W. Va. Code §§ 24D-2-1 to 24D-2-10 § 24D-2-5
Just compensation.
Operative Text
Every landlord is entitled to a single payment of just compensation for property taken by a cable operator for the installation of cable television service or facilities. The amount of just compensation, if not agreed between the landlord and cable operator, shall be determined by the commission in accordance with this article upon application by the landlord pursuant to section eight of this article. A landlord is not entitled to just compensation in the event of a rebuild, upgrade or rewiring of cable television service or facilities by a cable operator.
West Virginia Code § 24D-2-5 establishes that a landlord whose property is used by a cable operator to install cable television service or facilities is entitled to receive a one-time payment of just compensation for that taking of property. If the landlord and cable operator cannot agree on an amount, the state commission has authority to determine the appropriate compensation upon the landlord's application. Notably, this right to compensation does not extend to situations where a cable operator is rebuilding, upgrading, or rewiring existing cable infrastructure on the property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 24D-2-5, property owners whose premises are used for a new cable television installation may seek a single just-compensation payment from the cable operator. Compliant operators typically negotiate this amount directly with the landlord before installation begins; if no agreement is reached, the landlord may apply to the commission for a determination under the procedures outlined in section eight of the article. Landlords should be aware that this compensation right applies only to initial installations — no additional payment is owed when a cable operator later rebuilds, upgrades, or rewires existing service on the property.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 24D-2-5 governs the financial relationship between landlords and cable operators regarding property use for cable installations, and it can affect tenants indirectly by shaping how and when cable infrastructure is installed in a rental property. Tenants have a right to understand that disputes over just compensation between a landlord and a cable operator are resolved through the state commission, not through the tenant. If a landlord's compensation dispute appears to be interfering with a tenant's access to cable services, tenant-rights organizations or the state commission may be useful resources for understanding available options under this article.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation