Frequently Asked Questions

Fall and Spring Clean-Ups for the City are scheduled and communicated yearly during the beginning of their perspective seasons. As the seasons approach for the clean-ups, please check our website for the  official notices. 

Please see the recycling schedule located on the front of our website. 

Call Public Works Department at 797-8500, Ext. 3002/3003

You can file a complaint using our self-service portal. 

CLICK HERE to be taken to our self-service portal for submitting complaints. 

Most construction projects within the City of Weirton require a building permit. Below is a list of common construction projects that require a building permit. If you're still unsure if you need a permit, call our office at 1.304.797.8500 Ext. 1005 and we will be happy to assist you. 

Common Projects Requiring A Building Permit

• New Buildings
• Additions
• Residential Work (Decks, Porches, Patios, Garages, Fences, Retaining Walls, Fireplaces, Water Heaters, Etc.)
• Renovations (Garage Conversions, Basement Furnishings, Kitchen Expansions, Re-Roofing, Etc.)
• Electrical Systems
• Plumbing Systems
• Installation of Electrical Outlets
• Replacement of Windows
• HVAC Systems (Heating, Ventilating, Air-Conditioning)
• Remodeling Kitchens or Bathrooms
• Installation of Pool, Spa, or Hot Tub

Mon-Fri: 7:30 p.m. Sat: 4:30 p.m. Sun: 4:30 p.m.

Do not drink the water without boiling it first. If you live in the affected area listed above bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, bathing, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Disinfection will be verified as soon as possible and the boil water notice will be lifted through local media notification.

The City of Weirton Business License is an official document issued by the City Department of Code Enforcement and Building Inspections. All businesses operating or providing service within the City of Weirton are required to obtain a license in order to legally do business in the City. Any business that is operating without a current business license is illegal.

Business Licenses are renewed annually throughout the period of December to February. A business operating in the City that does not renew during the December to February time period may be subject to late payment fees. 

• If you are a business that has a physical commercial building within the City of Weirton, You need a business license. 
• If you are a business operating online or out of your home, You need a Home Occupation Permit and a business license. (This applies to a business owner and not a remote employee).
• If you are a business with a remote employee living within the city limits, You need a business license. 
• If you are a business that exists outside of the City of Weirton but you are providing a service within the city, You need a business license. 
• If you are a Contractor providing service within the City of Weirton, You need a business license. 
• If you are a Handyman providing service within the City of Weirton, You need a business license. 
• If you are a Utility providing service within the City of Weirton, You need a business license. 
• If you are a transient or temporary vendor providing a temporary service or shop within the City of Weirton, You need a business license (Peddler License). 

All businesses will be required to submit a copy of their West Virginia Business Registration Certificate with their application.

All contractors will be required to submit a copy of their West Virginia Business Registration Certificate and a current copy of their West Virginia Contractor License with their application.

All business license applicants are required to be paid in full with all B&O taxes, Police & Fire taxes, and municipal fees before the Licensing Office can issue a license.  

If the appliances within a unit belong to the tenant and not the landlord, the appliances will not be considered part of the inspection unless the appliance is a clear safety hazard. 

Yes, The activity of renting out residential rental property regardless of the amount of units rented is a business activity in the City of Weirton. Landlords are required to be registered with the State of West Virginia and the City of Weirton as a business before rental inspection can take place. 

Ordinance No. 2182 provides a full breakdown of the process to be implemented should a tenant not provide access. 

Ordinance No. 2182 (PDF)

A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. 

The Weirton area is poised for major revitalization successes in the brownfield’s redevelopment arena. In the past several years, the Weirton-Steubenville metropolitan area has seen three assessment grants totaling $1.6 million dollars and two new EDA Assistance to Coal Communities grants to support redevelopment of unused industrial and commercial properties. The revitalization of Weirton and nearby communities would not take place without funding resources for the cleanup of critical, targeted parcels that have been assessed with US EPA and private funding and are ready for reuse. The RLF provides an incentive to remediate and redevelop contaminated sites to generate public benefits for the City of Weirton and surrounding area. 

US EPA Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants provide funding for a grant recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund and to provide loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. Through these grants, US EPA strengthens the marketplace and encourages stakeholders to leverage resources to clean up and redevelop brownfields. When loans are repaid, the loan amount is returned to the fund and re-lent to other borrowers, providing an ongoing source of capital within a community. The City of Weirton is the recipient of an $800,000 US EPA RLF grant to establish an RLF and provide funding for brownfields cleanup in local communities. 

The Weirton RLF resources are available for brownfields cleanups in the communities of Weirton, Beech Bottom, Wellsburg, Follansbee, and Chester. 

Funding comes in two forms: low-interest loans and subgrants. Loans must be paid back to the RLF. Subgrants do not require repayment; however, subgrant amounts are limited to $200,000. 

Private and public entities can apply for an RLF low-interest loan. Private/public partnerships can also apply. Only local government entities or non-profit 501 (c)(3) organizations are eligible to receive subgrants. Subgrant recipients must own the site throughout the duration of the project. 

The minimum loan amount is $25,000, and the maximum is $500,000. The maximum loan amount may be limited if the RLF does not have sufficient available funds. Subgrants are limited to $200,000. The US EPA may approve a waiver of maximum subgrant amount in certain cases, but a waiver is not guaranteed. 

The loan interest rate will be at or less than the prime interest rate, but not less than zero. The rates and payback terms will be determined based on the ability of the borrower to support the debt service, the overall risk of the project, and leveraging of financial assistance from other sources. 

• There is a $200 nonrefundable application fee to apply for a loan or subgrant. 

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• A 20% match of the loan/subgrant amount is required. The 20% matching funds may be in the form of cash or resources, such as in-kind services labor, material or services by the borrower or a project partner. The match must be pre-approved before the RLF will finalize the loan/subgrant. 

• Projects undertaken with RLF funding may be required to participate in the West Virginia VRP based upon a review of the site assessment reports, magnitude of contamination and other factors. This requirement would be determined during the application process. 

• Projects must have a site-specific Community Relations Plan (CRP) that provides an opportunity for public involvement, and a mechanism for public comments on the proposed cleanup options under consideration for the site. 

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• The project team must determine if historic properties/buildings, or threatened and endangered species may be affected by the cleanup; and whether Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) or Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) may apply to the site proposed for cleanup. You must comply with the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931 (Davis-Bacon specified labor wages) for most cleanup activities. You will need to submit certain reports for loan-funded activities.

Interested parties are strongly encouraged to contact the Weirton RLF Program prior to applying for funds. Prospective borrowers must complete a Borrower and Site Eligibility Questionnaire and Loan Fund Application to be considered. There is a $200 non-refundable application fee. 

Additional information about the Weirton RLF is available at https://www.cityofweirton.com/431/Planning-and-Development