West Virginia Code Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations § 8-2-7. County commission order declaring boundaries of city; certificate of incorporation of town or village; dismissal of proceeding

(a) Class I, II, or III city. -- If the proceeding be for the incorporation of a city, and it appears to the county commission, upon the returns being canvassed, that a majority of the legal votes cast on the question of incorporation were in favor of the incorporation and the commission is satisfied that all of the applicable provisions of this article have been complied with, the commission shall by order duly made and entered of record declare that the territory in question (reciting the boundaries) shall thereby become a body corporate, and shall thenceforth be known as the city of ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․, but that until a charter is framed and adopted as provided in article three of this chapter, the city shall have and exercise no powers of a municipality except the power to frame and adopt a charter as therein provided.

(b) Class IV town or village. -- If the proceeding be for the incorporation of a town or village, and it appears to the county commission, upon the returns being canvassed, that a majority of the legal votes cast on the question of incorporation were in favor of the incorporation and the commission is satisfied that all of the applicable provisions of this article have been complied with, the commission shall by order duly made and entered of record, direct the clerk of the commission to issue a certificate of incorporation in form or in substance as follows:

“It appearing to the commission that under the provisions of article two, chapter eight of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, at an election duly held on the ․․․․․․․․․․․․ day of ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․, 20․․․․․․․, a majority of the legal votes cast on the question of incorporation by the qualified voters of the following territory, to wit: Beginning, etc. (here recite the boundaries), were cast in favor of the incorporation of the town or village of ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․, in the County of ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․, bounded as herein set forth; adopting the ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ form of government, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the commission that all of the provisions of article two, chapter eight of the Code of West Virginia, as amended, have been complied with by the petitioners for incorporation, the town or village is declared to be a body corporate, duly authorized to exercise all of the corporate powers conferred upon towns or villages by chapter eight of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, from and after the date of this certificate. (Signed) ․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․., Clerk County Commission.”

(c) Thereupon, the first election of officers shall be held as provided in sections two, three and four, article five of this chapter.

(d) If, on the returns being canvassed on the question of incorporation, a majority of the legal votes cast be against incorporation, the proceeding shall be dismissed, and no subsequent proceeding for incorporation of the same or any portion of the territory shall be considered or election had within a period of three years.