{"data":{"id":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-8a-1-1","jurisdiction":"us-wv","citation":"W. Va. Code § 8A-1-1","heading":"Legislative findings.","body":"(a) The Legislature finds, as the object of this chapter, the following:\n(1) That planning land development and land use is vitally important to a community;\n(2) A planning commission is helpful to a community to plan for land development, land use and the future;\n(3) A plan and a vision for the future is important when deciding uses for and development of land;\n(4) That sprawl is not advantageous to a community;\n(5) A comprehensive plan is a guide to a community's goals and objectives and a way to meet those goals and objectives;\n(6) That the needs of agriculture, residential areas, industry and business be recognized in future growth;\n(7) That the growth of the community is commensurate with and promotive of the efficient and economical use of public funds;\n(8) Promoting growth that is economically sound, environmentally friendly and supportive of community livability to enhance quality of life is a good objective for a governing body; and\n(9) Governing bodies of municipalities and counties need flexibility when authorizing land development and use.\n(b) Therefore, the Legislature encourages and recommends the following:\n(1) The goal of a governing body should be to have a plan and a vision for the future, and an agency to oversee it;\n(2) A governing body should have a planning commission, to serve in an advisory capacity to the governing body, and promote the orderly development of its community;\n(3) A comprehensive plan should be the basis for land development and use, and be reviewed and updated on a regular basis;\n(4) A goal of a governing body should be to reduce sprawl;\n(5) That planning commissions prepare a comprehensive plan and governing bodies adopt the comprehensive plans;\n(6) Governing bodies, units of government and planning commissions work together to provide for a better community;\n(7) Governing bodies may have certain regulatory powers over developments affecting the public welfare; and\n(8) Based upon a comprehensive plan, governing bodies may:\n(A) Enact a subdivision and land development ordinance;\n(B) Require plans and plats for land development;\n(C) Issue improvement location permits for construction; and\n(D) Enact a zoning ordinance.","path":["CHAPTER 8A. LAND USE PLANNING.","ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS."],"source_url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/8A-1-1/","current_through":"as of 2026-08-03; contains at least the enactments of the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T00:21:09Z","sha256":"66c642d25bf543861e0fe32937d36ab732a6c50671c3fafe70eec5fad6bb9ff9","source_id":"us-wv","stale":true,"prev":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-8-42-3","next":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-8a-1-2"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}