Your city government online — pay a bill, apply for a permit, look up an ordinance, reach City Hall, and get the latest on roads, water and city business.
This site replaces the City's page on the state-hosted local.wv.gov directory. Residents can now find city services, forms and permits, the ordinance index, council information, and official news and alerts — including road closures and boil water advisories — in one place.
More forms, documents and online payment options will be added as they become available.
The Mayor and City Council appointed Joshua C. Egan Chief of Police, effective September 21, 2026. Chief Egan took the oath of office before Council and the community.
At a public meeting this spring, Mayor Robert Riggs outlined roughly $20 million in water and sewer projects funded largely through grants and debt forgiveness — phased replacement of waterlines close to a century old, a first phase of sewer work, a new water tank, and rehabilitation of two existing tanks. Line replacements have already cut the system's water loss from about 75 percent to 52 percent.
Start or stop service, billing questions, and updates on system improvements.
Learn morePotholes, storm drains, street work, and right-of-way permits.
Learn moreBuilding, demolition, sign and event permits, and property maintenance concerns.
Learn moreCitations, fines and court costs for violations of city ordinances.
Learn moreThe 374-acre City Park and Tracy Lake, Pop Sullivan Park and Myles Stadium.
Learn morePennsboro Police Department services, records and contacts.
Learn morePennsboro Volunteer Fire Department and emergency medical services.
Learn moreRequest city records under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Learn moreBefore Ritchie County consolidated its high schools, Pennsboro High School's Cardinals wore crimson and white — and the cardinal is West Virginia's state bird besides. Those colors carry on here, alongside the state's navy and gold, in a city that has been home to Ritchie County families since the stagecoach days.
The Mayor presides over City Council and, with Council, governs the City under the Mayor–Council plan.
Council meetings are held at City Hall, 422 Main Street, and are open to the public. Next regular meeting: Monday, October 19, 2026, 7:00 PM.
A small city in the hills of Ritchie County, at the junction of U.S. Route 50 and West Virginia Route 74, with the North Bend Rail Trail running through town.
Pennsboro takes its name from Charles Penn, the surveyor who laid out the first town plat around 1820. Travelers on the stagecoach roads knew it for the Old Stone House, built about 1810 and kept as an inn and tavern. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad brought a depot in the 1880s, and the town incorporated in 1885 — becoming a city by Act of the West Virginia Legislature in 1915.
Today Pennsboro is a close-knit community of about a thousand residents. Its landmarks are cared for by the Ritchie County Historical Society, its old rail line is now part of the North Bend Rail Trail, and its City Park offers hundreds of acres of woods and water within city limits.
Built as an inn and boarding house; a well-known tavern in the stagecoach days. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, it is now a local history museum.
Surveyor Charles Penn lays out the first town plat, and the settlement takes his name.
The first section of the Pennsboro Baltimore & Ohio depot is built; the west end is added around 1900.
Pennsboro organizes its first municipal government.
The West Virginia Legislature incorporates Pennsboro as a city.
Restored by the community and the Ritchie County Historical Society, the depot now serves as a railroad museum and community center beside the North Bend Rail Trail.
The City owns a 374-acre park with the 12-acre Tracy Lake and a 10-acre reservoir.
A lighted outdoor basketball court, tennis courts, a children's play area, and Myles Stadium with a quarter-mile paved walking track and fields for softball and Little League.
The rail-trail follows the old B&O line through Pennsboro — for walking, biking and horseback riding.
The Old Stone House and the B&O Depot, both on the National Register of Historic Places, are open through the Ritchie County Historical Society.
Pennsboro operates under the Mayor–Council plan set out in Chapter 8 of the West Virginia Code and the City Charter. The Mayor and Council together are the City's governing body.
The Mayor is the City's chief executive, presides over City Council, and — together with Council — serves as the governing body and administrative authority of the City under the West Virginia Code and the City Charter.
Council meets the third Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at City Hall. To reach Council, send your message through the City Recorder and it will be shared with all members.
The Mayor and Council can be contacted through City Hall, 422 Main Street, Pennsboro, WV 26415. Office telephone: 304-659-2377; fax: 304-659-3309. City Hall office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Thursday, 8:00 a.m.–noon. These are City Hall's administrative hours; ask the office to arrange a meeting with an elected official. Address your message to the intended official so City Hall can route it.
Clerk of Council. Keeps the City's official records, ordinance book and meeting minutes.
Oversees the City's day-to-day operations, streets, utilities and public works.
Presides over Pennsboro Municipal Court, which meets the third Wednesday of each month.
Property maintenance, nuisance and building code concerns.
City Hall, 422 Main Street · 304-659-2377 · Email City Hall
These dates follow the regular schedule published on this website: the third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m., City Hall, 422 Main Street. Confirm any changed date, cancellation or special meeting with the City Recorder. This calendar does not state that each listed meeting occurred.
| Month | Regular date | Time (Eastern) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 7:00 p.m. | |
| February | 7:00 p.m. | |
| March | 7:00 p.m. | |
| April | 7:00 p.m. | |
| May | 7:00 p.m. | |
| June | 7:00 p.m. | |
| July | 7:00 p.m. | |
| August | 7:00 p.m. | |
| September | 7:00 p.m. | |
| October | 7:00 p.m. | |
| November | 7:00 p.m. | |
| December | 7:00 p.m. |
Meetings are open to the public under the West Virginia Open Governmental Proceedings Act. Special meetings are announced on the News & Alerts page.
What the City provides, who to contact, and what you can request online.
The City operates Pennsboro's water and sewer systems. Much of the water system dates back roughly a century, and the City is replacing waterlines, tanks and sewer infrastructure in phases — funded largely through grants. Boil water advisories and service interruptions are posted at the top of every page on this site and on News & Alerts.
City crews maintain Pennsboro's streets, storm drains and public property. Report potholes, drainage problems, fallen limbs and streetlight outages online, and we'll route them to the right crew. Anyone digging in or blocking a city street or right-of-way needs a permit first. Issues on state routes may be referred to the West Virginia Division of Highways.
Building, demolition, sign and special event permits are handled through City Hall. Apply online or print an application; plans and photos can be sent by reply email or dropped off. The City also enforces property maintenance ordinances — tall grass, junk vehicles, accumulated refuse and unsafe structures.
Pennsboro Municipal Court hears cases involving violations of city ordinances, including traffic, parking and code violations. Court is held the third Wednesday of each month, with Municipal Judge Irv Talkington presiding. Your citation lists your court date. You may pay traffic fines, code violations and court costs online, or contact the court before your date with questions or to ask about payment arrangements.
The City's 374-acre City Park includes the 12-acre Tracy Lake and a 10-acre reservoir. C.R. "Pop" Sullivan Park has a lighted basketball court, tennis courts, a children's play area, and Myles Stadium with a paved quarter-mile walking track and ball fields. Groups can request to reserve city facilities.
The Pennsboro Police Department, led by Chief of Police Joshua C. Egan, serves the city from 422 Main Street. For emergencies, always dial 911.
The Police Department's own website will be linked here when the City's .gov domain is live.
The Pennsboro Volunteer Fire Department provides fire protection and first response for the city, working with neighboring county departments. Emergency medical transport is provided through Ritchie County EMS. In any emergency, dial 911.
Anyone may request public records of the City under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act (W. Va. Code §29B-1-1 et seq.). The City responds within five business days — by providing the records, setting a reasonable time to provide them, or explaining in writing why a record is exempt. Reasonable copying fees may apply.
Pennsboro's ordinances are published as the City of Pennsboro Code of Ordinances by American Legal Publishing. Find the chapter you need below, then open it to read the official text.
This chapter number is reserved for future use.
The online Code is published by American Legal Publishing for convenience. The official record is the ordinance book kept by the City Recorder at City Hall; if the two differ, the official record controls. To get a certified copy, submit a records request. State law for West Virginia cities is in Chapter 8 of the West Virginia Code.
Request copies of city records under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Pay water, sewer and other City bills, and Municipal Court payments — traffic fines, code violations and court costs — securely online through PayStar.
Water and sewer bills and other City of Pennsboro bills. Have your account number from your bill ready.
Traffic fines, code violations, court costs and other Municipal Court payments. Have your citation or case number ready.
Court is held the third Wednesday of each month. Next court date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
Road closures, road work, boil water advisories, service interruptions, meeting notices and news from City Hall.
This site replaces the City's page on the state-hosted local.wv.gov directory. Residents can now find city services, forms and permits, the ordinance index, council information, and official news and alerts — including road closures and boil water advisories — in one place.
More forms, documents and online payment options will be added as they become available.
The Mayor and City Council appointed Joshua C. Egan Chief of Police, effective September 21, 2026. Chief Egan took the oath of office before Council and the community.
At a public meeting this spring, Mayor Robert Riggs outlined roughly $20 million in water and sewer projects funded largely through grants and debt forgiveness — phased replacement of waterlines close to a century old, a first phase of sewer work, a new water tank, and rehabilitation of two existing tanks. Line replacements have already cut the system's water loss from about 75 percent to 52 percent.
Boil water advisories, emergency road closures and other urgent situations that affect health or safety. Shown in red at the top of every page.
Planned road work, water main repairs, service interruptions and detours — with the affected area and expected end time.
Meeting changes, schedule changes, office closures and general public notices.
| Office | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| City Hall · Recorder's OfficeRecorder Vickie Gowins · general questions, council business, records · Fax 304-659-3309 | 304-659-2377 | cityofpennsboro422@gmail.com |
| Office of the MayorMayor Robert Riggs | 304-659-2377 | cityofpennsboro422@gmail.com |
| Billing & AccountsWater and sewer accounts, bills, start/stop service | 304-659-2377 | cityofpennsboro422@gmail.com |
| Code Enforcement & PermitsProperty concerns; building, demolition, sign and event permits | 304-659-2377 | cityofpennsboro422@gmail.com |
| Streets & Public WorksPotholes, drainage, street work | 304-659-2377 | cityofpennsboro422@gmail.com |
| Municipal CourtThird Wednesday of each month · fines and court costs | 304-659-2377 | cityofpennsboro422@gmail.com |
| Public Records (FOIA) | 304-659-2377 | cityofpennsboro422@gmail.com |
| Police DepartmentCity building, 422 Main Street · Fax 304-659-1927 | 304-659-3927 ext. 104 | pennsboropolice@gmail.com |
| Police — non-emergency dispatchCentral Communications, 24 hours | 304-659-3770 | — |
| Pennsboro Volunteer Fire Department208 Kimball Avenue · non-emergency line | 304-659-2245 | — |
| Ritchie County Health DepartmentCounty office | 304-643-4082 | — |
| Ritchie County ClerkCounty office · deeds, property and election records | 304-643-2164 ext. 7 | — |
Last updated October 14, 2026.
The City of Pennsboro and its Police Department are committed to providing access to their services, programs, and information for people with disabilities. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act protects qualified individuals with disabilities against discrimination in state and local government services. These obligations include reasonable modifications and effective communication, including appropriate auxiliary aids and services when needed.
Our website accessibility target is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA. We continue to review the sites and address barriers. This statement is not a certification that every page or linked document meets every requirement.
If you cannot use a page, form, payment service, or document, contact us for assistance or an accessible format. Tell us which information or service you need, the page address if available, and a way to reach you. You do not need to send medical records or describe a diagnosis to report a website barrier.
City Hall: 304-659-2377; cityofpennsboro422@gmail.com; 422 Main Street, Pennsboro, WV 26415. Police Department website assistance: pennsboropolice@gmail.com. You may also use Report a website problem and choose Accessibility barrier. That form prepares an email for you to send.
Contact City Hall to raise an ADA concern about a City service or to request the current City complaint procedure. The website problem report is a way to contact staff; it does not limit other ways to request an accommodation or exercise your rights. Information about Title II and filing a federal ADA complaint is available from the U.S. Department of Justice.
For an emergency, call 911. Website messages are not monitored as an emergency service.
Last updated October 14, 2026.
This notice covers the City of Pennsboro website and the Pennsboro Police Department website. You can browse public information without creating an account.
Cloudflare hosts and protects these websites. Delivering a web page involves processing technical request information, such as an IP address, browser information, the requested address, and the time of the request. Cloudflare Web Analytics measures page use and loading performance. According to Cloudflare, its Web Analytics does not use cookies or browser storage to collect usage metrics or track individual visitors across websites. Hosting and security processing is separate from those analytics.
These sites also request fonts from Google Fonts. Your browser connects to Google's servers to download those fonts. The sites do not contain advertising trackers placed by the City. See Cloudflare's privacy policy and Google's privacy policy for their services.
The forms on these websites prepare an email using the information you enter. Typing into a form does not send the form contents to the City or Police Department. The websites do not save form drafts to a City database. Your browser or email application may retain information through its own autofill, draft, or history settings.
When you choose to open an email application or Gmail, the draft information is passed to that application or service. Review the draft and press Send there to deliver it. Opening a draft or copying its text does not submit a report. If email does not work, use the telephone or mailing address on the Contact page.
Website problem reports contain the category, page address, and description you choose to provide. Your name, reply email, and device details are optional. Do not include passwords, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, medical records, or sensitive police evidence in a website problem report. Attachments are not uploaded through the website.
Once you send a message, the receiving office and its email service process it to review your request, provide a response when appropriate, or route it to the responsible office. Messages to City offices, including website problem reports, may be public records under West Virginia law. Disclosure depends on applicable law and exemptions; this notice does not promise confidentiality or automatic deletion. See Public records for request instructions.
Payment links open PayStar's website. Payment details are entered with the payment provider; these public websites do not collect card details. The linked service's privacy and security terms apply to information you give it. Other external links, including the published municipal code, also take you to websites operated by other organizations.
For questions about this website notice, contact City Hall at 304-659-2377 or cityofpennsboro422@gmail.com. For Police Department website questions, contact pennsboropolice@gmail.com. This notice will be updated when website features or data practices change.
Help us correct inaccurate information, broken links, form problems and accessibility barriers.
This form prepares an email to the designated website administrators. You must send the email from your own account. Preparing a report does not submit it, create a ticket or confirm receipt.
Prefer to report the website problem by phone? Call 304-659-2377 during office hours and ask for website assistance. For an urgent police response, use the police contact information; this reporting feature is not monitored for emergencies.
Last updated October 14, 2026.
These are the public websites of the City of Pennsboro and Pennsboro Police Department. They provide information about local government services, meetings, records, and public safety.
Staff work to keep website information accurate and current. If you find an error or broken feature, report it to the website administrator. For time-sensitive matters, confirm details with the responsible office using the Contact page.
Website summaries help explain City services and ordinances. They do not replace adopted ordinances, court orders, official notices, or other controlling records. For an official or certified record, contact the responsible records custodian. The municipal code page links to the published code and information about obtaining City records.
A form that opens an email draft has not delivered your request until you send it from your email account. These websites cannot confirm the office's receipt of an email. Follow the instructions of the responsible office for applications, payments, court filings, and other matters with deadlines. A website problem report does not extend a legal or administrative deadline.
Call 911 for an emergency. Use the Police Department's published contact instructions for police assistance. Website feedback is intended for errors, broken links, and access problems; it is not an emergency dispatch channel.
Links to payment services, the code publisher, and other organizations help visitors reach relevant information. Those organizations operate their own sites. A link does not imply that the City endorses every statement or service on that website.
This notice explains website use. It does not require visitors to waive legal rights, agree to arbitration, or accept new conditions for obtaining public records or government services.
The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act allows people to inspect or obtain copies of public records, subject to exemptions provided by law. Send a request to the office that keeps the records and describe the records with reasonable specificity. Helpful details include a date range, subject, and the type of record. A preferred delivery method and contact information help staff respond.
For City Council minutes, ordinances, and other municipal records, contact the City Recorder through City Hall: cityofpennsboro422@gmail.com, 304-659-2377, or 422 Main Street, Pennsboro, WV 26415. The City records request form can prepare an email. You may also contact the office by telephone, mail, or in person; using the website form is optional.
For Police Department records, contact Records Custodian, Pennsboro Police Department, 422 Main Street, Pennsboro, WV 26415, or pennsboropolice@gmail.com. Use the department's published Contact information for telephone assistance. The Police records request form can prepare an email; you must send the draft yourself. Disclosure of police records depends on the record and applicable exemptions.
Under W. Va. Code §29B-1-3, the custodian must act as soon as practicable and within five days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, by providing copies, giving the time and place to inspect and copy records, or providing a written denial with reasons. The law permits reasonable actual reproduction costs and prohibits search or retrieval fees. Ask the custodian about any applicable reproduction charge and available electronic copies.
Read §29B-1-3 and the exemptions in §29B-1-4. A public records request is separate from reporting a broken website feature. Nothing on this page changes rights or remedies provided by law.