West Virginia General Contractor License Renewal: Deadlines, Fees and CE

The General Building Contractor (WV Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor)) renews every year and has a renewal fee of about $90. The Residential Contractor (WV Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor)) renews every year and has a renewal fee of about $90. Fees change, so check the official site for the exact amount.

Full rule details

Verified dataLast checked Oct 17, 2026, next review due July 2027

Informational: verify with the issuing board.

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General Building Contractor

GEN-BLDG · State license · WV Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor)

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Renew on the official site 304-558-7890

Renewal cycle: Every year
Continuing education: Not required
Deadline rule: Contractor license expires 12 months after the date of issuance; the expiration date is printed on the license. The Board mails a renewal notice about 45 days before expiration. Renew online through the Board account portal (credit card) or by mailing the renewal form with the $90 fee.

Show fees, grace period, bond and insurance

Grace period: 15 days after the expiration date before the $25 late fee applies.

Fees, approximate

Renewal fee: About $90
Late fee: Show the details (amounts are approximate)
About $25 late fee if the renewal is received or postmarked more than 15 days after the expiration date, in addition to the about $90 fee (28CSR2 5.5; Division fee schedule).
Reinstatement: Show the details (amounts are approximate)
A license not renewed by the renewal date lapses, and a license lapsed for 90 days or more cannot be renewed (W. Va. Code 30-42-13); the Board requires a new application, and grandfathered licenses lapsed more than 90 days may require passing exams.

Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Why approximate?

Boards change fees often and some charge extra processing fees. We show a recent amount so you can plan.

Bond: Not required
Insurance: Workers' compensation and unemployment compensation coverage (WV Insurance Commissioner / Workforce WV) are required for entities with employees working in WV, and must be in good standing at renewal; out-of-state firms with no WV-resident employees send their home-state workers' compensation certificate and latest quarterly unemployment report. The Board's application guide also lists general liability insurance as a pre-application item; no minimum amount is published. A wage bond status affidavit is required with the application; employers doing construction work may have to post a wage bond equal to four weeks of gross payroll plus 15% (W. Va. Code 21-5-14), unless exempt (e.g., 1+ year of WV work, 5+ years in business elsewhere, or $100,000+ in assets).
Reciprocity: Per Contractor Licensing Board: Tennessee reciprocity exists for General Building, Masonry, Multi-Family, Residential, and Sprinkler & Fire Protection classifications; NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor exam scores (passed on/after Sept 1, 2013) are accepted.

Notes

Also available: Residential, Multi-Family, General Engineering, Remodeling and Repair, and trade classifications, each at the same annual fee. A license is required when project cost (labor and materials) is $5,000+ residential or $25,000+ commercial (W. Va. Code 30-42-3). Cost is measured on the entire project, so small subcontracts on larger jobs still require a license.

HighLast checked Oct 17, 2026

Sources (15)

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Residential Contractor

RESID · State license · WV Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor)

Remind me before this expires

Renew on the official site 304-558-7890

Renewal cycle: Every year
Continuing education: Not required
Deadline rule: Contractor license expires 12 months after the date of issuance; the expiration date is printed on the license. The Board mails a renewal notice about 45 days before expiration. Renew online through the Board account portal (credit card) or by mailing the renewal form with the $90 fee.

Show fees, grace period, bond and insurance

Grace period: 15 days after the expiration date before the $25 late fee applies.

Fees, approximate

Renewal fee: About $90
Late fee: Show the details (amounts are approximate)
About $25 late fee if the renewal is received or postmarked more than 15 days after the expiration date, in addition to the about $90 fee (28CSR2 5.5; Division fee schedule).
Reinstatement: Show the details (amounts are approximate)
A license not renewed by the renewal date lapses, and a license lapsed for 90 days or more cannot be renewed (W. Va. Code 30-42-13); the Board requires a new application, and grandfathered licenses lapsed more than 90 days may require passing exams.

Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Why approximate?

Boards change fees often and some charge extra processing fees. We show a recent amount so you can plan.

Bond: Not required
Insurance: Workers' compensation and unemployment compensation coverage (WV Insurance Commissioner / Workforce WV) are required for entities with employees working in WV, and must be in good standing at renewal; out-of-state firms with no WV-resident employees send their home-state workers' compensation certificate and latest quarterly unemployment report. The Board's application guide also lists general liability insurance as a pre-application item; no minimum amount is published. A wage bond status affidavit is required with the application; employers doing construction work may have to post a wage bond equal to four weeks of gross payroll plus 15% (W. Va. Code 21-5-14), unless exempt (e.g., 1+ year of WV work, 5+ years in business elsewhere, or $100,000+ in assets).
Reciprocity: Per Contractor Licensing Board: Tennessee reciprocity exists for General Building, Masonry, Multi-Family, Residential, and Sprinkler & Fire Protection classifications; NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor exam scores (passed on/after Sept 1, 2013) are accepted.

Notes

Limited to residential work; same fee and renewal terms. Project threshold: $5,000+ residential cost (W. Va. Code 30-42-3).

HighLast checked Oct 17, 2026

Sources (15)

How to renew

1Check your General Building Contractor deadline: Contractor license expires 12 months after the date of issuance; the expiration date is printed on the license. The Board mails a renewal notice about 45 days before expiration. Renew online through the Board account portal (credit card) or by mailing the renewal form with the $90 fee.
2Confirm your insurance meet the board requirements and are not expiring.
3Renew online at https://wvclboard.wv.gov/account/renew/
4Pay the renewal fee on the official site. Expect about $90, but fees change.
5If you miss the deadline: About $25 late fee if the renewal is received or postmarked more than 15 days after the expiration date, in addition to the about $90 fee (28CSR2 5.5; Division fee schedule).
6Check your Residential Contractor deadline: Contractor license expires 12 months after the date of issuance; the expiration date is printed on the license. The Board mails a renewal notice about 45 days before expiration. Renew online through the Board account portal (credit card) or by mailing the renewal form with the $90 fee.

West Virginia General contractor renewal questions

Answers come from the records above. Informational: verify with the issuing board.

When does a West Virginia general contractor license expire?

General Building Contractor: renews every year. Contractor license expires 12 months after the date of issuance; the expiration date is printed on the license. The Board mails a renewal notice about 45 days before expiration. Renew online through the Board account portal (credit card) or by mailing the renewal form with the $90 fee. Residential Contractor: renews every year. Contractor license expires 12 months after the date of issuance; the expiration date is printed on the license. The Board mails a renewal notice about 45 days before expiration. Renew online through the Board account portal (credit card) or by mailing the renewal form with the $90 fee. Check with WV Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor) before you rely on it.

How many CE hours does a West Virginia general contractor license need?

General Building Contractor: no CE required. Residential Contractor: no CE required. Check with WV Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor) before you rely on it.

Is there a grace period for a West Virginia general contractor license?

15 days after the expiration date before the $25 late fee applies. Check with WV Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor) before you rely on it.

How much does it cost to renew a West Virginia general contractor license?

General Building Contractor: About $90. Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

What happens if a West Virginia general contractor license expires?

About $25 late fee if the renewal is received or postmarked more than 15 days after the expiration date, in addition to the about $90 fee (28CSR2 5.5; Division fee schedule). Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Does West Virginia accept general contractor licenses from other states?

Per Contractor Licensing Board: Tennessee reciprocity exists for General Building, Masonry, Multi-Family, Residential, and Sprinkler & Fire Protection classifications; NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor exam scores (passed on/after Sept 1, 2013) are accepted. Check with WV Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor) before you rely on it.

Sources

Spot something out of date?

Informational only. Check it with the issuing board. Licensing rules, deadlines and CE requirements change, fee amounts are approximate, and this page can be out of date. It is not legal advice, and we are not affiliated with any state board. Read the disclaimer.

This information is here to help you plan, not to replace the board. Fee amounts are approximate and may be out of date. Deadlines and continuing education rules change too, sometimes without much notice. Always confirm with your licensing board and its official site before you rely on a date or an amount. This is not legal advice.

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