Charleston, WV Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum heat
- 70°F in habitable rooms
- Hot water required
- tub, shower, sink, lavatory
- Enforcement
- code official correction order
- Appeal window
- 20 days to board of appeals
- Max fine
- $1,000 per day of violation
Summary
Charleston's Housing Code requires every dwelling unit to have working heat to 70°F, hot water, a kitchen sink, and adequate light and ventilation, enforced through code-official correction orders.
Every dwelling shall have heating facilities suitable for heating habitable rooms to a minimum temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, at a distance of three feet from the floor during ordinary minimum winter conditions, which are properly installed, maintained in a safe working condition and shall be adequately ventilated. No cooking shall be permitted in any basement unless approved by the chief, bureau of fire prevention, city fire department. Every dwelling shall contain a kitchen sink, in good working condition, properly serviced by an approved sewer system; and every dwelling unit shall contain hot water heating facilities in good working condition, properly connected so as to provide hot water to existing bathtubs or showers, kitchen sinks and lavatory.
(Code 1975, § 5-62)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
Under Article III of Chapter 14, every dwelling in Charleston must have heating facilities that can hold habitable rooms at 70 degrees Fahrenheit in ordinary winter conditions, plus a working kitchen sink and hot water heating connected to the tub, shower, sink and lavatory. Companion sections in the same division set minimum floor areas, ceiling heights, natural light and ventilation, and toilet/bath facilities. A code official who finds a dwelling substandard must issue a written correction order, and an owner who fails to comply after the deadline is deemed to be maintaining a nuisance.
Violations & Fines
Fine of not more than $1,000, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense; the code official can also issue an emergency order for immediate corrective action.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an uninhabitable rental in Charleston?
Who enforces Charleston's rental habitability rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston
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