Kanawha County, WV Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- County registry
- None
- Statewide license
- Not required
- Enabling statute
- W. Va. Code §8-12-16c
- Charleston
- Vacant Structures registry
- Deposit duties
- §37-6A apply
Summary
West Virginia has no statewide rental license, and unincorporated Kanawha County runs no rental registry. Programs are municipal: West Virginia Code §8-12-16c lets cities register vacant buildings, and Charleston operates a Vacant Structures registry for its older housing stock.
The governing body of a municipality shall have plenary power and authority to establish by ordinance a vacant building and property registration and maintenance program.
Full Breakdown
There is no statewide rental-registration or landlord-licensing mandate in West Virginia, and unincorporated Kanawha County requires no rental permit. The county's Planning and Development Department handles building permits, floodplain, subdivision, and property-maintenance enforcement, not rental licensing. Registration programs live in the cities. West Virginia Code §8-12-16c gives every municipality plenary authority to establish a vacant building and property registration and maintenance program, and Charleston uses it to run a Vacant Structures registry aimed at the capital's aging, sometimes vacant housing stock, requiring owners to register unoccupied buildings, carry a plan, and pay annual fees. Landlords everywhere still owe §37-6A deposit duties and habitability.
Violations & Fines
Outside a city program there is no registration to violate. Under Charleston's vacant-building ordinance, failing to register an unoccupied structure or giving false information draws fines from $250 to $1,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register my rental with Kanawha County?
What is Charleston's vacant building registry?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kanawha County
Compare Kanawha County to another location·View the West Virginia rental property rules overview
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