The City of Parkersburg’s Building and Zoning Division is also in charge of code compliance.City residents may report violations by contacting the Building and Zoning Office located in the city municipal building. If reported violations are found to be accurate and reliable, they can result in fines and other legal charges. For more information about the types of violations and associated penalties, contact the Building and Zoning Department, 304-424-8537. To file a Property Maintenance Complaint, download the form here. If you are planning to build a new house, rehab your existing home or start a new business in the City of Parkersburg, please contact the Building and Zoning Office as permits may be required. This will save you time and money.

Complaints – Substandard Housing

The 2015 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) has been adopted by the City Of Parkersburg, and is used for this type of violation.

Interior Violations

When the City receives a complaint about an interior property maintenance violation a notice is sent to the owner via certified mail. The owner has seven (7) days from the receipt of the letter to contact Code Department with a plan of action. The owner is given a reasonable amount of time to make the required repairs based on the amount and types of repairs necessary in order to achieve compliance. If the required repairs are not completed, charges can be filed.

Exterior Violations

An initial inspection is accomplished by the inspector due to a complaint, or proactively. If a violation exists, the owner is notified by violation letter via certified mail. The owner has seven (7) days to respond with a plan of action and is given a specific amount of time based on the type of violation in order to make the required repairs, which is usually 30-90 days. If the required repairs are not completed, charges are filed.

Note about mold*:  The awareness of mold in homes has become more prevalent in recent years. Neither the city, nor any other governmental agency at any level, currently has any program that regulates or monitors for mold in homes. However we would like to provide educational information to assist homeowners and renters on this issue. A brochure prepared by the US Environmental Protection Agency titled ” A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home” should be helpful in addressing mold issues. This guide provides information and guidance for homeowners and renters on how to clean up residential mold and how to prevent mold growth. To get this brochure, click here.