Marshall County, West Virginia Building Permit Guide

Marshall County lists no building department and has no say over its cities, so building permits come from Moundsville, Glen Dale, McMechen, Benwood and, for its small Marshall County section, Wheeling. Outside the towns, septic permits come from the Marshall County Health Department and flood-area questions go to the Office of Emergency Management; in Moundsville, work of $1,000 or less needs a permit but pays no fee.

What needs a permit in Marshall County?

The Marshall County Commission lists no building department among its agencies, and its own description of county powers says the county has no jurisdiction over Benwood, Cameron, Glen Dale, McMechen or Moundsville. Building permits are therefore a town matter, and the rules differ from town to town.

Who issues permits in Marshall County?

Every town in the county:

• Moundsville (7,659 residents): the City’s Building Inspection department issues building, electrical, plumbing and occupancy permits (304-845-3394 or 304-830-1876).
• McMechen (1,605): building permits under the city’s Building and Housing Code; city office open weekdays 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (304-232-3140).
• Glen Dale (1,404): building and zoning permits from the Glen Dale City Building, 402 Wheeling Avenue (304-845-5511), Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
• Benwood (1,196): building permits from City Hall, 430 Main Street (304-232-4320).
• Cameron (818): City Hall at 44 Main Street (304-686-2366) publishes no permit rules online.
• Wheeling (347 residents on the Marshall County side): the City of Wheeling’s Building and Planning Department permits all of Wheeling.

Town permit types

• Moundsville: building permit, electrical permit priced by the number of electrical items, plumbing permit, stormwater runoff permit, occupancy permit, City contractor’s license for any paid job over $300, and water and sewer taps ($750 each). The application can be filed in writing or online and should go in at least one week before work starts.
• Glen Dale: a building permit application with a statement of the intended use and a layout or plot plan with exact dimensions; every contractor and subcontractor must hold a Glen Dale license.
• Benwood: a building permit application listing the contractor’s city and state licence numbers, the square footage, the total project cost and any plans or survey.
• McMechen: building and demolition permits under the city’s fee article; the city has adopted the State Building Code.

Building permit fees in the Marshall County towns

In Benwood, for example, an $18,000 job falls in the $15,001–$20,000 band and pays $25. McMechen also charges a fee of 10% of what the city pays its building inspector for an inspection. Moundsville adds a $50 surcharge when an owner starts work without a permit, and $500 for a contractor’s first offense, rising to $1,000 after that.

Electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits

Moundsville requires an electrical permit for all electrical work, with any hired work done by a state-licensed electrician, and a plumbing permit for all plumbing work; its required inspections include electrical, plumbing and mechanical stages. In the other towns, trade work goes on the town building permit application, and Benwood’s form has boxes for electrical, plumbing and water and sewer taps. The county publishes no trade permit for unincorporated land.

What the towns ask for

• Moundsville: a description of the work and its location, the intended use and occupancy, construction documents, the valuation, and a list of subcontractors; for new construction, a plot plan and detailed prints.
• Glen Dale: the intended use and a layout or plot plan with exact dimensions.
• Benwood: the owner, contractor and engineer or architect, the square footage and total cost, and the layout, blueprints, site plan or survey.

Moundsville also requires Business and Occupation tax on each job to be paid before any permit is issued.

How to get permits in Marshall County

Inspections

Moundsville lists the inspections it requires: footing and foundation, concrete slab and under-floor, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, floodplain, framing, gypsum board, weather-exposed balcony waterproofing, energy efficiency, special inspections and final. The permit holder must tell the inspector when work is ready; changes to a scheduled time need 24 hours’ notice, and unscheduled inspections cost $25. Work must start within 30 days of the permit and be finished within six months unless the Building Inspector extends it. Glen Dale permits expire one year after issue.

Local details that matter in Marshall County

Moundsville inspector hours: walk-ins on Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays are for scheduled inspections, and Fridays are by appointment.

Home sales with septic: the Health Department charges $250 to evaluate a septic system and $136 to evaluate a water well for a home loan.

Commission meetings: the County Commission meets at 9:00 a.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month in the courthouse basement.

West Virginia building code

West Virginia lets each county and city adopt the State Building Code or no building code at all; no other building code may be adopted, and floodplain, sewage and fire rules can apply either way. West Virginia rules

Official Marshall County permitting resources

Official county, city and health department pages for building in Marshall County.

• Marshall County Commission
• West Virginia Code §15A-11-5, State Building Code adoption
• West Virginia State Fire Marshal
• Marshall County Office of Emergency Management
• Marshall County Health Department septic forms and fees
• City of Moundsville Building Inspection
• Moundsville Building and Housing Code
• City of Glen Dale Building & Zoning
• City of Benwood building permit fee schedule
• City of McMechen ordinance book
• WV Flood Tool flood maps

Marshall County permit FAQs

Does Marshall County issue building permits?

No. The county lists no building department; the towns issue their own permits, and the county has no jurisdiction over them.

How much is a building permit in Moundsville?

Nothing for work of $1,000 or less; $20 to $45 in bands up to $35,000; and $50 plus $2 per $1,000 above that.

Do I need a permit for small repairs in Glen Dale?

Homeowners doing their own repairs up to $500 need no permit; a contractor doing the work does.

Who issues septic permits in Marshall County?

The Marshall County Health Department, 513 6th Street, Moundsville (304-845-7840).

Who handles floodplain questions outside the towns?

The Marshall County Office of Emergency Management (304-843-1130), which the state’s floodplain list names as the county contact.

Simplify Marshall County permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in West Virginia. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Marshall County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.