Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Kingwood, West Virginia

Kingwood’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction and listed building-related work within Kingwood city.

  • The ordinance lists exceptions, including sidewalk construction/repair, painting, playground equipment, window awnings, specified minor electrical work, portable heating/ventilation/cooling equipment, and specified minor plumbing repairs.
  • The list of exempt work is not exclusive.

  “A building permit shall be required to be obtained by the owner or authorized agent for the construction of buildings/homes, additions/alterations to buildings/homes, remodeling, repairs or renovations performed, moving of a building/home, demolition and excavation in regard to property, fences, signs, pools, accessory buildings and other structures within the municipality.”

• Building code adoptedNot adopted

  Building-code adoption by Kingwood city inside city limits.

  • The repeal replaces State Building Code references with “ordinance/ordinances”; city building-permit and zoning-approval ordinances remain in force.

  “Adoption of the State Building Code is repealed. All references to the “State Building Code” in any corresponding ordinances are removed and replaced with “ordinance/ordinances.” All city ordinances requiring building permits and zoning approval shall remain in force and effect.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Kingwood city limits.

  • The City’s zoning districts and district regulations apply by zoning classification.

  “The city is hereby divided into six zoning districts and six height and area districts, which shall be known as:”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Alternative sewage systems inside Kingwood city limits.

  • An alternative system requires Sanitary Board approval after it determines municipal sewage service cannot be adequately provided.
  • The code directs notice to the Department of Health.

  “No individually owned septic system or septic tank nor multi-user septic system nor any other form of sewage system and treatment plant, other than that sewage system maintained by the city shall be permitted within the municipal boundaries of the city, unless approved by the Sanitary Board of the city.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Individually owned, multi-user, or other non-city sewage systems inside Kingwood city limits.

  • A separate sewage system may be installed or used only if the City Sanitary Board approves it after determining that municipal sewage service cannot be adequately provided.

  “Upon application to the said Sanitary Board for use of a sewage system separate from that maintained by the city, the Board shall determine if it can adequately supply said sewage service to said applicant and only upon such a determination that sewage service cannot be adequately provided shall the Sanitary Board approve the installation and use of an individual septic tank or other multi-user sewage system and treatment plant or any other form of sewage treatment within the municipal boundaries.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Non-city sewage systems inside Kingwood city limits.

  • The Sanitary Board must approve the system after finding city sewage service cannot be adequately provided.

  “No individually owned septic system or septic tank nor multi-user septic system nor any other form of sewage system and treatment plant, other than that sewage system maintained by the city shall be permitted within the municipal boundaries of the city, unless approved by the Sanitary Board of the city.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Sewage service for property inside Kingwood city limits.

  • A separate sewage system can be approved only where the Sanitary Board determines that city sewage service cannot be adequately provided.

  “Notice of this provision shall be given to the Department of Health verifying the requirement of the usage of the municipal sewage system within said municipal boundaries.”

• Shed and accessory-building permit exemptionNot available

  Accessory buildings and structures inside Kingwood city limits.

  • The listed permit exemptions do not include accessory buildings.
  • The code also allows the City to determine other actions require permits.

  “A building permit shall be required to be obtained by the owner or authorized agent for the construction of buildings/homes, additions/alterations to buildings/homes, remodeling, repairs or renovations performed, moving of a building/home, demolition and excavation in regard to property, fences, signs, pools, accessory buildings and other structures within the municipality.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Foundation excavation, construction, structural alteration, and specified land/building uses inside Kingwood city limits.

  • The Mayor issues the permit.
  • For vacant-land use or a change in land or building use, the permit must be issued within ten days after application if the proposed use conforms to Chapter 152.

  issuance timing for a conforming vacant-land or change-of-use permit: <= 10 days after application (only where the proposed use conforms to Chapter 152)

  “A building permit for the use or occupancy of vacant land, or for a change in the use of land, or of an existing building, shall be applied for and issued before any such land shall be occupied or used, or such land or building changed in use, and such permit shall be issued within ten days after application has been made, provided that such proposed use is in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Kingwood or Preston County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Kingwood city limits.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Kingwood city limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Kingwood city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Kingwood city limits.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Kingwood city limits.

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.