Permits & Applications

Body Piercing & Tattoo

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

Infectious Medical Waste Information for Body Piercers

Autoclave Treatment of Infectious Medical Waste

Campgrounds & Organized Camps

Per our rules, a Campground is defined as a tract of land established, maintained, and offered to the public for payment for the location or placement of two or more camping units.

An organized camp is any area, place, parcel or tract of land on which facilities are established or maintained to provide an outdoor group living experience for children or adults, or where one or more permanent or semi-permanent structures are established or maintained as living or sleeping quarters for children or adults, and operated for educational, social, recreational, religious instruction or activity, physical education or health, or vacation purposes either gratuitously or for compensation.

Campground Regulations

Campground Permit Application

WV Camp Safety

Childcare Centers

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.

Complaints

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.

Farmers Market Vendors

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.

Fees for Permits and Services

Enviromental Health Fees

Food Establishments

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 Establishment Permitting Process
Food Establishment Checklist for New/ Remodeled/ Change of Ownership
Food Establishment Permit Application
Food Establishment Plan Review Application
Plan Review Information Packet
Quick Food Safety Self Inspection
Temporary Food Establishment 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
Food Safety Resources
Managing Food Allergens in Retail Food Establishments

Home Loan Evaluation

If your mortgage lender or the Jefferson County Building Department are requiring evaluations of your well water and/or septic systems before refinancing, purchasing, remodeling, or building our office conducts home loan evaluations. We also conduct water evaluations for foster care when it is required as part of your application.

Labor Camps

Labor Camp ius 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

Lodging (Hotels, B&Bs, Short-Term Rentals)

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.

Mass Gatherings

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 applies to mass gatherings)
Mass Gathering Permitting Process
Mass Gathering Permit Application

Mobile Home Parks/Manufactured Home Communities

A manufactured home community is defined as any individual site, area, tract or parcel of land upon which 4 or more manufactured (mobile) homes are used or occupied for dwelling purposes are parked either free of charge or for monetary consideration. If your community meets this definition, it must be permitted.

Prior to constructing or installing a manufactured home community, you must obtain a permit from our office. In order to obtain a permit, you must submit an application for a construction or installation permit and detailed plans and specifications of the manufactured home community to the state department of health and the local health department for review and approval. The application must be submitted at least 45 days prior to the date on which such action by that agency is desired.

Mobile Food Establishments

Mobile Food Establishments, more commonly known as food trucks must be permitted in Jefferson County in order to serve or sell food in Jefferson County. Plan Reviews should be submitted at least 45 days prior to the date you need your permit to operate. Beginning June 7th, 2024, if you are an In-State Vendor and permitted in the county of your residence, you do not need to apply for a permit in Jefferson County. However, you must give the Environmental Health Department at least 72 hours notice that you will be operating in Jefferson County.

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

Private Water Wells

Our office issues permits for water wells, pumps, and pumping equipment instillations other than those used to supply public water systems. Prior to drilling a well, you must apply for and obtain a permit. Permits must also be obtained prior to abandoning a water well. Individual (private) water wells must be drilled by a WV certified well driller.

Schools

Public and private schools in Jefferson County are required to be permitted through the Enviromental Health office. School premises are permitted under the general sanitation regulation and school kitchens are permitted under the food establishment regulations. Schools are required to submit plans and specifications for the construction, remodeling, or conversion to our office at least 45 days before the planned constructions date. School facilities are inspected once every two years while school kitchens are inspected twice a year.

Septic Tank Cleaners

All businesses that collect, remove, transport, or dispose of the contents of a sewage tank in West Virginia must obtain a statewide permit to operate from the county where most of their business is located. All sewage tank cleaners permitted in Jefferson County must keep a written log of all jobs accomplished and submit it quarterly to our office.

Sewage (Septic) Systems

An owner or his agent must obtain a permit for a sewer system prior to the construction or installation of any dwelling or establishment which will require a sewer system. No onsite sewer systems shall be installed in Jefferson County without first obtaining a permit from this office. Permits expire one year after date of issuance and are non-transferable.

Swimming Pools (Recreational Water Facilities)

In West Virginia, all community and public recreational water facilities must be permitted in the county where they are located. This includes beaches, swimming pools, wading pools, water slides, lazy rivers, splash pools, therapy pools, hot tubs, and whirlpools. This does not include a private residential swimming pool. Recreational Water Facilities, except bathing beaches, must have a Certified Pool Operator available for consultation at all times the facility is open for use.

Temporary Event Vendors

All vendors wishing to prepare food at any fairs, festivals, or events in Jefferson County must apply for and obtain a permit to operate a food establishment from our office. The only exceptions are for nonprofit organizations and for temporary establishments that only prepare and sell non-potentially hazardous foods and have a valid permit to operate in a neighboring West Virginia County. All individuals handling unpackaged foods and food contact surfaces at Temporary Food Establishments permitted in Jefferson County must obtain a food handler’s card.

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.

Well and Septic Information Requests

If you are a realtor, homeowner, potential buyer, or septic installer and need information on well and septic systems or prior permits on a lot please complete this form and return it with payment to our office.