duties of State Fire Marshal, quoted and re-checked
  19. West Virginia Code §15A-11-5. Promulgation of rules and statewide building code, quoted and re-checked
  20. 87CSR4 State Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  21. West Virginia Code §16-1-9, quoted and re-checked
  22. Brooke County Floodplain Manager (wvinsurance.gov)
  23. Town of Bethany Ordinances, quoted and re-checked
  24. Town of Bethany Ordinances, Ordinance No. 106, quoted and re-checked
  25. On Site Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  26. 64-47 Sewage Treatment and Collection System Design Standards, quoted and re-checked
  27. On Site Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  28. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  29. Subdivision On-Site Sewage Systems, quoted and re-checked
  30. West Virginia Code §8-42-1. Definitions, quoted and re-checked
  31. West Virginia Code §8-42-1. Definitions, quoted and re-checked
  32. Encroachment Permits, quoted and re-checked
  33. Construction Stormwater General Permit (West Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  34. West Virginia Code §16-1-9, quoted and re-checked
  35. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  36. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  37. West Virginia Code §8-18-22, quoted and re-checked
  38. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  39. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 29, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

County locator

Brooke County in West Virginia

56
County map
Brooke County highlighted among the West Virginia counties · colored by Index score

How Brooke County scores

Seclusion30100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency55100% ev.
Admin Boringness86100% ev.
Durability73100% ev.
Property Autonomy26100% ev.
Carry Cost87100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$136kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$4,024Land / acre
41.7"Annual rain
1.6% of yrsSevere drought
2.7 / yr (+2.7)Mid-century 100°F days
10.8 daysMid-century dry spell
1.64" (+6.3%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.78×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,062Home insurance / yr
-0.2% / yrInsurance growth
0%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
114,568People within 30 min
4,840,466People within 2 hr
122,889Radius comparison (15 mi)
239.6People / sq mi
0%Federal land
42.4%Land at 15% slope or less
16%Septic soil without severe limits
7,315 acWorkable land screen
67.5%Wooded land
70.7 tonsBiomass / forest ac
51.8°FAvg temp

Scout Brooke County

Camp here before you commitBook a few nights nearby on Hipcamp →Already own land here?Earn money hosting campers — get $100 when you become a Hipcamp host →

Some links are affiliate or referral links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

View your full hunt →
ZillowLand & lotsRealtor.comLand listingsLandSearchRural & vacant land

Each button opens a current land search for Brooke County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

Use rough quotes or placeholders. Blank fields count as $0.

Working estimate

—land + entered setup costs
Asking $ / acre
—
Setup allowance
—
All-in $ / acre
—

A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

Saved properties and checklist progress stay on this device. Bolthole Index does not receive them.

Answers from the rulebook for Brooke County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Brooke County rules

  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Aggregate of local land-use authority across Brooke County, including unincorporated territory and incorporated municipalities.

    • The county states that it has no zoning.
    • For construction inside an incorporated area, the county directs the applicant to contact the applicable city hall.
    • The current official municipal zoning maps and ordinances for each incorporated municipality were not located in this research pass.
    “The City Inspector in Wellsburg plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with building codes, zoning regulations, and other municipal ordinances”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeNone

    Minimum dwelling-size standards imposed by Brooke County zoning or planning regulations in unincorporated Brooke County.

    • The county FAQ states that incorporated areas must be handled by the applicable city hall; municipal rules may apply inside incorporated areas.
    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision, health, private-covenant, and other non-zoning requirements may still apply.
    “No, the county has no zoning. If you are building inside an incorporated area you need to contact that city hall.”
  • Minimum lot sizeNone

    Minimum lot-size standards imposed by Brooke County zoning or planning regulations in unincorporated Brooke County.

    • The county FAQ states that incorporated areas must be handled by the applicable city hall; municipal rules may apply inside incorporated areas.
    • Subdivision, septic, floodplain, health, private-covenant, and other non-zoning requirements may still apply.
    “No, the county has no zoning. If you are building inside an incorporated area you need to contact that city hall.”
  • SetbacksNone

    Building setback standards imposed by Brooke County zoning or planning regulations in unincorporated Brooke County.

    • The county FAQ states that incorporated areas must be handled by the applicable city hall; municipal rules may apply inside incorporated areas.
    • Floodplain, highway-right-of-way, septic, subdivision, health, private-covenant, and other non-zoning requirements may still apply.
    “No, the county has no zoning. If you are building inside an incorporated area you need to contact that city hall.”
  • Lot coverageNone

    Lot-coverage standards imposed by Brooke County zoning or planning regulations in unincorporated Brooke County.

    • The county FAQ states that incorporated areas must be handled by the applicable city hall; municipal rules may apply inside incorporated areas.
    • Floodplain, stormwater, septic, subdivision, health, private-covenant, and other non-zoning requirements may still apply.
    “No, the county has no zoning. If you are building inside an incorporated area you need to contact that city hall.”
  • Building heightNone

    Building-height standards imposed by Brooke County zoning or planning regulations in unincorporated Brooke County.

    • The county FAQ states that incorporated areas must be handled by the applicable city hall; municipal rules may apply inside incorporated areas.
    • Floodplain, airport, building-code, septic, subdivision, health, private-covenant, and other non-zoning requirements may still apply.
    “No, the county has no zoning. If you are building inside an incorporated area you need to contact that city hall.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Installation or modification of onsite sewage disposal systems in Brooke County.

    • The Brooke County Health Department's official septic page provides the sewage system application and sewage system with discharge permit application.
    • The official county-hosted application provides fields for health-department site evaluation, fee payment, and permit issuance or denial.
    “For Health Department Use: Coordinates N W Date Rec’d Site Eval By Date Fee Pd Rec’d From Permit Issued Denied Permit # Comments”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Local — On-site septic-system administration for properties served by the Brooke County Health Department in Brooke County.
      “On Site Septic Systems Information for Homeowners [...] Sewage System Application (PDF) [...] Sewage Rules”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in designated floodplain areas of Brooke County, including dredging, filling, grading, excavation, and new or replacement bridges, culverts, and other stream crossings.

    • The county or community permit officer determines whether the project lies within the designated floodplain and which standards apply.
    • Before permit issuance, copies of all other permits required by federal or state law are required.
    • Approximate A zones generally require pre- and post-development engineering demonstrating no unacceptable rise of 1 foot or greater.
    • AE zones without a designated floodway may not create more than a 1-foot cumulative rise and may require an engineering study.
    • AE zones with designated floodways require hydrologic and hydraulic analysis demonstrating zero rise.

    maximum cumulative rise in AE zone without floodway: <= 1 ft · base flood elevation rise in AE floodway: 0 ft (Zero rise required.)

    “Most stream restoration projects may therefore be considered “development”, for which a county or community permit is required.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Floodplain development permits administered for projects in Brooke County floodplain areas.

    • The applicable county or community permit officer determines the fee.
    • The official state guidance does not publish a fixed Brooke County amount.

    permit cost: varies

    “Permit Cost: Varies”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Onsite sewage disposal system permits for properties in Brooke County, including installation or modification of individual onsite sewage systems.

    • The Brooke County Health Department publishes a Sewage System Application and a Sewage System with Discharge Permit Application.
    • For lots created after July 1, 1970, permits for individual sewage disposal systems shall be withheld until subdivision approval has been granted indicating that the systems may be expected to comply with applicable design standards on all proposed building lots in the original tract.
    • The application requires property, facility, lot, water-source, subdivision, percolation-test, and installer information.
    • All homeowner installers must pass a certification examination administered by the Local Health Department before conducting percolation testing.
    • The applicant is responsible for informing the installer of existing or proposed sewage-system and water-source locations, including wells, and for consulting the sanitarian as necessary.
    “Application for a Permit to Install or Modify an Onsite Sewage Disposal System”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    County officials state unincorporated Brooke County has no zoning (only two of WV's 55 counties do) and the county planning commission has been inactive.

    Weirton Daily Times - Brooke County commissioners mull zoning regulations ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

West Virginia rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    Construction in West Virginia counties and municipalities that adopt the State Building Code, including potentially unincorporated Brooke County if Brooke County adopted it.

    • The State Building Code has force and effect in counties and municipalities adopting it.
    • Each county or municipality may adopt the code only prospectively, not retroactively.
    • Buildings or structures utilized primarily for agricultural purposes are exempt from the State Building Code, the State Fire Code, and any county or municipal building code or ordinance that is or may be adopted, such as the ICC International Property Maintenance Code.
    “The rules shall be in accordance with standard safe practices so embodied in widely recognized standards of good practice for building construction and all aspects related thereto and have force and effect in those counties and municipalities adopting the State Building Code: Provided, That each county or municipality may adopt the code to the extent that it is only prospective and not retroactive in its application; Provided, however, That buildings or structures utilized primarily for agricultural purposes shall be exempt from the provisions of the State Building Code, the State Fire Code, and any county or municipal building code or ordinance that is or may be adopted, such as the ICC International Property Maintenance Code.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owner- or occupant-performed construction work in Brooke County where the issue is West Virginia contractor licensure.

    • Work personally performed on a structure by the owner or occupant is exempt from contractor licensure under §30-42-6(c)(8).
    • Work personally performed by an owner or lessee on property whose primary use is agricultural or farming enterprise is separately exempt under §30-42-6(c)(3).
    • This is a contractor-licensure exemption and does not by itself establish that a building permit, inspection, or other local approval is unnecessary.
    • If a building permit is required, §30-42-10 still requires proof of licensure or a written affidavit that the person is not subject to contractor licensure before permit issuance.
    “(8) Work personally performed on a structure by the owner or occupant thereof; and”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available — A property owner or occupant personally performing construction work on a structure, for purposes of exemption from West Virginia contractor licensure.
      “Except as otherwise provided in this code, the following are exempt from licensure: [...] Work personally performed on a structure by the owner or occupant thereof;”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    West Virginia's State Building Code framework and its application in counties and municipalities that adopt the code.

    • The State Building Code has force and effect in counties and municipalities adopting it; it is not automatically applicable statewide solely by state promulgation.
    • A county or municipality may adopt the code only prospectively, not retroactively.
    • Buildings or structures utilized primarily for agricultural purposes are exempt from the State Building Code, the State Fire Code, and any adopted county or municipal building code or ordinance such as the ICC International Property Maintenance Code.
    • If another state law, county or municipal ordinance, or agency regulation imposes a more stringent or higher standard and is not inconsistent with West Virginia law or contrary to recognized standards and good engineering practices, that provision governs.
    • Enforcement is the responsibility of the respective local jurisdiction.
    • The active State Building Code rule is West Virginia Code of State Rules 87-04, effective August 1, 2022.

    effective date: 2022-08-01

    “The rules shall be in accordance with standard safe practices so embodied in widely recognized standards of good practice for building construction and all aspects related thereto and have force and effect in those counties and municipalities adopting the State Building Code: Provided, That each county or municipality may adopt the code to the extent that it is only prospective and not retroactive in its application; Provided, however, That buildings or structures utilized primarily for agricultural purposes shall be exempt from the provisions of the State Building Code, the State Fire Code, and any county or municipal building code or ordinance that is or may be adopted, such as the ICC International Property Maintenance Code.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Partial — Building-code adoption in West Virginia, including Brooke County and its municipalities.
      “While West Virginia does not have statewide building code requirements, the adoption and implementation of building codes is strongly encouraged. Any community that wishes to adopt and enforce a building code is required to use the State Building Code.”
    • Adopted — The West Virginia State Building Code statewide, including its relationship to Brooke County.
      “In 1990, West Virginia adopted the West Virginia State Building Code. [...] The code is not required to be adopted by local jurisdictions.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Fire and life-safety inspections by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal for occupancies subject to the State Fire Code.

    • The State Fire Marshal inspection mandate excludes one- and two-family dwellings.
    • The State Fire Marshal may enter dwelling houses during construction and before occupancy to determine compliance with conditions of permits or licenses issued by the State Fire Marshal.
    • State Fire Code exemptions include buildings used wholly as dwelling houses for no more than two families and buildings used primarily for agricultural purposes, subject to the stated farm-structure exceptions for group sleeping, health care, or detention/correctional occupancy.
    “The State Fire Marshal shall inspect all structures and facilities, other than one- and two-family dwelling houses, subject to the State Fire Code and this article, including, but not limited to, state, county, and municipally owned institutions, all public and private schools, health care facilities, theaters, churches, and other places of public assembly to determine whether the structures or facilities are in compliance with the State Fire Code.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Structures and facilities in Brooke County that are subject to the West Virginia State Fire Code, except one- and two-family dwelling houses.
      “The State Fire Marshal shall inspect all structures and facilities, other than one- and two-family dwelling houses, subject to the State Fire Code and this article, including, but not limited to, state, county, and municipally owned institutions, all public and private schools, health care facilities, theaters, churches, and other places of public assembly to determine whether the structures or facilities are in compliance with the State Fire Code.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    A new building, an existing Industrial or Storage occupancy, or an existing building in which 50% or more of the space has been renovated or reconstructed, when covered by the West Virginia State Fire Code.

    • The certificate of occupancy must be obtained before the building is occupied or used for its intended purpose.
    • The certificate may involve the State Fire Marshal’s Office and is not limited to issuance by that office alone.
    • The State Fire Code does not apply to buildings used wholly as dwelling houses for no more than two families or buildings used primarily for agricultural purposes, except farm structures used for group sleeping accommodations for farm workers or for health care or detention/correctional occupancy.
    • Where applicable, projects must be designed by a licensed architect or professional engineer and obtain review approval from the Authority Having Jurisdiction before construction or the covered renovation/reconstruction.
    • After January 1, 2025, owners or occupants applying for a final inspection or certificate of occupancy must submit plan-review documents electronically.

    renovated or reconstructed space threshold: >= 50 percent (Existing building; the rule also covers every new building and existing Industrial and Storage occupancies.) · plan review completion period: <= 45 days (The Authority Having Jurisdiction must notify deficiencies; the owner or occupant has 10 days to submit additional documentation, and the AHJ has 10 days to complete review once requirements are met.) · electronic filing requirement effective date: 2025-01-01 (Applies to documents submitted for final inspection or certificate of occupancy.)

    “The owner or occupant of a new building, existing Industrial and Storage occupancies, or an existing building that has had 50% or more of the space renovated or reconstructed, shall obtain a certificate of occupancy including but not be limited to the State Fire Marshal’s Office alone, before the building is occupied or used for its intended purpose.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    West Virginia zoning ordinances and zoning district maps adopted by county or municipal governing bodies.

    • West Virginia law permits counties and municipalities to enact zoning ordinances; it does not provide a single statewide district map in the cited sources.
    • A county zoning ordinance may cover the entire county or only parts of it.
    • A municipality's zoning ordinance covers its entire jurisdiction.
    • Zoning boundaries and classifications must be shown on a zoning district map.
    • Certified maps must be filed with the applicable governing body, planning commission, and county clerk.
    • The cited sources do not identify the actual district names or maps for each county or municipality.
    “The boundaries of each zone and the designated classifications must be shown on a zoning district map. The boundaries may only be changed after appropriate public hearing and zoning district map changes are adopted by the governing body.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Use of a manufactured home as an accessory dwelling unit on a lot or parcel containing a single-family dwelling within a West Virginia municipality, including applicable municipal areas of Brooke County.

    • The zoning district must be one where accessory dwelling units are permitted.
    • The manufactured home must be installed on a permanent foundation.
    • The manufactured home must comply with applicable building, fire, and safety codes and all other requirements in the article.
    • A municipality may not impose design, aesthetic, age-of-construction, or prior-use requirements more restrictive than those imposed on comparable site-built accessory dwelling units.
    • The manufactured home is assessed and taxed as real property.
    • Separate utility connections or meters may be required only where necessary to protect public health and safety and where applied uniformly to all accessory dwelling units.
    • The statute addresses municipalities; this claim does not establish a countywide unincorporated-Brooke-County zoning entitlement.

    detached or attached accessory dwelling unit maximum size: 75% of the gross floor area of the single-family dwelling or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less · accessory-dwelling-unit application fee: <= 250 USD per accessory dwelling unit (Usual building fees may also be required.)

    “A manufactured home may be used as an accessory dwelling unit by right [...] in any zoning district where accessory dwelling units are permitted.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    At least one accessory dwelling unit by right on a lot or parcel containing a single-family dwelling within a West Virginia municipality, subject to the statutory definition and applicable regulatory requirements.

    • The accessory dwelling unit must be self-contained and independently accessed, be on the same parcel as a larger single-family dwelling, and include cooking, sleeping, and sanitation facilities.
    • The unit may be attached, detached, or internal to the single-family dwelling.
    • An attached or detached unit may not exceed 75 percent of the single-family dwelling's gross floor area or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less.
    • The municipality may impose applicable fire, building, construction, zoning, and other federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
    • A municipality may require a water-system and sewer-system will-serve letter, or Department of Health approval where municipal or private water or sewer service is unavailable.
    • A municipality may charge an application-review fee up to $250 per accessory dwelling unit, in addition to usual building fees.
    • The statutory restrictions apply to policies, regulations, or ordinances in effect on or after January 1, 2027, and conflicting provisions are invalid to the extent of the conflict.
    • The statute does not regulate short-term rentals and does not supersede applicable regulatory requirements.

    maximum detached or attached ADU size: <= 75 percent of primary dwelling gross floor area (The alternative cap is 1,000 square feet, and the lesser limit controls.) · maximum detached or attached ADU size: <= 1000 square feet (The alternative cap is 75 percent of the primary dwelling gross floor area, and the lesser limit controls.) · maximum application-review fee: <= 250 USD per accessory dwelling unit (Usual building fees may be charged in addition to the application fee.) · conflicting municipal policy effective date: >= 2027-01-01 (Conflicting provisions are invalid to the extent of the conflict.)

    “a municipality shall not adopt a policy, regulation, or ordinance that restricts, prohibits, or otherwise regulates the use of at least one accessory dwelling unit”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — At least one accessory dwelling unit on a lot or parcel containing a single-family dwelling within a West Virginia municipality, including applicable municipal areas of Brooke County.
      “a municipality shall not adopt a policy, regulation, or ordinance that restricts, prohibits, or otherwise regulates [...] at least one accessory dwelling unit by right”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation or establishment of any sewage or excreta disposal system in Brooke County, including an onsite septic system.

    • A written permit must be obtained before installation or establishment.
    • The permit is issued by the West Virginia Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health or the commissioner's authorized representative.
    • Systems must be installed or established in accordance with plans, specifications, and instructions issued or approved by the commissioner or authorized representative.
    • West Virginia law states that the section does not apply to commercial or industrial wastes subject to regulatory control of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.
    • The Brooke County Health Department maintains the local onsite-septic information and sewage-system application materials.
    “No person, firm, company, corporation, institution or association, whether public or private, county or municipal, may install or establish any system or method of drainage, water supply, or sewage or excreta disposal without first obtaining a written permit to install or establish the system or method from the commissioner or his or her authorized representative.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Installation or establishment of any sewage or excreta-disposal system in Brooke County, including individual onsite sewage systems.
      “No person, firm, company, corporation, institution or association, whether public or private, county or municipal, may install or establish any system or method of drainage, water supply, or sewage or excreta disposal without first obtaining a written permit to install or establish the system or method from the commissioner or his or her authorized representative.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Drilling, modifying, or abandoning an individual drinking-water well in Brooke County.

    • The applicant must apply for and obtain a permit from the local health department before drilling, modifying, or abandoning the well.
    • An individual water well must be drilled by a licensed well driller.
    • The official page also identifies Water Well Regulations 64 CSR 19 and Water Well Design Standards 64 CSR 46 as applicable rules.
    “Residents of West Virginia who want to have a well drilled, or who wish to modify or abandon an existing well, must apply and obtain a permit from their Local Health Department prior to drilling, modifying, or abandoning the well.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Construction of a water well in a subdivision served by individual on-site sewage systems, including applicable subdivisions in Brooke County.
      “Prior to establishing a subdivision where an individual onsite sewage system(s) will be used, property owners or developers must obtain written health department approval before any improvements, construction, installation or development is initiated on any lot, and before any water well or sewage installation permits can be issued. [...] After approval is granted, the developer or each individual lot owner must obtain a health department permit for the constriction of any water well or individual onsite sewage system.”
    • Required — Drilling, modifying, or abandoning an individual water well in West Virginia.
      “Residents of West Virginia who want to have a well drilled, or who wish to modify or abandon an existing well, must apply and obtain a permit from their local health department prior to drilling, modifying, or abandoning the well.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Buildings in Brooke County located on a lot or parcel abutting a street, alley, public way, or easement where a municipal sewer is located or later constructed.

    • The lot or parcel must abut the relevant street, alley, public way, or easement.
    • A business or residence building must be located on the parcel or later erected there.
    • The municipality or board of health may require and compel connection.
    • Written notice to connect must be given to the owner and lessee or occupant.
    • Connection must occur within thirty days after notice is sent by the municipality.
    • The municipality may bill based on actual water consumption or, if unmetered, a good-faith estimate.

    connection deadline after notice: 30 days

    “The owner or owners shall connect to the municipal sewer within thirty days after notice to connect has been sent by the municipality.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Buildings or structures in Brooke County used primarily for agricultural purposes, including agritourism purposes, seeking exemption from the applicable West Virginia State Building Code.

    • The structure must be used primarily for agricultural purposes, including agritourism purposes.
    • A property owner or other responsible party claiming the exemption must submit the question to the Commissioner of Agriculture for a determination of eligibility.
    • The claimant must submit sufficient information for the Commissioner to determine the property's primary use, including the property and building locations, types of agricultural use or uses, percentage or frequency of use, and any other information the Commissioner requires.
    • The Commissioner of Agriculture must provide a copy of the eligibility decision to the property owner or responsible party and to the entity that adopted and is enforcing the Building Code.
    • The cited rule became effective August 1, 2022 and terminates, with no further force or effect, on August 1, 2027.

    effective date: 2022-08-01 · sunset date: 2027-08-01 (The rule terminates and has no further force or effect on this date.)

    “1.1. Scope. -- This rule establishes the standards considered necessary by the State Fire Commission for the safeguarding of life and property and to ensure compliance with the minimum standards of safe construction of all structures erected or renovated throughout this state. [...] 1.4. Effective Date. – August 1, 2022. 1.5. Sunset Provision. -- This rule shall terminate and have no further force or effect on August 1, 2027. 1.6. Exemptions. -- The State Building Code has no application to buildings or structures used primarily for agricultural purposes including agritourism purposes. [...] 9.1. If a property owner or other responsible party claims exemption from the applicable Building Code based on the agricultural purposes exemption identified in subsection 1.6 of this rule, he or she shall submit the question to the Commissioner of Agriculture for a determination of eligibility.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — Buildings or structures utilized primarily for agricultural purposes in Brooke County, including potential exemption from the West Virginia State Building Code, State Fire Code, and county or municipal building codes or ordinances adopted under the statute.
      “Provided, however, That buildings or structures utilized primarily for agricultural purposes shall be exempt from the provisions of the State Building Code, the State Fire Code, and any county or municipal building code or ordinance that is or may be adopted, such as the ICC International Property Maintenance Code.”
    • Available (with conditions) — Buildings or structures in Brooke County utilized primarily for agricultural purposes, to the extent the West Virginia State Building Code, State Fire Code, or a county or municipal building code or ordinance would otherwise apply.
      “Provided, however, That buildings or structures utilized primarily for agricultural purposes shall be exempt from the provisions of the State Building Code, the State Fire Code, and any county or municipal building code or ordinance that is or may be adopted, such as the ICC International Property Maintenance Code.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development subject to a local subdivision and land-development ordinance adopted under West Virginia law.

    • The local ordinance must include minor and major subdivision processes, planning-commission approval authority, review, approval, recording, fees, waivers, and improvement-location permits.
    • The statute allows exemptions for certain land development, including single-family residential structures and farm structures.
    • The cited statute does not itself provide one uniform statewide subdivision approval process for every parcel; local governing bodies and planning commissions administer the ordinance.

    planning-commission approval: Required before development commences when a subdivision and land-development ordinance applies. (Applicable local exemptions and ordinance provisions may apply.) · plat recording: Required before construction commences after approval. (The plat is recorded in the clerk's office of the county commission where a majority of the land lies.) · fees: A schedule of fees proportioned to the cost of checking and verifying proposed plats.

    “plans and plats must be approved by the applicable planning commission”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New driveway access connecting to a West Virginia state highway in Brooke County.

    • The requirement applies to access to state highways and does not establish a countywide permit requirement for every private road or driveway.
    • Permits are granted only when the driveway or approach provides legitimate access to private property and its location, design, and construction comply with Division of Highways specifications.
    • Driveways must not be located in sharp curves, on steep grades, within intersections, or where they interfere with signs, signals, or drainage.
    • Unauthorized driveway installation can result in a fine or removal by Highways employees.
    • Private-business displays or operations, and vehicle storage, parking, or servicing, are not allowed on state-owned right-of-way.
    • Applicants should check with the District Office before building.
    • The permit is available free of charge from any Division office.

    permit fee: 0 USD (The official page states permits are available free of charge from any Division office.)

    “A reminder from the Division of Highways to property owners building new driveways — don’t forget your permit. Available free of charge from any Division office, permits are required by state law in order to assure that there is no uncontrolled access to state highways that would reduce the road’s safety or interfere with efficient movement of traffic.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — New driveways or approaches connecting private property to West Virginia state highways or located within state highway rights-of-way.
      “A reminder from the Division of Highways to property owners building new driveways — don’t forget your permit. Available free of charge from any Division office, permits are required by state law in order to assure that there is no uncontrolled access to state highways that would reduce the road’s safety or interfere with efficient movement of traffic.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    West Virginia counties adopting zoning for all or part of their jurisdiction, including unincorporated areas.

    • The county governing body must work with the planning commission and the public to develop the zoning ordinance.
    • The ordinance may cover the county's entire jurisdiction or only parts of it.
    • The statute also authorizes municipalities to regulate land use within their own jurisdictions; municipal zoning is not county zoning.
    • No effective date or fee is stated in the cited provision.
    “(3) Enacting a zoning ordinance. (b) A zoning ordinance may cover a county's entire jurisdiction or parts of its jurisdiction.”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    West Virginia county commissions adopting and enforcing building and housing codes for residential construction in unincorporated portions of the county.

    • The county commission must act by order duly entered of record.
    • Codes may establish and regulate minimum building and housing standards for improving health, safety, and well-being.
    • Codes may apply to the entire county or any portion or portions constituting an effective area; the county need not adopt the code for other portions.
    • The code does not apply within a municipal corporation that has adopted and has in effect a housing and building code unless and until the municipality provides otherwise by ordinance.
    • Structures on parcels used primarily for agricultural purposes are excluded.
    • Any county property-maintenance code or ordinance must exempt property used for agricultural purposes and is unenforceable as to agricultural property.
    • Existing county building codes became void one year after promulgation of a state building code by the State Fire Commission; after that voidance, a county adopting a building code must adopt the state building code.
    • A county may adopt the state building code after promulgation, but it does not apply within a municipal corporation that has not adopted it.
    “county commissions are hereby authorized and empowered, by order duly entered of record, to adopt building and housing codes”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic

Inside cities and towns in Brooke County

Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction, repair, or alteration of structures within the corporate limits of the Town of Bethany, Brooke County, West Virginia.

    • The State Building Code is adopted in its entirety to the fullest extent applicable.
    • The code applies to erection, construction, repair, or alteration of structures or equipment within Bethany's corporate limits.
    • The ordinance states that later State Fire Commission amendments automatically amend Bethany's building code unless the Town Council expressly ordains otherwise.
    • The state source provides that the State Building Code has force and effect in counties and municipalities adopting it and that agricultural structures are exempt.

    original State Building Code effective date: May 1, 1998 · Bethany ordinance adoption date: 2002-12-10

    “is hereby adopted in its entirety to the fullest extent applicable as the Building Code of the Town of Bethany”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land and buildings within the corporate limits of the Town of Bethany in Brooke County, West Virginia.

    • Uses and construction must conform to the regulations for the applicable Bethany zoning district.
    • The ordinance establishes the Historic Bethany District, Residential/Commercial Zone, and Residential/Low Density Zone.
    • The source identifies the zoning map as dated January 28, 2003 and incorporated into the ordinance.
    “Section 2. JURISDICTION. The provisions of this ordinance will govern all lands within the corporate limits of Bethany.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential occupancy of a recreational vehicle on private land in Brooke County, including unincorporated areas.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping, including camping in an RV, on private land in Brooke County.
  • Tiny homes — Occupancy of a tiny home as a dwelling in Brooke County.
  • Septic inspection — Inspection requirements for residential septic systems in Brooke County.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation systems or alternatives to public sewer service in Brooke County.
1 more unanswered
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in Brooke County, West Virginia

Is Brooke County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Brooke County scores 56/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property. Watch-outs: a weaker property-autonomy legal backdrop and about 114,568 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in Brooke County, West Virginia?

Brooke County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Brooke County Health Department. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Brooke County, West Virginia?

Land in Brooke County runs about $4,024 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Brooke County?

Brooke County gets about 41.7" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 1.6% of years.

How remote is Brooke County?

A representative private-land location has about 114,568 people within a 30-minute drive and 4,840,466 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Brooke County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

How Brooke compares in West Virginia

Compare side-by-side →See all 55 West Virginia counties ranked →