Wheeling building department

The City of Wheeling Building and Planning Department handles building permits, inspections, code enforcement, floodplain management, planning, and zoning for property inside Wheeling city limits. The office is at 1500 Chapline Street, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the Inspection Division’s main line is (304) 234-3601. This page covers the city only. Other parts of Ohio County may be handled by a different authority.

What needs a Wheeling building permit

The city requires a building permit for any structural, electrical, plumbing, or building alteration. Its FAQ lists common permitted projects: new homes, room additions, new decks, new roofs, kitchen and bathroom renovations, electrical upgrades, demolition, garages and carports, swimming pools, and siding. The city’s “What Requires a Building Permit” page also lists tile floor installation. That page says painting, wallpapering, carpet and vinyl flooring, landscaping (other than retaining walls), and lamp replacement do not need a permit.

The FAQ gives these thresholds for accessory work:

Project	When Wheeling requires approval
Shed	Zoning certificate if larger than 100 sq ft; building permit if 200 sq ft or larger or if it has electric
Fence	Building permit if over 7 ft, or any fence in the floodplain
Retaining wall	Building permit if over 48 inches
Pool or pond	Any water deeper than 24 inches needs a 4-ft barrier

The city’s separate permit-list page gives the fence and wall limits differently, so call (304) 234-3601 to confirm a borderline case before you build. The Floodplain Management page says plainly that a fence in the floodplain needs a permit and inspections.

Adopted codes

The Building & Planning FAQ lists these codes for Wheeling:

• 2018 IBC, IRC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IEBC, International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and International Property Maintenance Code
• 2020 NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code)
• 2015 IECC, plus ASHRAE 90.1-2007 for buildings other than low-rise residential
• 2017 ICC/ANSI A117.1 for accessibility

How to apply

Apply online through the city’s GovPilot Building Permit form, which is linked from the Building Permits page. The older Development Services page also offers a paper application with instructions. To issue a permit, the city needs a completed application, a drawing, a materials list, a scope of work, and the fee. Larger projects need a full set of drawings. A small job such as a bathroom remodel can be drawn on one legible sheet showing the room layout and the electrical and plumbing diagrams, with a complete materials list.

New construction, additions, and changes of use also need an Application for Zoning Compliance. Small residential projects need a plot plan, and larger commercial projects need a site plan. Both sets of specifications are posted on the Development Services page.

Who applies: The city prefers that the contractor apply. An owner can act as general contractor and list the hired contractor as a subcontractor. In that case the owner must make sure the contractor holds a license and is current on state and local taxes, including Wheeling’s B&O tax, and must tell the Finance Office how the job’s taxes will be paid. You can check contractor licenses with the WV Division of Labor and the city Finance Office at (304) 234-3653.

Timing: The city says most applications are approved within 48 hours. Larger projects can take up to a week. Roofing, siding, and window permits are sometimes issued the same day. Keep the permit displayed at the job site until the work is finished.

Fees

Item	Fee
Building permit	$4.00 per $1,000 of job cost (labor and materials, rounded up to the next $1,000)
Plan review, new residential	$1,500 up to 2,500 sq ft; $250 per 1,000 sq ft over 2,500
Plan review, residential additions/remodels	$500 per 1,000 sq ft
Plan review, commercial	$2,500 up to 7,500 sq ft; $1,000 per additional 5,000 sq ft
New electrical service	$25 residential / $50 commercial
BZA variance or conditional use	$50 each

For example, the city says a $5,600 project costs $24 for the permit.

Inspections

Schedule inspections at least 24 hours ahead by calling the Permit Specialist at (304) 234-3701, the number given in the city FAQ. For one- and two-family homes and townhouses, the FAQ lists these inspections:

• footer, with rebar checked before concrete is poured
• concrete-encased (Ufer) electrode
• foundation and anchor bolts
• framing before drywall, and insulation before it is covered
• plumbing: a visual check and a pressure test of the supply and DWV piping (the city does not accept an air test on PVC)
• electrical underground, rough-in, and final
• HVAC rough-in and final (bathroom fans must vent outside)
• a final inspection before occupancy

Commercial jobs add checks such as fire assemblies, accessibility, and ceiling grid.

Floodplain, zoning, and other offices

Every ward in Wheeling contains flood zones, especially along the Ohio River, Wheeling Creek, and its larger tributaries. Look up the parcel on the WV Flood Tool and talk with Floodplain Manager Chet Oldfield, (304) 234-3601, before you plan the project. A separate city Floodplain Permit Application applies.

To find your zoning and setbacks, use the city GIS map or call the Zoning Office at (304) 234-3702. You have 30 days to appeal a zoning decision to the Board of Zoning Appeals. For stormwater questions, call (304) 234-3874.

Commercial and other covered occupancies may also need State Fire Marshal plan review. Since March 1, 2025, those plans go through the state’s online Plan Review Request Portal. One- and two-family dwellings are outside the State Fire Code.