West Virginia contractor license requirements

Licenses and registrations

Residential contractor

Contractors whose principal business is construction, repair or improvement of real property used or intended for residential occupancy.

• When it applies: Cost of the undertaking is $5,000 or more for residential work (W. Va. Code § 30-42-3).

General building contractor

Work on enclosed structures that needs more than two contractor classifications, or supervising all or part of the construction.

• When it applies: $5,000 or more for residential work or $25,000 or more for commercial work.

Multifamily contractor

Construction, repair or improvement of multifamily residential structures.

• When it applies: $5,000 or more for residential work.

Specialty contractor

Specialty services that do not substantially fall within another contractor classification.

• When it applies: $5,000 or more for residential work or $25,000 or more for commercial work.

Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and piping contractor classifications

Contractors installing or altering electrical equipment, plumbing, heating/ventilating/air conditioning equipment, or piping.

• When it applies: $5,000 or more for residential work or $25,000 or more for commercial work.
• Good to know: Individual electricians, plumbers and HVAC technicians also need their own state licenses or certifications.

What you need to qualify

• Exams: Yes. No license may be issued without an examination. The Board sets exam content for each class.
• Experience: The Board sets minimum qualifications for each class by rule; specific experience amounts were not confirmed.
• Business registration: Before a license is issued, the applicant must certify that it is registered and in compliance with the workers' compensation fund and the employment security (unemployment) fund. A business entity may contract only if an officer holds the license.
• Also required: The application requires the applicant's Social Security number. Excluded from the contractor definition: material suppliers, owners or lessees doing their own work on their property, licensed real estate professionals in their professional capacity, licensed pest control operators (unless they do structural repairs over $1,000), plan and specification firms employing a registered architect or engineer, and people who perform landscaping or painting services.

Fees, renewal and continuing education

• Fees: The Board sets application and annual license fees, which by statute may not exceed $150. Electrical contractors already licensed under W. Va. Code § 29-3B-4 pay no more than $20.
• Renewal: Every year. A license expires one year from the date it is issued.

Contracts and homeowner protections

A licensed contractor may not perform work with a total value of $10,000 or more, including materials and labor, without a written contract signed by the contractor and the customer. The contract must include a description of the work and its cost. Building permit applicants must show proof of a valid license or an affidavit that they are not subject to licensure.

Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work

The State Fire Marshal licenses electricians (W. Va. Code § 29-3B). The West Virginia Division of Labor certifies plumbers and HVAC technicians. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and piping contracting businesses also need the matching Contractor Licensing Board classification.

City and county rules

Cities and counties may not require an additional occupational license or other proof of competence as a contractor from someone who holds a valid state contractor license (W. Va. Code § 30-42-20). Local building permits still require proof of state licensure.

Working without a license

Continuing unlicensed work after a cease and desist order is a misdemeanor: first offense fine of $200 to $1,000; second offense fine of $500 to $5,000, up to six months in jail, or both; third or later offense fine of $1,000 to $5,000 and 30 days to one year in jail. On projects of $25,000 or more, the Board may also assess an administrative penalty of up to $200 per day. The Board can seek a court injunction.

What to confirm with the state

We couldn't confirm these on an official page when we checked. Ask the licensing office before you rely on them:

• Current application and license fee amounts (the statute caps them at $150).
• Experience requirements and which exams each classification takes (set by Board rule).
• Any insurance or bond requirement for a contractor license.
• Continuing education or continued competency rules for renewal.

Sources

1. West Virginia Division of Labor home
2. WV Division of Labor: Licensing
3. W. Va. Code Chapter 30, Article 42 (West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act)
4. W. Va. Code § 30-42-3 Definitions
5. W. Va. Code § 30-42-5 Administrative duties and powers of the board
6. W. Va. Code § 30-42-6 Necessity for license; exemptions
7. W. Va. Code § 30-42-7 Application for, issuance, and transfer of license
8. W. Va. Code § 30-42-8 Licenses; expiration date; fees; renewal
9. W. Va. Code § 30-42-10 Building permits; mandatory written contracts
10. W. Va. Code § 30-42-14 Violation; injunction; criminal penalties
11. W. Va. Code § 30-42-20 Nonapplicability of local ordinances
12. W. Va. Code § 29-3B-4 Electrician licenses