W. Va. Code § 8A-2-1: Planning commissions authorized.

(a) A governing body of a municipality or county may, by ordinance, create a planning commission to promote the orderly development of its jurisdiction.

(b) Governing bodies may, by ordinance, create a multicounty planning commission, a regional planning commission or a joint planning commission to promote the orderly development of land and reduce duplication of effort.

(c) The planning commission shall serve in an advisory capacity to the governing body or governing bodies that created it and have certain regulatory powers over land planning.

(d) Governing bodies and planning commissions are authorized to carry out the objectives and overall purposes of this chapter.

(e) A planning commission has only those powers, duties and jurisdiction as given to it in the ordinance creating it.