Hampshire County adopts 2022 West Virginia building code as minimum standard

The Hampshire County Commission voted June 10 to adopt the West Virginia State Building Code (2022) as the county's minimum building standard for the county.

The change updates the county from the previously referenced 2015 code and formally aligns county practice with newer provisions already followed in many cases (for example, an external cutoff switch required by FirstEnergy that appears in the 2018/2022 codes). The planning commission had unanimously recommended adoption at a prior meeting, and county officials said the state fire marshal's office recommended approval without delay.

The ordinance (filed as proposed Ordinance 25-2) lists the applicable International Codes and stated exceptions. County planning staff said contractors and other members of the public will be offered an informational session in the next 30–40 days; the county also will invite the state fire marshal's office to answer technical questions at that meeting. Officials said a public informational hearing was planned to explain changes to contractors and the public even though a hearing was not legally required for adoption.

Commissioners who spoke at the meeting said the update largely formalizes standards the planning office has already been applying and will make it easier for the new planning director to enforce and educate builders about the code. The commission approved the ordinance during the June 10 meeting by voice vote.

The county clerk and planning office will publish the ordinance and the schedule for the informational session for contractors and the public.