Approved sewage systems for rental property

Housing

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Green, Hott , Linville , Heckert , Moore , Jeffries , Zatezalo , Martin , Brooks , Hillenbrand , Mallow
Last action: 2026-03-04
Official status: S To Government Organization 03/04/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

hb4471 hfa green and anderson 2-18 _1.htm

Filed

Plain English: HB4471 HFA Green and Anderson 2-18 #1 Casto 3264 Delegates Green and Anderson moved to amend the bill on page 1, section 30a, line 1, by striking everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following: CHAPTER 37.

HB4471 HFA Green and Anderson 2-18 #1 Casto 3264 Delegates Green and Anderson moved to amend the bill on page 1, section 30a, line 1, by striking everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following: CHAPTER 37.
REAL PROPERTY.
ARTICLE 6.
LANDLORD AND TENANT.

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

hb4471 hfa green and anderson 2-19 _1 revised adopted adopted.htm

Adopted

Plain English: HB4471 HFA Green and Anderson 2-19 #1 REVISED Casto 3264 Delegates Green and Anderson moved to amend the bill on page 1, section 30a, line 1, by striking everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following: CHAPTER 37.

HB4471 HFA Green and Anderson 2-19 #1 REVISED Casto 3264 Delegates Green and Anderson moved to amend the bill on page 1, section 30a, line 1, by striking everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following: CHAPTER 37.
REAL PROPERTY.
ARTICLE 6.
LANDLORD AND TENANT.

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

hb4471 hfa green and anderson 2-19 _1 revised adopted.htm

Adopted

HB4471 HFA Green and Anderson 2-19 #1 REVISED Casto 3264 Delegates Green and Anderson moved to amend the bill on page 1, section 30a, line 1, by striking everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following: CHAPTER 37.
REAL PROPERTY.
ARTICLE 6.
LANDLORD AND TENANT.

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

hb4471 hfa green and anderson 2-19 _1 revised.htm

Filed

HB4471 HFA Green and Anderson 2-19 #1 REVISED Casto 3264 Delegates Green and Anderson moved to amend the bill on page 1, section 30a, line 1, by striking everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following: CHAPTER 37.
REAL PROPERTY.
ARTICLE 6.
LANDLORD AND TENANT.

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

hb4471 hfat green and anderson 2-18.htm

Filed

Plain English: HB4471 HFAT Green and Anderson 2-18 Casto 3264 Delegates Green and Anderson moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: H.

HB4471 HFAT Green and Anderson 2-18 Casto 3264 Delegates Green and Anderson moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: H.
B.
4471 -- “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §37-6-30a, relating to landlord and tenant; providing definitions; requiring approved sewage disposal systems for all rental properties; providing enforcement by appropriate authority; and providing remedies.” Adopted Rejected

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

hb4471 hfat green and anderson 2-19 revised adopted.htm

Adopted

Plain English: HB4471 HFAT Green and Anderson 2-19 REVISED Casto 3264 Delegates Green and Anderson moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: H.

HB4471 HFAT Green and Anderson 2-19 REVISED Casto 3264 Delegates Green and Anderson moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: H.
B.
4471 -- “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §37-6-30a, relating to landlord and tenant; providing definitions; requiring approved sewage disposal systems for all rental properties; providing enforcement by appropriate authority; providing remedies and providing that a temporary failure of a previously approved sewage disposal system due to a line break or mechanical failure shall not necessarily constitute a violation under certain circumstances.” Adopted Rejected

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

hb4471 hfat green and anderson 2-19 revised.htm

Filed

HB4471 HFAT Green and Anderson 2-19 REVISED Casto 3264 Delegates Green and Anderson moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows: H.
B.
4471 -- “A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §37-6-30a, relating to landlord and tenant; providing definitions; requiring approved sewage disposal systems for all rental properties; providing enforcement by appropriate authority; providing remedies and providing that a temporary failure of a previously approved sewage disposal system due to a line break or mechanical failure shall not necessarily constitute a violation under certain circumstances.” Adopted Rejected

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

2026-03-04 S
To Government Organization
2026-03-04 S
To Government Organization
2026-03-04 S
Introduced in Senate
2026-02-27 H
Communicated to Senate
2026-02-27 H
Title amendment adopted (Voice vote)
2026-02-27 H
Passed House (Roll No. 221)
2026-02-27 H
Amendment adopted (Voice vote)
2026-02-27 H
Amendment reported by the Clerk
2026-02-27 H
Read 3rd time
2026-02-26 H
Postponed on 3rd reading, Special Calendar, until 2/27/2026
2026-02-25 H
From House Calendar, 2nd reading, placed on Special Calendar
2026-02-17 H
On 3rd reading, House Calendar
2026-02-17 H
Placed on House Calendar
2026-02-17 H
On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
2026-02-16 H
Read 2nd time
2026-02-16 H
On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
2026-02-13 H
Read 1st time
2026-02-13 H
On 1st reading, Special Calendar
2026-02-12 H
By substitute, do pass
2026-02-11 H
Markup Discussion
2026-02-05 H
To House Energy and Public Works
2026-02-03 H
Markup Discussion
2026-01-19 H
To House Environment, Infrastructure, and Technology
2026-01-16 H
To House Energy and Public Works
2026-01-16 H
Introduced in House
2026-01-16 H
To Energy and Public Works
2026-01-16 H
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Approved sewage systems for rental property

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB 4471 Text

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Key:
Green
= existing Code.
Red
= new code to be enacted

WEST virginia legislature
2026 regular session
ENGROSSED
Committee Substitute
for
House Bill 4471
By Delegates Green, Hott, Linville, Heckert, Moore, Jeffries, Zatezalo, Martin, Brooks, Hillenbrand, and Mallow
[Originating in the Committee on Energy and Public Works; Reported on February 11, 2026]

A Bill to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §37-6-30a, relating to landlord and tenant; providing definitions; requiring approved sewage disposal systems for all rental properties; providing enforcement by appropriate authority; providing remedies and providing that a temporary failure of a previously approved sewage disposal system due to a line break or mechanical failure shall not necessarily constitute a violation under certain circumstances.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

CHAPTER 37. REAL PROPERTY.

ARTICLE 6. LANDLORD AND TENANT.

§37-6-30a. Sewage disposal requirements for rental properties.

(a) Definitions. — As used in this section:

(1) “Approved sewage disposal system” means a septic system, public or private sewer system, or other method of sewage or excreta disposal that has been approved by, or installed pursuant to a permit issued by, the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health or his or her authorized representative in accordance with §16-1-9 of this code and the rules promulgated thereunder. The term shall also include any existing sewage disposal system that, while not having obtained a permit under §16-1-9 of this code, is functioning in a manner that does not create a health hazard affecting the public, does not result in the surfacing of sewage or effluent, and does not violate any applicable federal, state, or local law, rule, or regulation governing water pollution or sewage disposal:
Provided,
That straight piping as defined in this section shall not constitute an existing sewage disposal system under this paragraph regardless of the duration of its use. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the authority of the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health to require permits, order alterations, or pursue enforcement under §16-1-9 of this code with respect to any sewage disposal system.
(2) “Rental property” means any dwelling unit, as defined in §37-6A-1 of this code, that is leased or offered for lease to a tenant for residential use.
(3) “Straight piping” means the discharge, release, or conveyance of raw or untreated sewage or human excreta from any dwelling through any pipe, ditch, channel, conduit, or other conveyance, directly or indirectly, onto the surface of the ground, into or upon any waters of the state, over any hillside or embankment, into any ravine, sinkhole, abandoned mine, or other natural or man-made opening, or by any other method or means that does not utilize an approved sewage disposal system as defined in this section.
(b) Requirement. — No person shall lease or offer for lease any rental property in this state unless such property is served by an approved sewage disposal system. The use of straight piping to dispose of sewage from any rental property is prohibited.
(c) Enforcement. — The Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health or his or her authorized representative shall enforce the provisions of this section in accordance with the authority granted under §16-1-9 of this code. Local boards of health and county health departments may receive and refer complaints regarding violations of this section to the Commissioner or his or her authorized representative for investigation and enforcement.
(d) Tenant remedies. — A violation of §37-6-30a (b) of this Code shall constitute a violation of the landlord’s duty to maintain the premises in a fit and habitable condition under §37-6-30 of this code, and the tenant shall have all remedies available under that section. A temporary failure of a previously approved sewage disposal system due to a line break or mechanical failure shall not constitute a violation of §37-6-30a (b) of this Code if the landlord notifies the tenant in writing promptly upon discovery of the failure and completes or diligently pursues repairs within 30 days of discovery, unless an extension of time is authorized by the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health or his or her designee in accordance with §16-1-9 of this code.

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