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 by email at bostics@huntingtonwv.gov or contact Becky Bartlett, B&O and Licensing Specialist, 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 have a business license with the City of Huntington
VERIFY ADDRESS IS IN HUNTINGTON
Verify that your business location address, or the location where you will conduct work, is within city limits. All parcels starting with a 05, 06, 07 are inside city limits.
- Enter the address at Boundary Map
COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES
All businesses with a physical commercial location in the city limits of Huntington must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy permit.
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 the 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 must ensure the business is licensed before paying City Service Fee. We prefer payroll providers to use our City Service Fee Remittance form. Delays in payment processing will occur when sending in their version of the remittance form with the account number “Applied for.” Please ensure your payroll provider uses the boundary map to see if the employee is inside city limits.
BUSINESSES WITH ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Tattoo Parlors and Body Piercing
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)
U.S.Small Business Administration
West Virginia One-Stop Business Portal
West Virginia Alcohol Beverage and Control Administration (WV ABCA)
West Virginia Division of Labor
Cabell-Huntington Health Department