General Outfitter and Guide License

Prior to applying for an Outfitter & Guide license please read all applicable rule and code, such as 58CSR11, 58CSR12, 58CSR25, 20-2-23, 20-2-24, 20-2-25, 20-2-26, 20-7-12b, and 20-7-16. 

If you choose to apply for an Outfitter & Guide license, please submit a signed & notarized Outfitter & Guide License application along with the following: surety bond , copy of your WV Business License, verification of liability insurance, Insurance & Bond information form, copy of First Aid Certification and the license fee payment of $10.00. The license fee must be a check or money order made payable to DNR Law Enforcement.

West Virginia Legislative Rule, Title 58, Series 12 requires any Outfitter & Guide that conducts business in whitewater zones to report users, trips and pay whitewater user fees for those customers or users in designated zones. The fee schedule for users in whitewater zones is $0.70 per user on the Gauley River and $0.35 per user for other rivers. Again, these fees are only associated with whitewater zones. The designated whitewater zones can be found in the legislative rule 58CSR12, subsections 3.1 and 9.12. If you intend to conduct business on rivers with whitewater zones you must contact the WV DNR Law Enforcement Section at (304) 558-2784 to acquire login credentials to report whitewater user numbers, trip reports, injury reports and obtain payment instructions.

If you intend to use National Forest lands, the forest service requires that you obtain a WV DNR O&G license before applying for their permit(s). If you do not hold a DNR O&G license the forest service will NOT grant your outfit a National Forest permit..

If you intend to use motorized boats to guide trips, any boat guide(s) born after December 31, 1986 must obtain a Boater Education Certificate, available through each DNR district office. This does not apply if you have a Federal Commercial Boater Operator’s License.

In accordance with Chapter 20-7-16, if a livery plans on renting motorboats, the owner or operator of a boat livery or his/her agent shall provide a boating safety orientation for all persons that rent any vessel, including personal watercraft, unless that renter holds a certificate as required by 20-7-12b. To conduct the orientation, the owner or operator of the boat livery or his/her agent must be certified annually through the DNR district office. It is the responsibility of the livery to contact DNR for the training.

Use the link below to access the initial outfitter & guide license application. The application must be completed, signed and notarized.  Also, make sure to include the items listed below with your application.

Initial Outfitter & Guide License Application Packet

The following items must be included with your application:

• Signed & Notarized O&G License Application
• Surety Bond (original)
• WV Business License
• Verification of Liability Insurance
• Insurance and Bond Information Form
• First Aid Certification Card
• $10.00 Outfitter & Guide License Fee
• National Forest Permit (if applicable)
• Boater Education Certificate (if applicable)
• Certification to conduct Boating Safety Orientation (if applicable)

Once the DNR Law Enforcement Section receives all necessary paperwork and your bond is approved by the Attorney General’s Office a Natural Resource Police Officer shall inspect the equipment at your location. If your business passes inspection you should expect to receive your license certification in approximately 7 business days. If you have questions not addressed here, please feel free to call our Law Enforcement Section at 304-558-2784.

Mail your completed application to: WV DNR Law Enforcement Section – Room 335, 324 4th Avenue, South Charleston, WV 25303.