Martinsburg Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

The City of Martinsburg Planning, Zoning and Building Department handles local planning, zoning administration, development review, building permits, plan review, and inspections inside Martinsburg city limits. Berkeley County has separate jurisdictional areas, so a Martinsburg mailing address should be checked against the city boundary before a city application is filed.

Martinsburg building permits and MyGovernmentOnline

Martinsburg requires permits for new construction, additions, alterations, demolition, occupancy changes, and regulated structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. The city also identifies permits for fences, sheds, signs, and sidewalks. Work performed by a compensated contractor that does not require a building permit may still require a city Work Registration Form.

The city directs applicants to the MyGovernmentOnline Customer Portal for online building-permit applications and payments. The official city announcement says the system also supports inspection requests, file submissions, inspection reports, approved plans, permit-status checks, permit searches, and contractor or business-license management. Use the current portal and Martinsburg jurisdiction selection rather than relying on a third-party permit site.

Inspections and use-and-occupancy

Martinsburg’s building inspection process includes the inspections listed on the issued permit, potentially including foundation, framing, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, grading, fire alarms or sprinklers, and final inspection. The city’s FAQ says inspection requests should be called to the Planning Department by 3 p.m. on the prior day. The city’s permit materials also use a final U & O stage, meaning owners should confirm that all required inspections and zoning conditions are complete before occupancy or a new use begins.

Plan review is part of the local department’s work. The Planning, Zoning and Building Department reviews subdivisions, site plans, and building permit applications for compliance with the Martinsburg Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, and other local regulations. Fences, walls, changes of use, signs, and site development can create zoning requirements in addition to a building permit.

Local and State Fire Marshal roles

Martinsburg’s local inspection materials distinguish the city Planning and Building Department, local Fire Department, state Fire Marshal, and independent electrical inspection providers. The West Virginia State Fire Marshal separately conducts state plan review and fire/life-safety inspections for covered occupancies and administers statewide code-official and inspector licensing. State guidance excludes buildings used wholly as one- or two-family dwellings from the State Fire Code. Confirm local fire-department and state fire requirements for commercial, institutional, and specialized fire-protection work.

Official Martinsburg contact information

The Planning Department is at 232 North Queen Street, Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401, with a listed main number of (304) 264-2131, extension 267. Building inspectors use the same city department number for permit and inspection questions. Use MyGovernmentOnline for Martinsburg permit login, status, search, and inspection functions, and confirm the correct city jurisdiction during application.