City of Parkersburg

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.

• Exempt One-story detached accessory structures with floor area not exceeding 120 square feet
• Exempt 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.

Building code

National and international codes including 2018 IBC and 2018 IRC with local amendments. See codified ordinances for Parkersburg-specific amendments.

Permit validity

See Article 1348.05 of the Parkersburg Codified Ordinances for rules on previously issued permits. Contact office for current validity period.

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.

Source: Building and Code Enforcement Division, City of Parkersburg ↗

1. 01
   Determine whether a zoning permit is required first; a Zoning Permit may need to be obtained before the building permit process begins.
2. 02
   Obtain the appropriate project requirements from the Building and Zoning Office (4th floor, City Municipal Building) or via the city website.
3. 03
   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. 04
   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. 05
   Pay the applicable permit fee (fees are valuation-based per Article 1737.02).
6. 06
   Await review and permit issuance. Every permit issued requires at least one inspection.
7. 07
   Schedule required inspections with the Building and Code Enforcement office.
8. 08
   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 ↗

Online submission via Revize portal; payment method not specified on portal pages. Contact office (304-424-8400) for payment options.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

• 304-424-8400 (phone)

Inspection hours

Standard city business hours

Typical sequence: Not detailed publicly; will depend on project type. Contact office for project-specific inspection sequence. An inspection is required for every permit issued.