City Building Permits
Parkersburg, WV - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Covers all properties within Parkersburg city limits. Parkersburg is the county seat and largest city in Wood County (population approx. 29,000). Does not cover unincorporated county areas.
- Department
- Building and Code Enforcement Division, City of Parkersburg
- Address
- 1 Government Square (4th floor, City Municipal Building), Parkersburg, WV 26102
- Phone
- 304-424-8400
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Revize Online Forms • Account required: No • Submission: Online only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Determine whether a zoning permit is required first; a Zoning Permit may need to be obtained before the building permit process begins.
- Obtain the appropriate project requirements from the Building and Zoning Office (4th floor, City Municipal Building) or via the city website.
- Prepare plans that comply with national and international codes (IBC/IRC with local amendments). Plans that do not meet applicable requirements will not be reviewed.
- Submit the building permit application either online at the Revize portal or in person. The online form requires: applicant type (owner or contractor), property address, WV contractor license number (if applicable), job type, work type, scope of work description, project start date, and estimated total cost.
- Pay the applicable permit fee (fees are valuation-based per Article 1737.02).
- Await review and permit issuance. Every permit issued requires at least one inspection.
- Schedule required inspections with the Building and Code Enforcement office.
- Obtain certificate of occupancy (for applicable projects) upon final inspection approval.
Typical processing time: Not stated publicly.
Source: Building and Code Enforcement Division, City of Parkersburg
General Requirements
Permits are required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy of any building or structure, or to modify electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems. Parkersburg requires permits for erecting structures including storage buildings, carports, and fences. Essentially all work except painting, carpeting, and minor landscaping requires a permit.
Required Documents
- Completed application (online or paper)
- Plans drawn to scale showing lot dimensions, existing structures, and proposed work
- WV contractor license number if contractor is performing the work
- Subcontractor list if applicable
- Permit validity
- See Article 1348.05 of the Parkersburg Codified Ordinances for rules on previously issued permits. Contact office for current validity period.
- Building code
- National and international codes including 2018 IBC and 2018 IRC with local amendments. See codified ordinances for Parkersburg-specific amendments.
- Owner-builder
- Application form asks whether applicant is property owner or licensed contractor. Owner-builder rules not separately detailed on public pages.
- Contractor requirements
- WV contractor license number required on application for contractor-performed work. Subcontractors must be disclosed.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $10
- Plan check fee
- Included in the codified ordinances fee schedule
- Permit fee formula
- Valuation-based. For projects $1,000-$19,999: fee = 0.11 x estimated project cost. Full schedule in Article 1737.02 of city code.
- Payment note
- Online submission via Revize portal; payment method not specified on portal pages. Contact office (304-424-8400) for payment options.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- One-story detached accessory structures with floor area not exceeding 120 square feet
- Painting, carpeting, and minor landscaping
Important: See Section 1331.09 of the Parkersburg Codified Ordinances for the full statutory list of exemptions. The amlegal.com code library page returned a 403 error during research; consult the city's codified ordinances directly or contact the office for a complete and current exemptions list.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 304-424-8400 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Standard city business hours
Typical inspection sequence: Not detailed publicly; will depend on project type. Contact office for project-specific inspection sequence. An inspection is required for every permit issued.
Additional Resources
- Building code: National and international codes including 2018 IBC and 2018 IRC with local amendments. See codified ordinances for Parkersburg-specific amendments.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Codified Ordinances
- Board of Zoning Appeals
- Code Enforcement (nuisance/violations)
- License lookup guide: West Virginia Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: West Virginia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- West Virginia hub: West Virginia Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Building and Code Enforcement Division, City of Parkersburg before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Parkersburg Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Parkersburg, WV?
- Permits are required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy of any building or structure, or to modify electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems. Parkersburg requires permits for erecting structures including storage buildings, carports, and fences. Essentially all work except painting, carpeting, and minor landscaping requires a permit.
- How much does a building permit cost in Parkersburg, WV?
- The minimum permit fee is $10. Fees are calculated as: Valuation-based. For projects $1,000-$19,999: fee = 0.11 x estimated project cost. Full schedule in Article 1737.02 of city code.. Plan check fee: Included in the codified ordinances fee schedule.
- How do I apply for a building permit in Parkersburg, WV?
- 1. Determine whether a zoning permit is required first; a Zoning Permit may need to be obtained before the building permit process begins. 2. Obtain the appropriate project requirements from the Building and Zoning Office (4th floor, City Municipal Building) or via the city website. 3. Prepare plans that comply with national and international codes (IBC/IRC with local amendments). Plans that do not meet applicable requirements will not be reviewed. 4. Submit the building permit application either online at the Revize portal or in person. The online form requires: applicant type (owner or contractor), property address, WV contractor license number (if applicable), job type, work type, scope of work description, project start date, and estimated total cost. 5. Pay the applicable permit fee (fees are valuation-based per Article 1737.02). 6. Await review and permit issuance. Every permit issued requires at least one inspection. 7. Schedule required inspections with the Building and Code Enforcement office. 8. Obtain certificate of occupancy (for applicable projects) upon final inspection approval.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in Parkersburg, WV?
- Typical processing time is Not stated publicly..
- What work is exempt from building permits in Parkersburg, WV?
- The following work is generally exempt: One-story detached accessory structures with floor area not exceeding 120 square feet; Painting, carpeting, and minor landscaping. Note: See Section 1331.09 of the Parkersburg Codified Ordinances for the full statutory list of exemptions. The amlegal.com code library page returned a 403 error during research; consult the city's codified ordinances directly or contact the office for a complete and current exemptions list.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Parkersburg, WV?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: 304-424-8400.
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