Martinsburg building department

The City of Martinsburg Planning, Zoning and Building Department issues building permits, reviews plans, and inspects construction inside Martinsburg city limits. The city says its certified building inspectors enforce the West Virginia State Building Code, which Martinsburg has adopted. The office also handles zoning, rental-housing inspections, and vacant-structure registration. Much of the surrounding area is unincorporated Berkeley County, so check that a Martinsburg mailing address is actually inside the city before you apply here.

What needs a permit in Martinsburg

The city issues a general Building Permit for residential and commercial structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. It also issues separate permits for fences, sheds, signs, and sidewalks. The Planning Department FAQ describes a building permit as covering new construction, changes of use, additions, alterations, and accessory structures such as garages, decks, walls, fences, swimming pools, and signs.

The FAQ sets out these thresholds:

Project	Permit type
Fence under 7 ft	Fence permit
Fence over 7 ft	Building permit
Retaining wall 4 ft or taller	Building permit
Shed, garage, or other accessory structure	Building permit (all accessory structures)

Work Registration Form

Some paid work does not need a building permit. If anyone other than the property owner does that work for any kind of compensation, they need a Work Registration Form. The building inspectors’ office in the Planning Department issues these forms free of charge. This rule is specific to Martinsburg. It catches contractor jobs that would otherwise go unrecorded, so ask about it before a hired crew starts minor work.

Applying through MyGovernmentOnline

Martinsburg takes permit applications through MyGovernmentOnline (MGO Connect). The city says applying online is the quickest way to get a permit. Create a free MGO account, or sign in to an existing one, and select the City of Martinsburg as the jurisdiction. According to the city, anything you can do in person at City Hall can also be done in MGO, including:

• applying for and paying for permits
• submitting files and plans
• requesting inspections
• downloading inspection reports and approved plans
• checking permit status and searching permits
• managing contractor and business licenses

For help with the portal itself, call MGO customer support at (866) 957-3764. The city’s Development Forms and Applications page posts the zoning, site-plan, and board applications that a larger project may need alongside the building permit.

Inspections

Once a permit is approved, the work needs periodic inspections at each phase of construction. To request one, call the Planning Department at (304) 264-2131, ext. 266, by 3 p.m. the day before the date you want. The issued permit lists which inspections apply. Depending on scope, these can include foundation, framing, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and final inspections. Keep work uncovered until the inspector approves it.

Rental and vacant properties

Under the Martinsburg Housing Code, every rental property in the city must be registered with the Planning Department. Rental units are inspected against the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code and the city’s Rental Housing Code. A unit that passes gets a Letter of Compliance that is good for three years. Owners of vacant structures must also register them with the Planning Department under Article 1718 of the city’s codified ordinances. Landlords who are renovating should plan for both the building permit and the rental inspection cycle.

Zoning, historic review, and state fire review

The Planning Department checks site plans, subdivisions, and building permit applications against the Martinsburg Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance. Variances go to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Exterior work in the city’s historic areas may need review by the Historic Preservation Review Commission.

Commercial, institutional, and other covered occupancies may also need West Virginia State Fire Marshal plan review. The state’s Plan Review Request Portal is the only way to submit those plans as of March 1, 2025. The State Fire Code does not apply to buildings used only as one- or two-family dwellings.

Office location and hours

The Planning Department is on the first floor at 232 North Queen Street, Martinsburg, WV 25401. It is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The main number is (304) 264-2131, ext. 267. Inspection requests go to ext. 266.