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West Virginia · WV

West Virginia Landlord-Tenant Laws 2026

Security deposit limits, eviction notice requirements, rent increase rules, and every compliance deadline for West Virginia landlords. 231 cities covered.

Based on West Virginia state statutes. Updated August 2026.

West Virginia Landlord Law Summary

In West Virginia, landlords must return security deposits within 60 days, provide 3-day eviction notice for nonpayment, and do not cap rent increases. No just cause eviction requirement.

West Virginia Landlord Rules at a Glance

Key compliance requirements every West Virginia landlord must follow.

Rule Requirement
Security Deposit Cap No statutory limit
Deposit Return Deadline 60 days
Eviction Notice (Nonpayment) Immediate (no statutory cure period; landlord may file after demand)
Rent Cap No statewide cap
Entry Notice No specific statute; reasonable notice recommended
Late Fee Cap No statutory cap
Grace Period No statutory requirement
Just Cause Eviction Not required

What Happens If You Violate West Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law

Security deposit violation: Tenant may recover the deposit if landlord fails to return within deadline.

  • Late deposit return: Miss the 60-day deadline and tenants can sue for up to 2x the withheld amount.
  • Improper eviction notice: Wrong notice period or procedure = case dismissed. You restart from zero and owe additional court costs.
  • Illegal entry: Entering without 24-hour notice = harassment claim. Tenants can terminate the lease and sue for damages.
  • Fair housing violation: First offense: $16,000+ federal fine. Repeat: $65,000+. Plus actual damages, attorney fees, and potential criminal penalties.

Don’t risk it. Let LeaseBase track West Virginia compliance for you.

Deposit deadlines, eviction notice periods, rent cap calculations — monitored automatically across all 231 West Virginia cities.

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West Virginia Landlord-Tenant Statutes

The laws that govern residential rentals in West Virginia.

West Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (limited applicability)

W. Va. Code §37-6-1 et seq.

Provides basic framework for landlord-tenant relationships. West Virginia has relatively few statutory tenant protections compared to other states.

West Virginia Landlord Law Topics

Explore detailed rules by topic for any West Virginia city.

Security Deposit Laws

View West Virginia rules by city →

Eviction Process & Notice Requirements

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Rent Increase Laws

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Landlord Entry & Access Rules

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Maintenance & Habitability Standards

View West Virginia rules by city →

Late Fee Limits

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Lease Termination & Renewal

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Fair Housing Protections

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Tenant Screening Rules

View West Virginia rules by city →

Required Landlord Disclosures

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Rent Control

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Property Registration Requirements

View West Virginia rules by city →

Top 50 West Virginia Cities — Landlord Law Coverage

The largest West Virginia cities by population, with median rent and deposit cap data. Click any city for detailed landlord-tenant law coverage.

City Population Median 2BR Rent
Charleston 46,838 $1,036/mo
Huntington 45,325 $973/mo
Morgantown 30,429 $1,099/mo
Parkersburg 29,025 $928/mo
Wheeling 26,208 $991/mo
Martinsburg 18,935 $1,233/mo
Weirton 18,386 $973/mo
Fairmont 18,155 $1,007/mo
Beckley 16,576 $944/mo
Clarksburg 15,489 $955/mo
South Charleston 13,281 $945/mo
Vienna 10,457 $928/mo
St. Albans 10,387 $945/mo
Bridgeport 9,377 $955/mo
Bluefield 9,272 $896/mo
Oak Hill 7,849 $945/mo
Moundsville 7,724 $991/mo
Charles Town 7,672 $1,251/mo
Dunbar 7,163 $1,036/mo
Hurricane 6,806 $1,054/mo
Elkins 6,755 $929/mo
Nitro 6,426 $1,036/mo
Ranson corporation 5,699 $945/mo
Princeton 5,642 $896/mo
New Martinsville 5,087 $937/mo
Buckhannon 5,055 $961/mo
Keyser 4,843 $869/mo
Grafton 4,589 $953/mo
Barboursville 4,355 $973/mo
Westover 4,043 $945/mo
Point Pleasant 3,908 $869/mo
Ravenswood 3,819 $869/mo
Lewisburg 3,785 $924/mo
Weston 3,776 $869/mo
Pleasant Valley 3,483 $945/mo
Welch 3,414 $869/mo
Summersville 3,344 $869/mo
Ripley 3,043 $869/mo
Kingwood 2,956 $1,099/mo
Williamstown 2,955 $928/mo
Philippi 2,904 $869/mo
Kenova 2,897 $973/mo
Williamson 2,831 $898/mo
Fayetteville 2,804 $915/mo
Milton 2,755 $973/mo
Madison 2,742 $869/mo
Follansbee 2,692 $973/mo
Bethlehem 2,553 $945/mo
Moorefield 2,487 $932/mo
Paden City 2,408 $937/mo

All 231 West Virginia Cities

Click any city to view its specific landlord-tenant laws, deadlines, and free calculators.

Charleston 46,838 Huntington 45,325 Morgantown 30,429 Parkersburg 29,025 Wheeling 26,208 Martinsburg 18,935 Weirton 18,386 Fairmont 18,155 Beckley 16,576 Clarksburg 15,489 South Charleston 13,281 Vienna 10,457 St. Albans 10,387 Bridgeport 9,377 Bluefield 9,272 Oak Hill 7,849 Moundsville 7,724 Charles Town 7,672 Dunbar 7,163 Hurricane 6,806 Elkins 6,755 Nitro 6,426 Ranson corporation 5,699 Princeton 5,642 New Martinsville 5,087 Buckhannon 5,055 Keyser 4,843 Grafton 4,589 Barboursville 4,355 Westover 4,043 Point Pleasant 3,908 Ravenswood 3,819 Lewisburg 3,785 Weston 3,776 Pleasant Valley 3,483 Welch 3,414 Summersville 3,344 Ripley 3,043 Kingwood 2,956 Williamstown 2,955 Philippi 2,904 Kenova 2,897 Williamson 2,831 Fayetteville 2,804 Milton 2,755 Madison 2,742 Follansbee 2,692 Bethlehem 2,553 Moorefield 2,487 Paden City 2,408 Winfield 2,368 Wellsburg 2,302 Shinnston 2,276 Petersburg 2,268 White Sulphur Springs 2,187 Hinton 2,142 Chester 2,113 Spencer 1,982 Mannington 1,916 Belington 1,789 Star City 1,778 St. Marys 1,762 Stonewood 1,759 Romney 1,753 Richwood 1,623 McMechen 1,613 Harrisville 1,554 Shepherdstown 1,537 Ronceverte 1,531 Eleanor 1,517 Salem 1,482 Nutter Fort 1,454 West Liberty 1,441 Marmet 1,435 Glen Dale 1,425 New Haven 1,418 Terra Alta 1,413 Wayne 1,395 Oceana 1,389 Mullens 1,383 Granville 1,371 Ceredo 1,341 Logan 1,337 Sistersville 1,327 Chesapeake 1,290 Parsons 1,289 Mabscott 1,282 Mount Hope 1,276 Ansted 1,272 Montgomery 1,224 Buffalo 1,205 Barrackville 1,201 Benwood 1,191 Rainelle 1,159 Belle 1,106 Sophia 1,082 Glenville 1,079 Monongah 1,039 Pennsboro 1,014 Bolivar 1,005 Hamlin 992 New Cumberland 984 Marlinton 969 Chapmanville 956 Athens 942 Alderson 941 Poca 864 Clendenin 862 Carpendale 847 Rupert 847 Sutton 836 Belmont 834 Mason 834 Cameron 821 North Hills 817 Rivesville 813 East Bank 791 Bethany 756 Bath (Berkeley Springs) 752 Gassaway 734 Man 727 Smithers 709 Gary 703 White Hall 703 Piedmont 701 Elizabeth 698 Lumberport 695 Cedar Grove 691 Addison (Webster Springs) 689 Glasgow 684 Middlebourne 678 Grant Town 674 Fort Gay 661 Triadelphia 651 Danville 640 West Union 639 Pineville 610 Beverly 602 Thomas 602 Davis 581 Ridgeley 577 War 559 Mill Creek 542 Gauley Bridge 530 Reedsville 526 Beech Bottom 524 Masontown 505 Anmoore 501 West Hamlin 500 Hartford City 494 Grantsville 471 Cowen 469 Franklin 468 Pratt 461 Clearview 459 Peterstown 449 West Milford 442 Rowlesburg 435 Capon Bridge 422 Union 415 Paw Paw 410 Farmington 398 Delbarton 395 Jane Lew 388 Bancroft 384 Matewan 381 Burnsville 380 Junior 376 Clay 375 West Logan 373 Fairview 370 Lost Creek 348 Pine Grove 344 Windsor Heights 339 Whitesville 337 Lester 326 Meadow Bridge 314 Gilbert 311 Flemington 304 Hedgesville 301 Mitchell Heights 299 Kermit 294 Tunnelton 291 Harpers Ferry 268 Bramwell 265 Valley Grove 265 Wardensville 262 Newburg 258 Flatwoods 257 Kimball 253 Durbin 249 Albright 246 Ellenboro 243 Hundred 242 Iaeger 230 Hillsboro 227 Henderson 221 Hendricks 220 Handley 214 Quinwood 213 Hambleton 211 Northfork 208 Elk Garden 207 Bayard 193 Davy 189 Womelsdorf (Coalton) 185 Bradshaw 183 Sand Fork 175 Worthington 175 Falling Spring 169 Cairo 167 Huttonsville 157 Keystone 157 Sylvester 154 Anawalt 151 Reedy 147 Montrose 139 Rhodell 137 Oakvale 131 Pullman 131 Pax 130 Leon 129 Brandonville 128 Camden-on-Gauley 122 Blacksville 119 Smithfield 96 Friendly 94 Harman 94 Auburn 78 Bruceton Mills 61 Thurmond 2

Free West Virginia Landlord Calculators

Calculate compliance limits for any West Virginia city. No signup required.

Rent Increase Calculator

Calculate maximum allowable rent increase in Charleston →

Security Deposit Calculator

Calculate deposit limits and return deadlines in Charleston →

Eviction Timeline Calculator

Calculate eviction notice periods and court timelines in Charleston →

Late Fee Calculator

Calculate maximum legal late fees in Charleston →

Download Free West Virginia Landlord Compliance Checklist

Deposit deadlines, notice requirements, required disclosures — everything in one page.

Get Free Checklist

Manage Your West Virginia Rentals with LeaseBase

Everything you need to self-manage rental properties in West Virginia — compliance tracking, rent collection, and more.

Compliance Tracking

Automated monitoring & alerts

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Collect rent online & track payments

 Tenant Screening

Background checks & credit reports

 Lease Management

Templates, e-sign & renewals

Frequently Asked Questions — West Virginia Landlord Laws

West Virginia does not have a statutory cure period for nonpayment. After demanding rent, a landlord may file for eviction relatively quickly. However, the court process still takes time.
Landlords must return the security deposit within 60 days of lease termination. There is no statutory limit on the deposit amount.
No. West Virginia has no rent control and minimal statutory regulation of landlord-tenant relationships. It is one of the most landlord-friendly states.

Compliance tracking for your West Virginia properties

LeaseBase monitors West Virginia landlord-tenant law changes, tracks deadlines, and alerts you before penalties apply — across every city in your portfolio.

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How we researched this page: This guide covers all West Virginia landlord-tenant statutes, verified against official government sources. Rent data comes from HUD Fair Market Rents (FY2026). Last updated: August 2026.
RA

Reviewed by Rachid Abadli

Founder & CEO, LeaseBase · Sacramento landlord · Self-managing since 2019

LeaseBase is a property management platform — not a law firm. Consult an attorney for legal advice specific to your situation.

Self-manage your rentals with confidence.
Keep the profit. Lose the stress.

info@leasebase.ai (916) 347-5793

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