Body Piercing Studios must obtain an operational permit in their respective county from the Local Health Departments.

To establish a new or remodel an existing Body Piercing Studio the owner/operator is required to submit a Plan Review Application to the Jefferson County Health Department.

Tattoo studios are not required to submit a plan review application, however, they must meet the legislative requirements for Tattoo Studios and must obtain an operational permit from our office prior to operating.

Body Piercing Regulations

Body Piercing State Registration

Body Piercing Permit – Information Sheet

Body Piercing Studio Permit Application

Body Piercing Studio Plan Review Application

Client Information and Notification Form

Public Notice: Body Piercing Disclosure Statement

Tattoo Studio Legislative Rule

2010 Amendment to Tattoo Studio Rule

Tattoo Studio Permit Application

Tattoo Studio Permit Application Process

Infectious Medical Waste Information for Body Piercers 

Autoclave Treatment of Infectious Medical Waste

Campground Regulations

Campground Permit Application

WV Camp Safety

Child Care Centers in West Virginia are regulated by the local health department if they are providing nonresidential care for 7 or more children for all or part of the day. This includes day care centers, family day cares, nursery schools, and preschools. Child care centers that provide care to 13 or more children are also subject to the Bureau for Children and Families regulations on child care licensing. You can find more information on their site here.

• Child Care Center Rule
• Child Care Center Plan Review Process
• Child Care Center Plan Review Application
• Child Care Center Permit Application 

Our office only issues permits to vendors that are preparing foods at the farmer’s market and to consignment farmers markets. Consignment farmers markets is when two or more vendors deliver their own farm and food products to a common location maintained by a third party that markets the vendor’s products and receives a percentage share of the profits from sales, with the individual vendor retaining ownership of the farm and food product until it is sold. If you are preparing foods or beverages on site at a Farmers Market, you will need to apply for a Retail Food Establishment Permit.

• Farmer’s Market Legislative Rule 
• WV Dept of Agriculture Farmer’s Market Program 
• Farmer’s Market Permitting Process
• Consignment Farmers Market Permit Application 

West Virginia’s Food Establishment Rule, effective April 1, 2023 governs retail food establishments such as restaurants, retail food stores, school lunch programs, temporary food stands, mobile food units, and food vending machines. The rule incorporates, by reference, the majority of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 2013 Model Food Code.

• Food Service Establishment Regulations 
• FDA 2013 Food Code 
• Food Establishment Inspections 
• Food Safety Resources
• Food Establishment Permitting Process
• Establishment Permitting Instructions
• Food Establishment Permit Application 
• Food Establishment Plan Review Application
• Plan Review Information Packet 
• Quick Food Safety Self Inspection
• Temporary Food Establishment Permit Application 
• Guidelines to Operating a Temporary Food Service Establishment 
• Mobile Food Establishment Plan Review & Permit Application 
• Mobile Food Establishment Permit Renewal Packet 
• Certified Food Protection Manager Requirements
  • Jefferson County requires at least one CFPM to be on site during all hours of operation at all food establishments except for temporary food establishments (at temporary events). This person(s) must have a Certified Food Protection Manager through one of the ANSI accredited Food Protection Manager Certification Programs.
  • Individuals who hold an ANSI/Certified Food Protection Manager certificate are not required to obtain county food handler’s cards.
  • ANSI CFPM courses

• Food Handler’s Card Requirements
  • Per the Jefferson County Board of Health, every employee serving, storing, or selling potentially hazardous foods or working with unpackaged food, food equipment, or utensils, or food contact surfaces in an establishment that is required to have a food establishment permit, including temporary food vendors, must have a food handler’s card, issued by the Jefferson County Health Department or a WV State food handler’s card.
  • Cards must be obtained within the first 30 days of hiring. Click here for instructions on how to obtain your food handler’s card
• Food Safety Information
• Managing Food Allergens in Retail Food Establishments 

Labor Camp is defined as any lumber, mining, agricultural, construction, or other industrial camp where 10 or more persons are employed and housed in temporary quarters.

Labor Camp Regulations 

Labor Camp Permit Application 

Jefferson County Health Department Inspects several different types of lodging facilities under the General Sanitation Rule (64 CSR 18). Lodging facilities include Bed & Breakfast Inns, Hotels and Motels, Labor Camps, Tourist Cabins, Short-Term Rentals, AirBnbs, and other lodging facilities.

• Lodging Establishment Regulations 
• Lodging Establishment Permit Application 
• Hotel/Motel Plan Review Application
• Bed & Breakfast Plan Review Application
• Short-term Rentals (such as AirBnBs) Plan Review Application
• Bed Bug Pesticide Health Advisory 
• Recommendations for Private Hot Tubs and Spas

A mass gathering is any group of 250 or more persons assembled together for a meeting, festival, social gathering, concert, or other similar purpose. It does not include assembly in any permanent buildings or structures designed, equipped (with adequate sanitary facilities for the intended use), and intended for use by large numbers of people. If your event meets the above definition, then you must obtain a permit from our office prior to your event.

• Mass Gathering Regulations (not all parts of this regulation apply to mass gatherings)
• Mass Gathering Permit Application

• Mobile Food Establishment Plan Review & Permit Application
• Mobile Food Establishment Permit Renewal Packet
• In-State Vendor Mobile Food Establishment Application
• Out-of-State Vendor Mobile Food Establishment Application
• Food Service Establishment Regulations
• FDA 2013 Food Codes
• Food Safety Resources

• Certified Food Protection Manager Requirements
  • Jefferson County requires at least one CFPM to be on site during all hours of operation at all food establishments except for temporary food establishments (at temporary events). This person(s) must have a Certified Food Protection Manager through one of the ANSI accredited Food Protection Manager Certification Programs.
  • Individuals who hold an ANSI/Certified Food Protection Manager certificate are not required to obtain county food handler’s cards.
  • ANSI CFPM courses

Food Handler’s Card Requirements

• Per the Jefferson County Board of Health, every employee serving, storing, or selling potentially hazardous foods or working with unpackaged food, food equipment, or utensils, or food contact surfaces in an establishment that is required to have a food establishment permit, including temporary food vendors, must have a food handler’s card, issued by the Jefferson County Health Department or a WV State food handler’s card.
• Cards must be obtained within the first 30 days of hiring. Click here for instructions on how to obtain your food handler’s card

Animal Bites & Rabies Information

• Boil Water Notice Guidance for Public Facilities 

Clean Indoor Air Regulations 

If you have a complaint regarding an establishment that we permit you can call our office at 304-728-8416, submit your complaint online here, or via email at JeffersonENV@wv.gov.

For nuisance complaints (failing septic systems, possible well contamination, etc.) related to an individual’s property or an establishment that is not covered under our regulations, you must complete a nuisance complaint investigation form and return it to our office. Your name will not be released, however, we need the complainant name and signature in order to investigate any complaints on properties not covered under our regulations.

WV allows non-potentially hazardous foods, canned acidified foods, and certain other foods as determined by WV Department of Agriculture to be prepared in a home kitchen. Homemade food items must be sold by the producer to the consumer, whether in person or remotely (e.g., by telephone or Internet); or by an agent of the producer or a third-party vendor, such as a retail shop or grocery store, to the consumer.  “Non-potentially hazardous” means food that does not require time/temperature control for safety to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation. These foods include, but are not limited to, baked goods without cream, custard, cheese or meat fillings; standardized jams and jellies; dehydrated fruits and vegetables; candy; fudge; honey; tree syrup; apple butter; molasses; nut mixes; granola; dry soup mixes; tea; roasted coffee beans; dried herbs; dry pasta; and popcorn. Please see the legislation for labeling, sales, and delivery requirements if you would like to make and sell cottage foods.

• WV Cottage Food Rules
• National Center for Home Food Preservation 

Credit Card Payment Authorization

Enviromental Health Fees

Per the Jefferson County Board of Health, every employee serving, storing, or selling potentially hazardous foods or working with unpackaged food, food equipment, or utensils, or food contact surfaces in an establishment that is required to have a food establishment permit, including temporary food vendors, must have a food handler’s card, issued by the Jefferson County Health Department or a WV State food handler’s card.

Cards must be obtained within the first 30 days of hiring. Click here for instructions on how to obtain your food handler’s card