State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > West-virginia > 29 > 29-3-16§29-3-16. Work to be done at expense of owner or occupant upon failure to comply with repair or demolition order; action to recover.
In the event any owner of any building or premises served with a copy of an order as provided in sections fourteen and fifteen of this article shall fail substantially to comply with such order within thirty days from the date of issuance thereof, or within thirty days after any appeal from such order has been affirmed by the state fire commission or by the court, the state fire marshal may enter into and upon the premises affected by such order and cause the building, structure or premises to be repaired, torn down, materials removed and all dangerous conditions to be remedied, as the case may be, at the expense of the owner and with any administrative charges as established by the commission also being borne by the owner, and if such person shall fail or neglect to repay the state fire marshal the expense and administrative charge thereby incurred by him, within thirty days after written demand shall have been delivered or mailed to the said owner as provided in section fifteen of this article, the state fire marshal is hereby authorized to bring an action in the name of the state to recover such expenses, with interest, and any administrative charge as established by the commission, in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Upon a determination by the state fire marshal that the provisions of sections fourteen and fifteen of this article havenot been met, and that such property constitutes a hazard to health or public safety, in lieu of initiating an order as therein provided, the state fire marshal may notify the county commission or the county health officer in order that they may perform their duties pursuant to section three-ff, article one, chapter seven of this code. The fire marshal may also, in lieu thereof, notify the municipality where the property is located so that the municipality may perform its duties pursuant to section fourteen, article twelve, chapter eight of this code.
