West Virginia Code § 17-23-4

Areas where establishment prohibited; screening requirements; existing
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licensed yards; approval permit required; issuance; county planning commission
criteria satisfied; fee.
(a) On and after the effective date of this article: (1) No license may be issued to establish a
salvage yard, or any part thereof, within 1,000 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of
any road within the state road system designated and classified or redesigneated and
reclassified as expressway, trunkline or feeder, or any road within the state road system
designated and classified or redesignated and reclassified for purposesr of allocation of
federal highway funds as part of the federal-aid interstate or primary systems: Provided,
That this limitation may not apply to landfills established and maintained by the state or any
county or municipality if such landfill is effectively screened and obscured by natural
objects, plantings, fences or other appropriate means so as ntot to be visible from the main
traveled way of the system; and (2) no license may be issued to establish a salvage yard, or
any part thereof, within 500 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of any state local
service road, unless the view thereof from such state local service road shall be effectively
screened and obscured by fences: Provided, however, That this limitation may not apply to
landfills established and maintained by the state or any county or municipality if the landfill
is effectively screened and obscured by natural objects, plantings, fences or other
appropriate means so as not to be visible from the main traveled way of the system; and (3)
no license may be issued allowing a salvage yard within 1,000 feet of the nearest occupied
private residence, unless waived by the owner of such residence, or within 5,000 feet of the
nearest occupied private resideence which is part of a residential community. The provisions
of this paragraph, as amended, shall apply only to salvage yards licensed after April 1, 1988.
(b) The license of any salvage yard duly issued under the former provisions of this article,
which salvage yard, o r any part thereof, on the effective date of this article, is: (1) Within
1,000 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of any road within the state road system
designated and classified or redesignated and reclassified as expressway, trunkline or
feeder, or any road within the state road system designated and classified or redesignated
and reclassified for purposes of allocation of federal highway funds as part of the federal-aid
interstate or primary systems; or is (2) within 500 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-
way of any state local service road; or is (3) within 1,000 feet of the nearest occupied private
residence or within 5,000 feet of the nearest occupied private residence which is part of a
residential community, may be renewed only if the view of the said salvage yard, and all
parts thereof, are effectively screened from the adjacent road by natural objects, plantings,
fences or other appropriate means, or a waiver is obtained from the owner of an occupied
private residence. The provisions of this paragraph, as amended, shall apply only to salvage
yards licensed after April 1, 1988.
(c) Any salvage yard which, on the effective date of this article, is duly licensed under the
former provisions of this article may be established or continue to be operated and
maintained without screening by natural objects, plantings, fences or other appropriate
means so long as any part of such salvage yard is: (1) Not located within 1,000 feet of any
road within the state road system designated and classified, or redesignated and reclassified
as expressway, trunkline or feeder, or any road within the state road system designated and
classified or redesignated and reclassified for the purposes of allocation of federal highway
funds as part of the federal-aid interstate or primary systems; or is (2) not located within 500
feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of any state local service road; or is (3) not
located within 1,000 feet of the nearest residence or within 5,000 feet of the nearest
occupied private residence which is part of a residential community. Notwitehstanding any
other provision of this section to the contrary, ownership of a salvage yard duly licensed
under the former provisions of this article and continuously maintainedr and licensed since
July 1, 1998, may be sold or otherwise transferred, and the salvage yard is eligible for
relicensure and may continue to be operated under the same legal requirements that would
have been applicable had the change in ownership not occurred.
(d) On or after July 1, 1984, any owner or operator establishing, operating or maintaining a
salvage yard for which a license is required under the provisions of this article, is hereby
required to first obtain an approval permit from the county planning commission, or if the
county does not have a county planning commission, from an appropriate office or agency
designated by the county commission, in which the salvage yard is located. The county
planning commission, or designated agency or office, shall promulgate such reasonable rules
including, but not limited to, determining the effect of the proposed salvage yard on
residential, business or commercial property investment and values, establishing a quota for
the number of salvage yards in the county, and the social, economic and environmental
impact on community growth aend development in utilities, health, education, recreation,
safety, welfare and convenience, if any, before issuing such approval permit. These rules
shall conform to guideliLnes established in rules promulgated by the commissioner. The fee
for the approval permit shall be $25, payable upon the filing of the application on forms to
be designated and ap proved by the county planning commission or designated office or
agency. V
(e) Upon the granting of an approval permit by the county planning commission, the owner
or operator shall then apply to the commissioner for a license to operate. The commissioner
may issue a license to the applicant, but only after an approval permit has issued in the first
instance and the location of the salvage yard is in compliance with the location requirements
of §17-23-4 of this code. The approval permit requirement of this section does not apply to
any owner or operator who has established, or is operating or maintaining, a salvage yard
prior to July 1, 1984.
(f) A regional distribution and dismantling center may qualify for a specialized regional
distribution and dismantling license from the Commissioner of the Division of Highways
under this article provided that the regional distribution and dismantling center is not visible
within 1,000 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of an interstate highway or federal-
aid primary highway and it obtains approval of, and is permitted by, the county commission
as provided in this section.

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