HVAC Contractor Permit Requirements in Huntington, 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. EPA Section 608 Certification (for refrigerants)

   Technicians who purchase, recover, or handle refrigerants must hold EPA Section 608 certification. Required by federal law regardless of state.

   Official government source

   $20–$100 (exam)·1–2 days

   $20–$100 (exam)

   1–2 days

1. West Virginia Division of Labor — HVAC Technician Certification

   Individuals performing HVAC work in West Virginia must hold an HVAC Technician Certification from the WV Division of Labor (WV Code §21-16). The business itself must separately hold a Heating, Ventilating and Cooling contractor license from the independent WV Contractor Licensing Board once a job exceeds $5,000 residential or $25,000 commercial. EPA Section 608 certification is a separate federal requirement for handling refrigerant.

   Official government source

   $75 HVAC Technician, $50 HVAC Residential Technician, or $25 HVAC Technician in Training (same fee initial and renewal); WV Contractor Licensing Board contractor license is $90/year (statutory cap $150)·4–8 weeks

   $75 HVAC Technician, $50 HVAC Residential Technician, or $25 HVAC Technician in Training (same fee initial and renewal); WV Contractor Licensing Board contractor license is $90/year (statutory cap $150)

   4–8 weeks

2. City of Huntington Finance Department — General Business License

   Huntington requires a General Business License for businesses operating within city limits. The Finance Department processes applications; a copy of the WV Business Registration Certificate is required. The license must be renewed annually (July 1-June 30) and displayed at your place of business. A Business & Occupation gross-receipts tax and a $5/week/employee City Service Fee apply separately.

   Official government source

   $20 flat annual fee, plus B&O gross-receipts tax and $5/week/employee City Service Fee·1–3 weeks

   $20 flat annual fee, plus B&O gross-receipts tax and $5/week/employee City Service Fee

   1–3 weeks

3. City of Huntington Mechanical Permit (per project)

   A mechanical permit must be obtained from the City of Huntington Inspections & Permits Division for each HVAC installation or major repair inside city limits, and inspections are required on completion. Cabell County issues building permits only for development outside the municipalities, so work in Huntington goes to the city, not the county. The permit fee is set by the total project cost per the city's published Building Permit Fee Schedule, based on Section 108.2 of the International Building Code.

   Official government source

   $20 application fee per building permit plus a permit fee from the city's published table, set by total project cost (labor and materials): $0 under $500, $20 at $500–$1,100, $50.50 at $5,000, $80.50 at $10,000, $140.50 at $20,000, $283 at $50,000, $433 at $100,000, then $2.50 more per additional $1,000·1–5 business days

   $20 application fee per building permit plus a permit fee from the city's published table, set by total project cost (labor and materials): $0 under $500, $20 at $500–$1,100, $50.50 at $5,000, $80.50 at $10,000, $140.50 at $20,000, $283 at $50,000, $433 at $100,000, then $2.50 more per additional $1,000

   1–5 business days

Official Sources

• West Virginia Division of Labor — HVAC Contractor License
• City of Huntington City Clerk

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