Handyman Business Permit Requirements in Morgantown, 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 Contractor Licensing Board — Contractor License

   Handymen and contractors performing work in West Virginia must be licensed by the independent West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (WV Code §30-42, in effect since 2023) once a job reaches $5,000 residential or $25,000 commercial in total labour and materials; below those thresholds only a WV Business Registration Certificate is needed. Licensing requires passing the Pro V trade and business/law exams, a WV Business Registration Tax Number, Secretary of State registration where applicable, workers' compensation and unemployment coverage, general liability insurance and a wage bond status affidavit. Local building permits are still required for each project.

   Official government source

   $90 application/annual license fee (statutory cap $150; no more than $20 for holders of a State Fire Marshal electrician license); $25 late fee if renewed more than 15 days after expiration·4–8 weeks

   $90 application/annual license fee (statutory cap $150; no more than $20 for holders of a State Fire Marshal electrician license); $25 late fee if renewed more than 15 days after expiration

   4–8 weeks

1. City of Morgantown Finance Department — Municipal Business License

   Every business operating inside Morgantown city limits must hold a Municipal Business License issued by the city Finance Department (304-284-7408) and applied for through the Morgantown Access Portal. You must first hold a WV State Business Registration Certificate, and if you have a physical location in the city you must also obtain a Certificate of Occupancy ($65) before the license will issue. Licenses run on the city fiscal year and expire June 30, so renew on or before July 1. The license is separate from the city's Business & Occupation (B&O) gross-receipts tax and its municipal service fee on employees and self-employed owners working in the city.

   Official government source

   $20 flat Municipal License Fee (also $20 for non-profits), printed on the city's Municipal Business License Application; B&O tax and the municipal service fee are billed separately·1–3 weeks

   $20 flat Municipal License Fee (also $20 for non-profits), printed on the city's Municipal Business License Application; B&O tax and the municipal service fee are billed separately

   1–3 weeks

2. City of Morgantown Building Permit (for regulated work)

   Regulated work — electrical, plumbing, HVAC or structural modifications — requires a City of Morgantown building permit, applied for through the Morgantown Access Portal; a separate permit application is required for each scope of work, and paper applications are not accepted. Monongalia County itself does not enforce a building code and issues no county building permits: outside Morgantown, Star City, Granville, Westover and Blacksville, commercial and multi-family work is inspected by the WV State Fire Marshal, driveway access needs a WV Division of Highways encroachment permit, and septic/wells go through the Monongalia County Health Department. A handyman may not perform work requiring a WV contractor license — required at $5,000+ residential or $25,000+ commercial total contract value.

   Official government source

   Morgantown building permit fees are quoted through the Morgantown Access Portal and are not published as a schedule; contact Development Services at 304-284-7405. No county building permit fee exists.·1–3 weeks

   Morgantown building permit fees are quoted through the Morgantown Access Portal and are not published as a schedule; contact Development Services at 304-284-7405. No county building permit fee exists.

   1–3 weeks

Official Sources

• City of Morgantown City Clerk
• West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board — Contractor License

Related Guides