Excavation permits and rules in West Virginia

Anyone digging in West Virginia has to notify West Virginia 811 before work starts. The notice period under W. Va. Code 24C-1-1 to 24C-1-11: Not less than forty-eight hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and federal or state legal holidays, nor more than ten work days prior to the beginning of such work.¹

West Virginia licenses contractors through the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (WV Division of Labor). Who needs a license: Cost of the undertaking is $5,000 or more for residential work or $25,000 or more for commercial work. The Excavation Contractor classification covers digging, trenching, grading and compacting earthen material; the statutory definition of contractor names excavation.^{2, 3}

A stormwater permit is needed at 1 acre, including smaller sites that are part of a larger common plan of development. Coverage is under the WV/NPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit WV0115924 (2024 general permit).⁴