Wood County, West Virginia
Vienna is a city in Wood County, West Virginia. Vienna adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Vienna’s rules apply, not the county’s. 9 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 24, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Wood County page.
Construction regulated by Vienna's codified Building Code inside Vienna city limits.
“The State Building Code is hereby reenacted and adopted as promulgated by the West Virginia State Fire Commission, Title No. 87, Series 4 "State Building Code" as approved by the West Virginia Legislature, by Legislative Rule filed January 7, 2022 and effective August 1, 2022, as amended, and which establishes the standards and requirements as set out and as published in 2018 by the International Code Council and American Standards Institute.”
Land inside Vienna city limits.
“The City is hereby divided into zones or districts, as shown on the Official Zoning Map which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this Zoning Ordinance.”
Zoning districts inside Vienna city limits.
“The City is hereby divided into zones or districts, as shown on the Official Zoning Map which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this Zoning Ordinance.”
Privies, septic tanks, cesspools, and other wastewater disposal or storage facilities on property inside Vienna city limits that is presently served by a city sanitary sewer.
“Except as provided through this article, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, sinkhole, septic tank, cesspool, pretreatment system or any other facility intended for wastewater pretreatment, disposal or storage on any property, public or private, which is presently served by a sanitary sewer of the City.”
Owners of houses, buildings, properties, or improved properties for human occupancy, business enterprise, employment, or recreation inside Vienna city jurisdiction that abut a street, alley, right-of-way, or easement containing a city sanitary sewer.
“The Owners of all houses, buildings, properties or improved properties used for human occupancy, business enterprise, employment, or recreation situated such that it comes under or within the jurisdiction of the City and abutting on any street, alley, right-of-way or easement in which there is now located or may hereafter be located a sanitary sewer of the City, are hereby required, at the Owner's expense, to install suitable toilet facilities therein, and to connect such facilities directly with a City approved sanitary sewer in accordance with the provisions of this article.”
Subdivision of land inside Vienna city limits.
“CHAPTER FIVE - Subdivision Regulations Art. 1351. General Provisions. Art. 1355. Procedures for Subdivision Approvals. Art. 1359. Requirements for Improvements, Reservations and Design.”
Vienna does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.
Newly constructed single-family, two-family, and stated apartment projects in Vienna District I (Residential).
minimum habitable space situated on ground level: >= 900 square feet (Must be set upon a permanent foundation; garages, basements, upper levels, and attics are excluded.)
“All newly constructed single, two family (duplexes), and apartments - ten (10) units per building maximum of two (2) buildings per project with two (2) projects per acre maximum, shall have a minimum of 900 square feet of habitable space situated on ground level set upon a permanent foundation and will exclude garages, basements, upper levels, and attics (this provision does not pertain to existing structures).”
Lots in Vienna District I (Residential).
minimum lot area: >= 5000 square feet · minimum front width: >= 50 feet (Lots of record: 40 feet minimum.)
“Within District I, each lot and yard shall conform to all of the following minimum requirements, except as provided in Article 1329. (a) Area: 5000 square feet. (b) Width at front: 50 feet, except lots of record which shall have a minimum width at front of 40 feet.”
Lots in Vienna District I (Residential).
front yard depth: >= 15 feet · rear yard depth: >= 10 feet (Where rear lot line abuts a public alley, street, or way; otherwise 5 feet.) · side yards required: 2 · each side yard width: >= 5 feet (Carport exception stated in subsection (f).)
“(c) Depth of front yard: 15 feet. (d) Depth of rear yard: 10 feet, where rear lot line abuts upon a public alley, street or way; otherwise, 5 feet. (e) Number of side yards: 2. (f) Width of each side yard: 5 feet; except that a driveway may be roofed to provide a carport if the front and back of the carport are open and if there is not less than a two foot green strip between the carport and the side line of the property.”
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Vienna or Wood County directly.
Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.
Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Vienna publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Wood County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Vienna means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.
