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§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Unincorporated Berkeley County
A permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system.
Ordinary maintenance and repair using like-for-like materials where no structural change is involved
Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinet work, and similar finish work
Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a one- and two-family dwelling where the pool is less than 24 inches deep (confirm with office)
Work specifically classified as not requiring a permit under the adopted IRC/IBC (e.g., certain minor electrical repairs by homeowners)
- Exempt Ordinary maintenance and repair using like-for-like materials where no structural change is involved
- Exempt Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinet work, and similar finish work
- Exempt Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a one- and two-family dwelling where the pool is less than 24 inches deep (confirm with office)
- Exempt Work specifically classified as not requiring a permit under the adopted IRC/IBC (e.g., certain minor electrical repairs by homeowners)
Note: Berkeley County does not publish a standalone exempt work list on its website; contact the department at 304-264-1966 to confirm whether a specific project requires a permit
Required documents
- Completed permit application (long-form residential or commercial application as applicable)
- One (1) set of detailed construction plans including footing and foundation plan, floor plan, and cross sections
- Signed construction agreement
- One (1) copy of plot plan showing: location of existing structures, existing/proposed driveway access, limits of disturbed area and stockpile area, location of existing/proposed septic and well
- Well and septic permits from Berkeley County Health Department, or letters of availability from public utility
- Sizes and U-values of windows and exterior doors, and R-values of insulation in ceiling, walls, and floors (Energy Compliance Report from Energy.gov)
- If owner is not the applicant: notarized affidavit by owner (form provided by office)
- If construction is within a mapped 100-year floodplain: Floodplain Certificate required
- For structures over 7,600 sq ft: construction drawings must bear original seal of a design professional registered in West Virginia
- For steel beams: seal of a West Virginia-registered engineer required
- West Virginia State Fire Marshal approval may be required for certain projects
- All subcontractors must be listed on application with West Virginia contractor license number
- Building code
- International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC) as adopted by West Virginia. The WV State Fire Commission adopted the 2018 IBC, IMC, IPC, IEBC, IRC and 2015 IECC, effective August 1, 2022. The 2020 NEC is also in effect.
- Permit validity
- Permit expires if work is not commenced within 6 months of issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 6 months after commencement
- Owner-builder
- Homeowners performing work on their own primary residence are exempt from the WV contractor licensing requirement, but must declare this on the permit application before work starts
- Contractor requirements
- A West Virginia contractor license (issued by WV Division of Labor, 304-558-7890) is required for any residential project over $5,000 or commercial project over $25,000. All subcontractors must be listed with their WV license number.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: Not publicly specified; varies by project type and completeness of submission
- 01 Gather required documents (completed application, construction plans, plot plan, energy compliance report, well/septic permits or utility letters, floodplain certificate if applicable).
- 02 Create an account or log in at https://onestop.berkeleywv.org/.
- 03 Submit permit application online through the one-stop portal, or submit in person at 400 W. Stephen Street, Suite 202 during business hours (8 AM - 5 PM, Monday-Friday).
- 04 County staff reviews submitted plans, plot plan, energy compliance report, and supporting documents.
- 05 After review and approval, permit is emailed to the applicant.
- 06 Post permit on-site before work begins. No work may commence prior to permit issuance, including excavation.
- 07 Schedule required inspections as construction phases are reached (minimum 24 hours' notice required before each inspection).
- 08 Obtain Certificate of Occupancy upon satisfactory final inspection.
Typical processing time: Not publicly specified; varies by project type and completeness of submission
§ 04
Fee schedule
Unincorporated Berkeley County building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$10.00
02
Plan check fee
$0.06 per sq ft for standard plan review; $0.09 per sq ft for commercial plan review
03
Permit fee formula
Square footage-based for residential
04
Reinspection fee
$50.00 reinspection fee if required electrical sticker is not present at inspection; $50.00 reinspection fee for failure to submit plan changes prior to rough-in inspection
Payment accepted through the online portal or in person at the department office
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- 304-264-1966 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Inspection requests for the next working day must be called in no later than 2:00 PM
- Inspection hours
- Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM
Typical sequence: Minimum 4 inspections for new construction: footing inspection (prior to placing concrete or stone), foundation and basement wall inspection (before backfilling and before proceeding with superstructure), framing/rough-in inspections (framing, rough electrical, rough plumbing, rough mechanical), final electrical inspection, final building inspection (must be on separate day from final electrical and final grading), and final grading inspection if applicable
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about Unincorporated Berkeley County permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Unincorporated Berkeley County, WV? ▸
A permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Unincorporated Berkeley County, WV? ▸
Building permit fees in Unincorporated Berkeley County, WV are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $10.00. Fees are calculated as: Square footage-based for residential. Plan check fee: $0.06 per sq ft for standard plan review; $0.09 per sq ft for commercial plan review.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Unincorporated Berkeley County, WV? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Unincorporated Berkeley County, WV, follow these steps: 1. Gather required documents (completed application, construction plans, plot plan, energy compliance report, well/septic permits or utility letters, floodplain certificate if applicable). 2. Create an account or log in at https://onestop.berkeleywv.org/. 3. Submit permit application online through the one-stop portal, or submit in person at 400 W. Stephen Street, Suite 202 during business hours (8 AM - 5 PM, Monday-Friday). 4. County staff reviews submitted plans, plot plan, energy compliance report, and supporting documents. 5. After review and approval, permit is emailed to the applicant. 6. Post permit on-site before work begins. No work may commence prior to permit issuance, including excavation. 7. Schedule required inspections as construction phases are reached (minimum 24 hours' notice required before each inspection). 8. Obtain Certificate of Occupancy upon satisfactory final inspection.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Unincorporated Berkeley County, WV? ▸
Building permit processing times in Unincorporated Berkeley County, WV typically run Not publicly specified; varies by project type and completeness of submission. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in Unincorporated Berkeley County, WV? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Unincorporated Berkeley County, WV. The following work is generally exempt: Ordinary maintenance and repair using like-for-like materials where no structural change is involved; Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinet work, and similar finish work; Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a one- and two-family dwelling where the pool is less than 24 inches deep (confirm with office); Work specifically classified as not requiring a permit under the adopted IRC/IBC (e.g., certain minor electrical repairs by homeowners). Note: Berkeley County does not publish a standalone exempt work list on its website; contact the department at 304-264-1966 to confirm whether a specific project requires a permit When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Unincorporated Berkeley County, WV? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Unincorporated Berkeley County, WV via: 304-264-1966. Inspection requests for the next working day must be called in no later than 2:00 PM.
last verified April 2026
source Berkeley County Building Permits and Inspections ↗
entry id permits/west-virginia/berkeley/unincorporated
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Berkeley County Building Permits and Inspections before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.