Auto Repair Shop Permit Requirements in Charleston, WV

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. West Virginia State Tax Department — Business Registration

   Before engaging in business activity in West Virginia every individual or business entity must obtain a Business Registration Certificate from the WV Tax Division (WV Code §11-12-1 et seq.), applied for through the Business for West Virginia portal at business4.wv.gov or on form BUS-APP. A separate certificate is needed for each business name and each location. The certificate is permanent — it does not expire — until the legal name, location or ownership changes, and it must be surrendered when the business stops operating in West Virginia. It also authorises you to collect the 6% state sales tax plus any municipal sales tax of up to 1%.

   Official government source

   $30 one-time Business Registration Certificate fee, per business name and location·1–5 business days when filed online through the Business for West Virginia portal (business4.wv.gov); longer by paper BUS-APP

   $30 one-time Business Registration Certificate fee, per business name and location

   1–5 business days when filed online through the Business for West Virginia portal (business4.wv.gov); longer by paper BUS-APP

2. West Virginia DEP — Hazardous Waste Annual Certification Fee (used oil and solvents)

   Auto repair shops in West Virginia must comply with WVDEP hazardous waste rules for storing, recycling and disposing of used oil, solvents, parts-cleaner fluid, paints, acids and other automotive wastes, under WV Code Chapter 22 Article 18 and Title 33 Series 24, administered by the Division of Water and Waste Management. Facilities that manage hazardous waste pay an annual certification fee assessed by generator class; most independent repair shops fall into the Very Small Quantity Generator class (100 kg or less per month). The fee is due 1 October each year, with a 25% late charge after 15 November.

   Official government source

   $100/year Very Small Quantity Generator (≤100 kg/month); $500 Small Quantity Generator; $2,200 Large Quantity Generator; $3,000 per permitted treatment/storage/disposal facility·2–4 weeks (registration); the certification fee is billed annually, due 1 October

   $100/year Very Small Quantity Generator (≤100 kg/month); $500 Small Quantity Generator; $2,200 Large Quantity Generator; $3,000 per permitted treatment/storage/disposal facility

   2–4 weeks (registration); the certification fee is billed annually, due 1 October

1. City of Charleston Office of the City Collector — Business Registration / General Business License

   Charleston requires businesses within city limits to register with the Office of the City Collector and obtain a General Business License (flat $20 fee), plus pay the city's Business & Occupation (B&O) privilege tax on gross receipts (rate varies by classification) and a City Service Fee of $3/week per employee working within city limits. Renewed annually and displayed at the place of business.

   Official government source

   $20 flat General Business License fee, plus B&O gross-receipts tax and $3/week per employee City Service Fee·1–3 weeks

   $20 flat General Business License fee, plus B&O gross-receipts tax and $3/week per employee City Service Fee

   1–3 weeks

2. Charleston Zoning Approval and Certificate of Occupancy

   An auto repair shop must sit in a properly zoned commercial or industrial district within Charleston. Before the Office of the City Collector will process the Business Registration Application, the applicant must obtain inspection and approval for occupancy from the Planning/Zoning Department (304-348-8105), the Building Department (304-348-6833) and the Fire Department (304-348-8130). Kanawha County has no building department inside city limits. Where construction or remodeling is involved, the Certificate of Occupancy is issued as the final inspection under a Charleston building permit.

   Official government source

   No separate Certificate of Occupancy or zoning-approval fee — occupancy sign-off is part of the $20 General Business License registration. Construction permit fees, if work is done, follow the Building Department Schedule of Permit Fees: waived for total job cost up to $2,500, then $22.50 at $2,501–$3,500 scaling to $480.50 at $100,000, plus $5.00 per $1,000 above $30,000, and a plan review fee of .00075 of cost on commercial construction of $50,000 or more.·2–6 weeks

   No separate Certificate of Occupancy or zoning-approval fee — occupancy sign-off is part of the $20 General Business License registration. Construction permit fees, if work is done, follow the Building Department Schedule of Permit Fees: waived for total job cost up to $2,500, then $22.50 at $2,501–$3,500 scaling to $480.50 at $100,000, plus $5.00 per $1,000 above $30,000, and a plan review fee of .00075 of cost on commercial construction of $50,000 or more.

   2–6 weeks

Official Sources

• City of Charleston Business License Division
• West Virginia DEP — Used Oil and Hazardous Waste

Related Guides