Morgantown Retaining Wall Guide: Slopes & Rules (2026)

Updated October 19, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Landslide exposure	2,967 primary structures in Monongalia County in high or medium landslide susceptibility areas, 2nd in WV; 919 in Morgantown	WVU GIS Technical Center, Region 6 report
Rain	About 43.15 in. of precipitation a year; May to July wettest	Wikipedia (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals)
Main slide factors	Heavy rain, clay soil and steep slopes	WV Geological and Economic Survey
Contractor license	Required for residential jobs of $5,000 or more and commercial jobs of $25,000 or more	W. Va. Code § 30-42-3
Morgantown permits	Permit needed when a structure is erected, altered or repaired; reviewed by Code Enforcement	City of Morgantown FAQ
Digging	Contact WV811 at least two business days before you dig	Citynet / WV811

Why is Monongalia County so prone to slides?

West Virginia University's GIS Technical Center prepared landslide risk assessments for each region of the state. Its Region 6 report, which covers Monongalia, Marion, Harrison, Preston, Taylor and Doddridge counties, found 2,967 primary structures in Monongalia County in high or medium landslide susceptibility areas, worth about $344 million, ranking the county second in West Virginia. Of those, 919 are inside Morgantown and 1,746 are in unincorporated areas. The county also has about 132 miles of road in high or medium risk zones.

The report calls slope steepness the most important control on where landslides happen, and says about 80 percent of slides and slumps in this part of the Allegheny Plateau start on slopes between 17 and 39 degrees. It describes the bedrock as sandstone, shale and siltstone, with the weaker shale and siltstone units more likely to fail, and names mining regolith, ground disturbed by coal mining, as the most slide-prone material in the region. Human disturbance matters too: the report points to development, tree clearing and poorly designed drainage in urban areas, and notes that slides are most common after wet seasons, especially late winter and early spring.

What does that mean for a retaining wall?

The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey lists heavy rains, clay soil and steep slopes as the most important causes of landslides in the state. Morgantown has all three. It averages about 43 inches of precipitation a year, with the most falling from May through July. For a wall, that means drainage isn't optional: clean stone backfill, a working base drain and control of runoff above the wall matter as much as the blocks themselves. If there are cracks in the ground well above a wall, a geotechnical engineer should look at the slope, not just the wall.

Do I need a permit?

West Virginia's State Building Code, which includes the International Residential Code, is adopted locally; according to WVU's WV LEAP program, local governments aren't required to enforce it, and each county or city decides. The City of Morgantown says a building permit is required any time a building or structure is erected, altered, repaired, moved or demolished, and that applications are reviewed by Code Enforcement officials. Its Building Inspection Division is in the Code Enforcement Office at City Hall on Spruce Street. Westover and Star City are separate municipalities, and Cheat Lake and other unincorporated areas fall under the county, so check with the office that covers your address.

Who can build it?

Under W. Va. Code § 30-42-3, a contractor license is required when a job costs $5,000 or more for residential work or $25,000 or more for commercial work. The West Virginia Division of Labor handles contractor licensing. Ask for the license number, proof of insurance and photos of walls the contractor built several years ago, not just last month.

Call before you dig

Retaining walls mean trenching, and buried gas, water, power and communication lines are common on city lots. WV811 asks that you submit a locate request at least two business days before digging, by dialing 811 or going online at wv811.com, and then wait until lines are marked.

Questions to ask a contractor

What do you think made the old wall fail, and how will the new one avoid it?
How will the wall drain, and where does the water end up?
Does it need geogrid, an engineer's design or a permit, and who handles it?
How will you get equipment and material onto the lot?
What's your WV contractor license number, and what does your warranty cover?

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Morgantown?

Likely. The city requires a building permit when a structure is built, altered or repaired. Check with Code Enforcement, or ask your contractor to.

Does a wall contractor need a license in West Virginia?

Yes, for residential jobs of $5,000 or more and commercial jobs of $25,000 or more, under W. Va. Code § 30-42-3.

Is Monongalia County really high-risk for landslides?

It ranks second in the state for structures in high or medium landslide susceptibility areas, according to WVU's Region 6 landslide risk report.

Morgantown retaining wall guide (2026)