Opening a Business in the City

BUSINESS SERVICES ADVOCATE

The Business Services Advocate is available to assist business owners in navigating zoning, permitting, and licensing processes. For more information, please get in touch with Sarah Bostic at 304.696.5540 ext. 2339 or by email at bostics@huntingtonwv.gov or contact Becky Bartlett, B&O and Licensing Specialist, at 304.696.5540 ext. 2314 or by email at bartlettb@huntingtonwv.gov.

HOW TO GET STARTED

Use the Steps to Start a Business Guide packet to get your commercial business started in Huntington.

Use the Home Occupation Permit page to get your home-based business started in Huntington.

Businesses/individuals engaged in business activities within the city limits of Huntington, regardless of whether or not such persons maintain a permanent place of business in Huntington, need to complete a Business License application.

COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES

A Certificate of Occupancy permit is required for all businesses with a physical location in the city limits of Huntington.  

HOME-BASED BUSINESSES

A Home Occupation permit is required for all home-based businesses located in the city limits of Huntington.

The Home Occupation Permit is valid from July 1 to June 30.  The permit is renewed annually at the same time as your business license.

BUSINESSES WITH ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Alcohol Sales

Craft Beverage Production

Limited Video Lottery

Mobile Food Vendor 

Tattoo Parlors and Body Piercing

Itinerant Vendor

CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS

Contractors and Subcontractors - Outlines what Contractors and Subcontractor's requirements are to work in Huntington.

BUSINESS LICENSE RENEWAL

Business License Renewal will mail a preprinted renewal around the first of June each year.  A business license is valid for one year, starting from July 1 and ending June 30.  All business licenses expire on June 30th of each year.  Business license fees are not prorated.

BUSINESS & OCCUPATION (B&O) AND CITY SERVICE FEE (CSF) ACCOUNTS

The Finance Department will mail a Business & Occupation Tax Return and a City Service Fee Remittance Form quarterly after issuing the business license. 

It would help if you were licensed with the City of Huntington before the due date of filing the Business & Occupation tax and City Service Fee. 

OTHER RESOURCES

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
www.irs.gov

West Virginia One-Stop Business Portal (The Secretary of State's Office, the State Tax Department, the Division of Labor, and Workforce West Virginia)
www.business4wv.com

West Virginia Alcohol Beverage and Control Administration (WV ABCA)
www.abca.wv.gov

West Virginia Division of Labor
www.labor.wv.gov

Cabell-Huntington Health Department
www.cabellhealth.org

Cabell County Assessor
www.cabellassessor.com

West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC)
www.wvsbdc.com

Unlimited Future, Inc.
www.unlimitedfuture.org

Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce
www.huntingtonchamber.org