Hampshire County, West Virginia requires building permits, and the county Planning Office processes the applications12. A septic permit from the Hampshire County Health Department must come before the building permit when an individual sewage system is needed34. Hampshire County has no county zoning ordinance, but its subdivision and land-development ordinance still applies56.
At a glance
- Building permit
- Required; applications and fees go to the Hampshire County Planning Office12
- Zoning
- No county zoning ordinance; subdivision and land-development controls still apply56
- Septic permit
- Required through the Hampshire County Health Department before a building permit is issued734
- RV living
- Not confirmed; ask the Planning Office before relying on an RV as a temporary or permanent dwelling2
- Tiny home
- No county occupancy or minimum-size rule was confirmed; ask how the proposed dwelling is classified2
- Owner-builder
- Personal work by an owner or occupant is exempt from contractor licensing, not from applicable permits8
- Water well
- A local health department permit is required before drilling, modifying or abandoning a well9
- State-highway driveway
- A free Division of Highways permit is required for a new driveway or approach10
Who to call
Building permits
Hampshire County Planning Office
Building-permit processing and county floodplain questions
90 N. High St., Romney, WV (mailing: PO Box 883, Romney, WV 26757)
Septic permits
Hampshire County Health Department - Environmental Health
Individual sewage-system permits, water-well permits and septic or well record requests
16189 Northwestern Turnpike, Augusta, West Virginia 26704, United States
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 Hampshire County, West Virginia?
Yes. Hampshire County requires a building permit, and the Planning Office says all permit documents and fees must be submitted there for processing12.
West Virginia's State Building Code applies in counties and municipalities that adopt it rather than automatically applying everywhere11. Structures used primarily for agriculture are exempt from the State Building Code and from an adopted county or municipal building code11. An owner or occupant may personally perform construction without a contractor license, but that licensing exemption does not erase an otherwise applicable building permit, inspection or code requirement8.
Who handles Hampshire County building permits, and how do you reach the office?
The Hampshire County Planning Office processes building-permit documents and fees2. The office is in the old jail at 90 N. High St. in Romney, and its mailing address is PO Box 883, Romney, WV 267572. Call (304) 822-7018 or email [email protected]; posted hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.2.
The same office identifies its Code and Compliance Official as the Floodplain Administrator, making the Planning Office the practical starting point for mapped-floodplain questions2. West Virginia requires participating counties and flood-prone municipalities to regulate floodplain development through a permitting system12. Contact the office with the parcel location and proposed work before committing to a site plan.
Does Hampshire County have zoning?
Hampshire County does not have a county zoning ordinance, but it does have a subdivision and land-development ordinance56. That distinction matters: the lack of county zoning does not remove the county's controls on dividing or developing land.
Municipal zoning is separate from county zoning in West Virginia, so land inside a municipality may still be subject to municipal rules13. Local subdivision ordinances must address standards such as setbacks and lot sizes, but state law does not impose one statewide numeric minimum lot size14. Ask the Planning Office whether the proposed work triggers subdivision or land-development review, and ask the relevant municipality about its rules if the parcel lies within municipal limits.
How do septic and well permits work in Hampshire County?
The Hampshire County Health Department handles individual sewage-system permits, and homeowners and sewage-system installers must obtain a permit before installation734. The septic permit must be obtained before a building permit is issued, installers must be state-certified, and systems must meet minimum design standards4.
Site suitability deserves early attention: only 1.2% of Hampshire County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field15. Treat a satisfactory site evaluation as a purchase contingency rather than assuming a conventional layout will work. A local health department permit is required before drilling, modifying or abandoning an individual well, and the well must be drilled by a licensed well driller9. The Health Department can also provide existing septic and well records when given the identifying information it requests4.
Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Hampshire County?
Hampshire County's rules for residential or long-term RV occupancy on private land could not be confirmed. Ask the Hampshire County Planning Office whether an RV may be occupied temporarily during construction or used as a permanent dwelling on the specific parcel2. The lack of a county zoning ordinance does not establish that RV occupancy is unrestricted because subdivision, sewage, floodplain and municipal rules may still apply56.
Hampshire County's tiny-home occupancy rules, minimum dwelling size and local setbacks also could not be confirmed. A tiny home may still encounter building-code, sewage, floodplain, subdivision or municipal requirements614. If the proposed unit is manufactured or modular, the county's building-permit materials include that dwelling category1. Give the Planning Office the parcel address, unit type, foundation plan and intended occupancy when asking for a determination.
What are the steps to build a home in Hampshire County?
- Ask the Hampshire County Planning Office whether subdivision or land-development review applies, and check municipal rules if the parcel is inside a municipality6132.
- If the site will use individual sewage disposal, obtain the Health Department's septic permit before seeking the building permit734.
- Obtain a local health department permit before drilling, modifying or abandoning an individual well9.
- Submit the applicable building documents and fees to the Planning Office for processing12.
- Ask the Floodplain Administrator whether mapped-floodplain approval applies to the proposed development212.
- Obtain a free Division of Highways permit before constructing a new driveway or approach to a state highway10.
- If land disturbance reaches 1 acre or is part of a larger common plan, obtain state construction-stormwater authorization through the electronic system16.
What should you check before buying land in Hampshire County?
Start with sewage feasibility: only 1.2% of Hampshire County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field15. Terrain can complicate both access and construction because 34.8% of the county is at a slope of 15% or less, while 80.4% is wooded1718. Walk the proposed house, septic and driveway areas with those constraints in mind.
Request existing septic and well records from the Hampshire County Health Department, and confirm any permits for existing structures with the Planning Office42. Check whether the driveway enters a state highway and whether any work falls in a regulated floodplain1012. Hampshire County's effective property-tax rate is about 0.4%, and its median annual property-tax bill is about $7451920.
Watch-outs
- A Hampshire County septic permit must be obtained before the building permit, so confirm sewage feasibility before finalizing the house location34.
- Hampshire County has no county zoning ordinance, but subdivision controls still apply; RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy, minimum dwelling size and parcel-specific setbacks remain unconfirmed562.
- Only 1.2% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field15.
Sources
- Hampshire County Planning Office - Building Permits (2026 county census)
- Hampshire County Planning Office (planning.hampshirewv.com)
- Subdivision On-Site Sewage Systems, quoted and re-checked
- Hampshire County Health Department - Environmental Health (hampshirecountyhealthdepartment.com)
- Opinion Letter Concerning Hampshire County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinances, quoted and re-checked
- Opinion Letter Concerning Hampshire County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinances, quoted and re-checked
- Subdivision On-Site Sewage Systems, quoted and re-checked
- West Virginia Code §30-42-6. Necessity for license; exemptions (West Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Water Wells, quoted and re-checked
- Encroachment Permits (West Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- West Virginia Code §15A-11-5, Promulgation of rules and statewide building code (West Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Floodplain Permits (West Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- West Virginia Code §8A-7-1. Authority for zoning ordinance (West Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- West Virginia Code §8A-4-2. Contents of subdivision and land development ordinance. (West Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
- Construction Stormwater General Permit (West Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
- Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
- Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
- 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.