SB 495 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Outdoor Solid-Fuel Heating Appliance Act

This bill establishes statewide standards for outdoor wood- and coal-burning heaters (like those used in rural homes or farms). It requires new installations to be at least 150 feet from property lines and 300 feet from occupied homes, mandates 18-foot stacks, and restricts fuel use to "clean" wood (under 20% moisture), untreated pellets, or manufacturer-approved fuels. Rural property owners with 10+ acres may operate year-round without seasonal limits, provided setbacks are met. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection enforces these rules, and local governments cannot create stricter requirements without DEP approval.
Bill status introduced 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 19, 2026 Last action Jan 19, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
0
Jan 19, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jack Woodrum
Jack Woodrum
RRepublican
WV
10