Sheriff Services Across West Virginia's 55 Counties

Every one of West Virginia's 55 counties elects its own sheriff, and that single fact explains most of how law enforcement is organised here. There is no statewide sheriff's agency. The state Constitution creates the office at the county level, voters choose the sheriff every four years, and each office answers to local residents rather than to officials in Charleston. A sheriff in Kanawha County and a sheriff in Wirt County hold the same title and the same legal powers, yet their daily work looks very different.

This page gathers the offices in our directory so you can find the right phone number, mailing address, or courthouse before you make a trip. Below, we explain what sheriffs actually do in the Mountain State, how the work changes between cities and hollows, and what to have in hand when you call.

What a West Virginia Sheriff Actually Does

Many people assume a sheriff only patrols and makes arrests. In West Virginia the job is wider, and the tax duty surprises newcomers most. The county sheriff is also the county's tax collector, so the sheriff's office is where you pay real estate and personal property taxes. Typical responsibilities include:

Because the sheriff runs both the tax office and the law enforcement side, one building can handle a tax payment, a license application, and a civil paper question in the same afternoon. Some offices split these functions across different counters or even different addresses, so ask which window you need before you stand in line.

Who Governs Sheriffs Under West Virginia Law

State law sets the sheriff's powers, and the county commission controls the money. The West Virginia Constitution and the West Virginia Code define the office. The three-member county commission adopts the sheriff's budget and approves staffing levels. Circuit judges supervise the court-related duties. State civil service rules for deputy sheriffs cover hiring, promotion, and discipline, so a sheriff cannot simply hire anyone on a whim.

Training follows state standards. Deputies complete certified law-enforcement training, commonly at the West Virginia State Police Academy in Dunbar or at the Marshall University Criminal Justice Training Academy in Huntington, which sits in Cabell County.

The West Virginia State Police work alongside sheriffs rather than above them. In thinly populated counties, troopers from the nearest detachment often handle a large share of patrol and crash response. Municipal police departments cover incorporated towns, and the sheriff covers the rest of the county plus the courthouse.

One more distinction saves confusion. Sheriffs here generally do not run long-term jails. People who are arrested are typically held in the regional jail system operated by the state Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Questions about an inmate go to the jail, not the sheriff's front desk.

Kanawha County and the Charleston Area Compared With Rural West Virginia

Charleston, the state capital, sits in Kanawha County. The Kanawha County Sheriffs Office Headquarters is at 409 Virginia Street East and can be reached at 304-357-0200. Kanawha has more listings in our directory than any other county, which reflects its population and the size of its tax, court, and patrol operations. Inside Charleston city limits, city police answer most calls. The sheriff handles county roads, unincorporated communities, civil process, and tax collection for the entire county.

Other larger offices follow a similar pattern. The Raleigh County Sheriffs Office is at 201 South Eisenhower Drive in Beckley, phone 304-255-9300. The Wood County Sheriff's Office is at 401 2nd Street in Parkersburg, phone 304-424-1834. In the Eastern Panhandle, the Berkeley County Sheriffs Office at 802 Emmett Rousch Drive in Martinsburg, phone 304-267-7000, serves a county shaped by commuter growth. Neighboring Jefferson County sees similar pressure on housing, traffic, and tax rolls.

Rural counties run on a smaller scale. The Wirt County office lists PO Box 669 in Elizabeth and 304-275-4222. Calhoun County's office is at 100 Main Street in Grantsville, phone 304-354-6333. Summers County's office is at 96 Park Avenue in Hinton. In counties like these, a handful of deputies may cover long distances on winding two-lane roads, and the sheriff's office often shares a courthouse with the county clerk and assessor. Expect shorter counter hours, fewer staff on duty, and after-hours calls routed through the county 911 center.

Regional Differences From the Northern Panhandle to the Coalfields

Northern West Virginia has a cluster of mid-sized county seats. The Marion County Sheriffs Department is at 310 Monroe Street in Fairmont, phone 304-367-5300. The Taylor County Sheriffs Office is at 214 West Main Street in Grafton, phone 304-265-3428. Along the Ohio River, the Marshall County Sheriff's Office is at 600 6th Street in Moundsville, phone 304-843-1500, and the Wetzel County Sheriff is at 200 Main Street in New Martinsville, phone 304-455-2430.

The Eastern Panhandle mixes tourism with commuting. The Morgan County Sheriffs Department at 1260 Valley Road in Berkeley Springs, phone 304-258-1067, serves a spa-and-weekend-visitor town as well as year-round residents. In the southern coalfields, the Mingo County Sheriff's Department sits on East 2nd Avenue in Williamson, phone 304-235-0300, and the Wyoming County Sheriffs Office is on Bank Street in Pineville, phone 304-732-8000. Boone County's office is at 200 State Street in Madison, phone 304-369-7390.

Terrain shapes the work everywhere. Narrow valleys, steep roads, and patchy cell coverage mean response times and phone habits differ from flatter states. If you are reporting something in a remote area, give landmarks and road names, not just a town.

Before You Call or Drive to a West Virginia Sheriff's Office

A little preparation prevents a wasted trip, especially when the nearest courthouse is an hour away. Keep these points in mind:

Phone numbers and hours change, so confirm before you go. A two-minute call to the courthouse often saves a long drive on a mountain road.

Sheriff offices in West Virginia are independently elected county agencies responsible for law enforcement, jail operations, and civil process service. Each county in West Virginia elects its own sheriff, who serves as the chief law enforcement officer for that county's unincorporated areas.

Sheriff locations are available in 61 cities across West Virginia. They are spread across 55 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of sheriff office listings include Charleston, Fayetteville, Parkersburg, reflecting the population centers where multiple sub-offices or specialty divisions may be located.

West Virginia residents should note that sheriff offices handle civil law enforcement functions — such as serving eviction notices and foreclosure papers — in addition to criminal law enforcement, so the sheriff office is often the correct point of contact for civil legal matters at the county level.

Sheriff by Counties

B
C
D
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
W

If you are a West Virginia resident looking to obtain a concealed carry permit, request a background check clearance letter, or serve legal documents through official channels, your county sheriff office is the starting point — contact them directly to confirm required documentation and current processing times.

Browse Sheriff by county across West Virginia to find the nearest location.

Practical Notes for West Virginia Courthouse Towns

Most sheriff's offices in West Virginia sit in or beside the county courthouse, and the county seat is usually the only place to handle in-person business. The Upshur County Sheriffs Office is at 38 West Main Street in Buckhannon, phone 304-472-1180. The Mineral County Sheriffs Department is at 100 East Street in Keyser, phone 304-788-0441. The Pleasants County Sheriff's Office is at 301 Court Lane in St. Marys, phone 304-684-2285. In each case, plan your visit around courthouse hours and holidays.

Tourist areas add seasonal demand. Fayette County draws rafters and climbers to the New River Gorge area, and the sheriff's office lists PO Box 509 in Fayetteville with phone 304-574-4304. Morgan County fills up on weekends around Berkeley Springs. If you need paperwork on a summer Friday, call ahead.

When an office lists only a post office box, treat it as a mailing address for tax payments and correspondence. Confirm the walk-in location before you drive. If a listing shows no phone number, call the county courthouse switchboard or the county commission office and ask to be transferred.

West Virginia Sheriff Questions Answered

Sheriffs are elected countywide to four-year terms, with the vote held in the general election in presidential years. The winner takes office the following January. Once in office, the sheriff answers first to voters. The county commission approves the budget, and circuit judges supervise court-related duties. State law defines the office's powers and sets training standards. If you have a complaint about a deputy, start with the sheriff's office itself. If the matter involves possible criminal conduct, contact the county prosecuting attorney or the West Virginia State Police.

In West Virginia the sheriff doubles as county tax collector, so property tax bills are paid through the sheriff's tax office. Bills are generally due in two installments, around September 1 and March 1, but check the dates printed on your own bill. Bring the bill or your account number, and ask whether the office accepts cards or online payments, since some add a fee. Several counties list a post office box for mail, including Fayette County at PO Box 509 in Fayetteville, Wirt County at PO Box 669 in Elizabeth, and Lincoln County at PO Box 467 in Hamlin. Confirm the walk-in address before you drive.

West Virginia allows most adults 21 and older to carry a concealed handgun without a license, so a license is optional for many people. Sheriffs still process license applications, and some residents choose to hold one for carrying in other states that honor West Virginia licenses. Requirements, fees, fingerprinting, and processing times are set by statute and by each office's procedures, so call before you go. For example, the Berkeley County Sheriffs Office answers at 304-267-7000 and the Morgan County Sheriffs Department at 304-258-1067. Bring a photo ID and proof of residency.

For any emergency, call 911 and the county dispatch center will send the right agency. For non-emergencies, the answer depends on location. Inside a city such as Charleston, Martinsburg, or Parkersburg, the municipal police department usually responds. In unincorporated areas, the county sheriff or the nearest West Virginia State Police detachment responds, and in rural counties the troopers often carry a large share of the work. The main office lines, such as 304-357-0200 for Kanawha County, are for business matters and may not be the dispatch line, so ask what number to use after hours.

Deputies serve summonses, subpoenas, protective orders, and eviction paperwork for circuit and magistrate courts. Read the papers right away, because they list deadlines for responding or appearing, and missing them can lead to a judgment against you. The deputy is only delivering the document and cannot give legal advice or change the court date. If you cannot afford a lawyer, contact Legal Aid of West Virginia or your county's circuit clerk's office to learn about options. Questions about whether service was completed can go to the sheriff's civil process desk. Keep the papers and note the date you received them.

Sheriffs in West Virginia generally do not operate long-term jails. People who are arrested are typically booked into the regional jail system run by the state Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. For visiting rules, inmate accounts, or release information, contact the jail that holds the person. Use the sheriff's office for the arrest warrant, civil papers, or a transport question, and use the circuit clerk or magistrate court for bail and hearing dates. If you are unsure where someone was taken, ask the arresting agency, whether that is the sheriff, city police, or State Police.