Electrical Contractor 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

1. West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board — Electrical Contractor License

   Electrical contracting businesses in West Virginia must hold an Electrical contractor license from the independent WV Contractor Licensing Board (WV Code §30-42), required once a job reaches $5,000 residential or $25,000 commercial. Applicants pass a Pro V trade exam and must show a WV Business Registration Tax Number, Secretary of State registration, workers' compensation and unemployment coverage, general liability insurance and a wage bond affidavit. Individual electricians are licensed separately by the WV State Fire Marshal under §29-3B.

   Official government source

   $90 application/annual license fee (statutory cap $150; no more than $20 for applicants already holding a State Fire Marshal electrician license under §29-3B-4); $25 late fee after 15 days·4–8 weeks

   $90 application/annual license fee (statutory cap $150; no more than $20 for applicants already holding a State Fire Marshal electrician license under §29-3B-4); $25 late fee after 15 days

   4–8 weeks

2. 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

3. City of Charleston Electrical Permit (per project)

   An electrical permit must be obtained from the City of Charleston Building Department, 915 Quarrier St Suite 5, for each electrical project, and a final inspection is required on completion. Kanawha County does not issue building permits inside the city. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC permit fees cover a wide range of amounts by service and are printed on the individual permit applications rather than in one online table. A Contract Certification is required for job costs over $10,000. Contractors who start work without a permit face a minimum $100 penalty or twice the normal fee, plus at least a three-month suspension of their City of Charleston license.

   Official government source

   Assessed from the city's Schedule of Permit Fees by total job cost, and waived entirely for construction totalling up to $2,500; exact amounts for electrical work are printed on the Electrical Permit application — permit office (304) 348-6833·1–5 business days

   Assessed from the city's Schedule of Permit Fees by total job cost, and waived entirely for construction totalling up to $2,500; exact amounts for electrical work are printed on the Electrical Permit application — permit office (304) 348-6833

   1–5 business days

Official Sources

• West Virginia Division of Labor — Electrical Contractor License
• City of Charleston Business License Division

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