W. Va. C.S.R. § 87-4-1 et seq. § §87-4-1
General
Operative Text
§87-4-1. General. 1.1. Scope. -- This rule establishes the standards considered necessary by the State Fire Commission for the safeguarding of life and property and to ensure compliance with the minimum standards of safe construction of all structures erected or renovated throughout this state. 1.2. Authority. -- W. Va. Code §15A-11-5. 1.3. Filing Date. -- May 5, 2022. 1.4. Effective Date. – August 1, 2022. 1.5. Sunset Provision. -- This rule shall terminate and have no further force or effect on August 1, 2027. 1.6. Exemptions. -- The State Building Code has no application to buildings or structures used primarily for agricultural purposes including agritourism purposes. 1.7. Incorporation of Other Documents. -- This rule does not include a reprinting of all the requirements imposed by statute or by the incorporation of various nationally recognized standards and codes cited in Subsection 4.1 of this rule. For ascertaining these additional standards and requirements, it is necessary to make reference to the other documents.
W. Va. C.S.R. § 87-4-1 establishes the general framework for West Virginia's State Building Code, setting minimum safety standards for the construction and renovation of structures across the state. The rule carries an expiration date of August 1, 2027, and explicitly does not apply to buildings used primarily for agricultural or agritourism purposes. It also incorporates by reference various nationally recognized codes and standards, meaning the full set of requirements extends beyond the text of this provision itself.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers undertaking construction or renovation projects in West Virginia should be aware that W. Va. C.S.R. § 87-4-1 sets the foundational scope for the State Building Code, which applies to most structures statewide. Compliant operators typically consult the externally incorporated codes and standards referenced in Subsection 4.1, since this provision explicitly notes that not all requirements are reprinted within the rule itself. Those operating buildings used solely for agricultural or agritourism purposes should note the exemption stated in Section 1.6, though the boundaries of that exemption may warrant careful review.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
W. Va. C.S.R. § 87-4-1 establishes that residential structures in West Virginia must meet minimum safe-construction standards set by the State Fire Commission. Tenants living in buildings that were constructed or renovated in violation of these standards may have grounds to raise such deficiencies when addressing habitability concerns, and tenant-rights organizations can help identify applicable complaint pathways. Because this rule incorporates additional codes by reference, the full picture of applicable standards may require consulting those external documents as well.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation