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Rent Control Laws in West Virginia

West Virginia has no enacted state law banning local rent control; bills to ban it were introduced in 2024 and 2025 but were not enacted.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

West Virginia at a glance

Local rent control banned
No express ban found
SB 168 (2025) would have added a ban to W. Va. Code 37-6-9 and HB 3435 (2025) would have added new sections; neither became law.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in West Virginia

Does West Virginia law ban cities from adopting rent control?

No express ban found. Local rent control banned in West Virginia: no express ban found. SB 168 (2025) would have added a ban to W. Va. Code 37-6-9 and HB 3435 (2025) would have added new sections; neither became law.

Where do the West Virginia rent control laws come from?

The rules above come from W. Va. Code 37-6-9. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Even where there is no rent control, a landlord usually cannot raise the rent during a fixed-term lease unless the lease allows it. Increases normally take effect at renewal or after written notice for a month-to-month tenancy, and notice periods are set by state law.

Rent caps and rent stabilization rules commonly have exemptions, such as buildings built in recent years, owner-occupied duplexes, or units owned by individuals rather than companies. A unit can sit in a covered city and still be exempt, so read the coverage section of the law closely.

Local rent control ordinances change through ballot measures and council votes more often than state law does. If you rent or own property in a city that regulates rent, check the city or county housing department for the current allowable increase and any registration requirements.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.