# W. Va. Code § 8-12-1: General corporate powers of all municipalities

> West Virginia · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S1

## Section

- **Citation:** W. Va. Code § 8-12-1
- **Heading:** General corporate powers of all municipalities
- **Jurisdiction:** West Virginia
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** WV Code / Chapter 8 / Article 12 / Section 1

## Text

PART I. GENERAL CORPORATE POWERS OF MUNICIPALITIES.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, every municipality shall have plenary power and authority:

(1) To have and use a common seal;

(2) To contract and be contracted with;

(3) To institute, maintain and defend any civil action or other proceeding in any court;

(4) To take, purchase, hold and lease as lessee (on an annual fiscal year basis where tax revenues are to be used to make the rental payments required under any such lease, with or without an option to renew such lease each year for another such period), for any municipal purpose, real or personal property within or without the corporate limits of the municipality, and to acquire by condemnation real or personal property within or without the corporate limits of the municipality for the purposes set forth in and in accordance with the provisions of chapter fifty-four of this code, subject, however, to any limitations or qualifications set forth in this chapter eight; and

(5) To take by gift, donation, grant, bequest or devise and to hold and administer, real or personal property within or without the corporate limits of the municipality, absolutely, in trust or otherwise, for any public, charitable or municipal purpose, and to do all things necessary, useful, convenient or incidental to carry out the purpose of such gift, donation, grant, bequest, devise or trust, and to manage, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the same in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the donor, grantor or testator and accepted by the municipality.

## Nearby sections

- [W. Va. Code § 8-12-1 §8-12-1. General corporate powers of all municipalities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S1.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 8-12-2 §8-12-2. Home rule powers for all cities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S2.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 8-12-3 §8-12-3. Creation by charter provision of certain independent city boards.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S3.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 8-12-3A §8-12-3a. Cities authorized to create department of development and transfer planning functions of certain independent agencies to such department; authorizing related ordinances and resolutions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S3A.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 8-12-4 §8-12-4. Power to provide by charter for initiative, referendum and recall.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S4.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 8-12-5 §8-12-5. General powers of every municipality and the governing body thereof.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S5.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 8-12-5A §8-12-5a. Limitations upon municipalities’ power to restrict the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying, transport, sale, and storage of certain weapons and ammunition.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S5A.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 8-12-5B §8-12-5b. Municipal authority to enact ordinance; ordinance provisions defining terms; restricting certain activities in relation to obscene matters and establishing penalties for violations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S5B.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 8-12-5C §8-12-5c. Authority to enact ordinance restricting the location of businesses offering exotic entertainment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S5C.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 8-12-5D §8-12-5d. Regulation of amateur radio antennas.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S5D.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 8-12-5E §8-12-5e. Authority to enter into energy-savings contracts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S5E.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 8-12-5F §8-12-5f. Regulation of taxicabs and taxi stands.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S5F.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 8-12-5G §8-12-5g. Authorizing municipalities to hold motor vehicle racing events on public roads, municipal streets or runways.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S5G.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 8-12-6 §8-12-6. Membership in association or league.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S6.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C8_A12_S1. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.