W. Va. Code §§ 37-6-1 to 37-6-31 § 37-6-14
Forcible entry by officer.
Operative Text
The officer having such distress warrant or an order of attachment, based upon rent, if there be need for it, may, in the daytime, break open and enter into any house or close in which there may be goods liable to the distress or order, and may, either in the day or nighttime, break open and enter into any house or close wherein there may be any goods so liable, which have been fraudulently or clandestinely removed from the demised premises.
West Virginia Code § 37-6-14 governs when a law-enforcement officer executing a distress warrant or rent-based attachment order may forcibly enter a property. During daytime hours, the officer may break into any building where goods subject to the distress or attachment are located. If goods have been secretly or fraudulently moved off the rented premises, the officer may force entry at any hour—day or night—to recover them.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 37-6-14, the forcible-entry authority belongs to the executing officer, not the landlord personally. Operators who pursue a distress warrant or rent-based attachment order should understand that the officer carrying out that warrant is the party authorized to break and enter, within the limits the statute sets. Landlords generally work through proper legal channels—obtaining the warrant and coordinating with the officer—rather than taking direct entry action themselves.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 37-6-14 defines the boundaries of an officer's authority when executing a distress warrant or rent-based attachment: daytime-only entry for ordinary situations, and around-the-clock entry only when goods are alleged to have been fraudulently or secretly removed. Tenants who believe an entry was conducted outside these statutory limits—for example, a nighttime forced entry without any allegation of fraudulent removal—may have grounds to raise that violation in a legal proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations or legal aid services can help residents understand whether an entry under this provision was carried out within the law's constraints.
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.
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