County Permit SearchU.S. compliance directory
West VirginiaWood County

Administrative overview · FIPS 54107

Wood County permit authority

The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.

Jurisdictional status

County

This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.

Responsible agency

Wood County Building Permits and Compliance Office

For a project in or near Wood County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.

Direct contact

304-424-1988; floodplain: 304-420-0911

Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.

Permit counter

Wood County Courthouse, 1 Court Square, Room 204, Parkersburg, WV 26101

Operating hours

Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Review expectation

Ask the agency for its current review estimate

Compliance workbench

Choose the next project decision.

Source trail

Official sources for this profile

Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.

Project questions

Frequently asked questions for Wood County

Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?

Wood County Building Permits and Compliance Office is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.

How should I begin an application?

Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 304-424-1988; floodplain: 304-420-0911.

How long might review take?

A typical review timeline was not verified. Ask the agency for its current completeness and review estimate.

How are inspections scheduled?

Submit the general building-permit application to the Compliance Office in Courthouse Room 204 and call 304-424-1988 with questions. For floodplain development, submit the separate floodplain application and call 304-420-0911; the Administrator may inspect during construction and later for alterations. Flood-hazard-area occupancy and permanent utility service require a certificate of compliance based on inspections and any required finished elevation, floodproofing, hydraulic, or encroachment documentation. Work must begin within six months and be completed within 12 months unless a written extension is granted.

Which codes and exemptions should I review?

Wood County Building Permit System and Ordinance Fee Structure, Wood County Land Use/Subdivision Regulations, the Wood County Dilapidated and Abandoned Building Ordinance, and the Wood County Floodplain Ordinance adopted July 29, 2013. The general building permit principally records and values residential and commercial construction; the county does not publish a currently adopted general structural model-code edition. Floodplain work is reviewed under NFIP Section 60.3(d) standards. Repairs that do not increase property value, as determined by the Building Permit Office, are exempt from the building permit. Government agencies and nonprofit organizations must obtain a permit but do not pay the fee. The county does not publish a separate list of cosmetic-work exemptions.

Before contacting the permit counter

Have the project facts ready.

A productive call starts with a clear description of the property and proposed work. Keep the site address, parcel or assessor number, project valuation, existing occupancy, approximate square footage, structural scope, contractor information, and desired start date in front of you. Those facts help the Authority Having Jurisdiction route the question to building, planning, fire, environmental health, or another reviewing discipline.

Questions worth asking

  • • Is the parcel inside an incorporated city or county service area?
  • • Does this scope require building, trade, zoning, fire, or site permits?
  • • What plans and supporting documents make the submittal complete?
  • • How much lead time is needed for each inspection?