West Virginia building code
West Virginia has adopted 2018 IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the West Virginia cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- 87CSR4 State Building Code eff. 2022-08-01 (2018 I-Codes + 2020 NEC + 2015 IECC-R/ASHRAE 90.1-2013); 87CSR1 State Fire Code eff. 2026-07-01 (NFPA 1 & 101, 2021 eds.)
- Code authority
- West Virginia State Fire Commission (rules enforced/administered with the WV State Fire Marshal); building code promulgated as 87CSR4, fire code as 87CSR1
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 2018 IBC | n/a |
| Residential | 2018 IRC | n/a |
| Existing buildings | 2018 IEBC | n/a |
| Fire | 2026 WV State Fire Code (87CSR1) based on 2021 NFPA 1 + 2021 NFPA 101 (adopted in full); IFC NOT adopted | n/a |
| Electrical | 2020 NEC based on 2020 NEC (NFPA 70) | n/a |
| Mechanical | 2018 IMC | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2018 IPC | n/a |
| Energy | 2015 (residential) / 90.1-2013 (commercial) IECC / ASHRAE 90.1 based on 2015 IECC-R; ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2013 | n/a |
| Accessibility | 2017 ICC A117.1 based on ICC/ANSI A117.1-2017 | n/a |
| Fuel Gas | 2018 IFGC | n/a |
Overlays that can apply
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for West Virginia. They apply by parcel, not jurisdiction-wide, so confirm the parcel before assuming one is in play. Check CAL FIRE's fire hazard severity viewer and FEMA's flood map service.
- FEMA mapped flood hazard area
Sources
- https://firemarshal.wv.gov/media/39311/download?inline=
- https://firemarshal.wv.gov/media/39301/download?inline=
- https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/rule.aspx?rule=87-04
- https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/rule.aspx?rule=87-01
- https://code.wvlegislature.gov/15A-11-5/
- https://code.wvlegislature.gov/15A-11-3/
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/west-virginia/W-Va-C-S-R-SS-87-4-4
- https://firemarshal.wv.gov/laws
Common questions
What building code does West Virginia use?
West Virginia uses 2018 IBC. It is administered by the West Virginia State Fire Commission (rules enforced/administered with the WV State Fire Marshal); building code promulgated as 87CSR4, fire code as 87CSR1.
Do cities in West Virginia amend the state code?
Local amendments are adopted by ordinance at the city or county level. Confirm with the building department that reviews your permit.
Check a plan set against West Virginia code
Knowing the adopted edition is the easy half. Architechtura reads your drawings, resolves which of these provisions actually apply to the project, and returns the corrections a plan checker would write up, each one cited to the section it came from.
Your first check is free, no card required.
Compiled from published state and municipal adoption ordinances. Local governments amend their codes on their own schedule, and a pending ordinance can change what applies to your permit. Confirm the governing edition with the building department before you submit. This page is reference information, not a code determination.