Charleston ADU permit requirements
Last reviewed: June 22, 2026
Quick answer
Permitting an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Charleston, West Virginia means pulling a building permit from the local authority that issues it. ArchPermit tracks 14 source-cited requirements (11 required, the rest conditional) for this jurisdiction. Submittals go through One-Stop-Shop (in-person at 915 Quarrier St; online payment only). These requirements were last reviewed June 22, 2026; confirm the exact forms and fees with the local permitting authority.
A source-cited checklist of what an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) permit package needs in City of Charleston. Every item links to its authoritative source; items that vary are flagged to confirm locally.
(Charleston, West Virginia — not Charleston, SC.) ADUs are by-right (marked 'P') in all six residential districts (R-2, R-4, R-6, R-8, R-10, R-O) under Zoning Ordinance § 3-060 #54 (and in the Neighborhood Reinvestment Overlay through May 1 2030). Owner-occupancy is mandatory — either the ADU or the primary single-family unit must be owner-occupied, or the zoning approval becomes null. Before the Zoning Permit issues, a recorded instrument must be filed with the Kanawha County Clerk (owner-occupancy, no separate sale, no over-enlargement). Two-step approval: the Planning Department issues a Zoning Permit, then the Building Department issues the building permit. Detached ADUs follow accessory-structure rules (≤2 stories / 25 ft; 3-ft setbacks; 1 on-site space per bedroom, waived in the NRO). One ADU per single-family dwelling. Applications are filed in person; only payment is online.
- ADU Off-Street Parking (1 space/bedroom)required
One on-site parking space per ADU bedroom (§ 3-060 #54.d), shown on the site plan; waived in the NRO district.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Floodway / Flood Plain Determinationrequired
Required; if within the 100-year flood plain, an Elevation Certificate must be submitted.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Kanawha County Tax Map & Parcel Numberrequired
Parcel identification from the tax ticket.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - List of All Contractors & Sub-Contractorsrequired
Full list of contractors/sub-contractors on the project.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Owner-Occupancy Demonstrationrequired
Either the ADU or the primary unit must be owner-occupied; an ADU is only allowed accessory to an owner-occupied single-family dwelling (§ 3-060 #54).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Recorded ADU Instrument (Kanawha County Clerk)required
Before the Zoning Permit issues, record an instrument binding future owners to code compliance, owner-occupancy, no separate sale, and no over-enlargement.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Residential Building Permit Application (RBP-1)required
Completed RBP-1 with owner/contractor info, project location, Kanawha County Tax Map & Parcel No., construction type, scope, and total estimated cost.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Stormwater / Drainage Planrequired
Plan for stormwater discharge/diversion; a Land Disturbance Approval is triggered if disturbance >5,000 sf or impervious area increases ≥1,000 sf.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Two (2) Sets of Construction Plansrequired
Two copies with full construction details for the ADU.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Two (2) Site Plansrequired
Location of the proposed structure, distances from all lot lines, existing structures, proposed parking, and the proposed sanitary sewer tap.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Zoning Permit (Planning Department)required
Planning issues the Zoning Permit (use, setbacks, parking, flood, density) with copies to the Building Permit Coordinator before the building permit.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Erosion & Sediment Control Planconditional
Required where land disturbance triggers the stormwater ordinance (>5,000 sf disturbed / ≥1,000 sf new impervious).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Owner–Contractor Contract Copyconditional
Attach a copy of the contract for any project valued at $10,000 or more.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - WV Contractor's License + Charleston Registrationconditional
If using a contractor: the WV Contractor's License No. and the City of Charleston Registration No.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22