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West Virginia · 15 statewide requirements covered

Business licences and permits in West Virginia

West Virginia's Business Registration Certificate is a genuine, permanent state business licence for a flat $30 — it never needs renewing and doubles as the state's sales tax registration.

What applies everywhere in West Virginia

15 requirements are set by West Virginia itself and apply whichever city you open in. Local permits sit on top of them.

Requirements set by West Virginia that apply in every jurisdiction in the state, with the issuing agency, the published fee and the date each was last checked against its source
Annual ReportWest Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division$25 a year; a late-filed report adds $50 for a profit entity or $25 for a nonprofitOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Articles of IncorporationWest Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division$100 one-time filingOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Articles of Organization (LLC)West Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division$100 one-time filingOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Automotive Repair Shop Licence (not required by West Virginia)West Virginia State Tax DivisionNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Business Registration CertificateWest Virginia State Tax Division$30 one-time — the certificate never expiresTo every business2026-09-04
Child Care Centre LicenceWest Virginia Department of Human ServicesNo feeTo every business2026-09-04
Contractor LicenceWest Virginia Contractor Licensing Board$90 a year; a sole-proprietor electrical contractor already licensed by the fire marshal pays $20Only in some cases2026-09-04
Electrical Contractor LicenceWest Virginia State Fire Marshal's OfficeRoughly $50 a year, not independently confirmed against the fire marshal's own fee pageOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Food Handler PermitWest Virginia Bureau for Public Health$10 capped by statute; the exact fee is set by the local county health departmentTo every business2026-09-04
Food Manufacturing Facility PermitWest Virginia Bureau for Public Health$35–$1,000 a year, banded by the facility's gross salesTo every business2026-09-04
HVAC Technician CertificationWest Virginia Division of Labor$75 for a standard technician certification; a residential-only technician is $50 and a technician in training is $25Only in some cases2026-09-04
Plumber CertificationWest Virginia Division of Labor$75 for a master or journeyman certification, initial and renewal alike; a plumber in training is $25Only in some cases2026-09-04
Sales and Use Tax Permit (covered by the Business Registration Certificate)West Virginia State Tax DivisionNo feeOnly in some cases2026-09-04
Salon LicenceWest Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists$90 for the initial licence and opening inspection; renewal is $40 a yearTo every business2026-09-04
Veterinary Facility RegistrationWest Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine$100 to register and to renew each year; a new facility also pays a $300 inspection feeTo every business2026-09-04

Which West Virginia city are you opening in?

We do not yet publish a West Virginia city. The statewide requirements above are verified as far as they go, but a city or county adds its own — a local business tax receipt, a food permit, a building sign-off — and we will not guess at those. The jurisdictions we do cover are listed in full.

Is there a single West Virginia business licence?

No. West Virginia has no single licence that covers every business. What you need depends on your industry, your city and your county, and most of the obligations that matter are issued locally rather than at state level.

The state-level registrations that do apply to nearly everyone are tax accounts rather than licences — which is why they are easy to miss.

Who issues permits in West Virginia?

By industry

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.