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, 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

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, must complete a Business License Application. 

VERIFY ADDRESS IS IN HUNTINGTON

Verify that your business location address, or the location where you will conduct work, is within city limits. 

COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES

Use the Commercial-based business packet for your complete guide and forms to start your commercial business in Huntington.

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 in the city limits.

REMOTE EMPLOYEE IN HUNTINGTON

All businesses with remote employees physically working inside city limits will need to obtain a Huntington Business License. You may verify that the remote employee is within city limits by going to Huntington Boundary Map. When completing the application, the business location field should provide the employee’s address. The mailing address would be the company address to receive mailings regarding taxes and fees.

Payroll providers will need to make sure that the business is licensed before sending in payments for City Service Fee. We prefer payroll providers to use our City Service Fee Remittance form. Delays in processing of payments will occur when sending in their version of the remittance form with the account number that states “Applied for.” Please ensure your payroll provider uses the boundary map to see if the employee is inside city limits.

BUSINESSES WITH ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Alcohol Sales

Craft Beverage Production

Limited Video Lottery

Mobile Food Vendor 

Mobile Vehicle Wash Facility 

Tattoo Parlors and Body Piercing

Itinerant Vendor

 

CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS

Contractors and Subcontractors - Outline what the Contractor's 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 on July 1 and ending on 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 Return quarterly after issuing the business license.  Filing periods end on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31.  All returns are due 30 days after the end of the applicable filing period.

OTHER RESOURCES

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

West Virginia One-Stop Business Portal

(The Secretary of State's Office, the State Tax Department, the Division of Labor, and Workforce West Virginia)

West Virginia Alcohol Beverage and Control Administration (WV ABCA)

West Virginia Division of Labor

Cabell-Huntington Health Department

Cabell County Assessor

Wayne County Assessor 

West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC)

Unlimited Future, Inc.

Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce