West Virginia Code
Article 12. General and Specific Powers, Duties and Allied Relations of Municipalities, Governing Bodies and Municipal Officers and Employees; Suits Against Municipalities
§8-12-5b. Municipal Authority to Enact Ordinance; Ordinance Provisions Defining Terms; Restricting Certain Activities in Relation to Obscene Matters and Establishing Penalties for Violations

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section one, article eleven, chapter eight of this code, in addition to all other powers which municipalities now possess by law, every municipality and the governing body thereof may adopt the ordinance provided in subsection (b) of this section.
A municipality when adopting this ordinance, may delete therefrom such portions of paragraph (A), subdivision (4), subsection (b) of this section that it deems appropriate.
(b) The ordinance which municipalities may adopt pursuant to the power granted them under subsection (a) of this section shall be:
Section 1. Definitions.
For purposes of this ordinance:
(1) "Knowingly" means to have knowledge of or to be aware of the content or character of obscene matter.
(2) "Matter" means any book, magazine, newspaper or other printed or written material, or any picture, drawing or photograph, motion picture, or other visual representation, or live conduct, or any recording, transcription or mechanical, chemical or electrical reproduction, or any other articles, equipment, machines or materials.
(3) "Individual" means any human being regardless of age.
(4) "Obscene" means matter which the average individual applying contemporary community standards would find (i) taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest; (ii) depicts or describes in a patently offensive way ultimate sexual acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated; and (iii) the matter, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value, and which either:
(A) Depicts or describes patently offensive representation of masturbation, excretory functions, lewd exhibition of the genitals, sodomy, fellatio, cunnilingus, bestiality, sadism, masochism; or
(B) Depicts or describes nudity or sexual acts of persons, male or female, below the age of eighteen years.
(5) "Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, association, corporation or other legal entity.
(6) "Prepare" means to produce, publish or print.
(7) "Public display" means the placing of material on or in a billboard, viewing screen, theatre, marquee, newsstand, display rack, window, showcase, display case or similar public place so that material can be purchased or viewed by individuals.
Section 1a. Injunctive relief.
The circuit court shall have jurisdiction to issue an injunction to enforce the purposes of this ordinance upon petition by the attorney for the municipality or a representative thereof or any citizen of the municipality who can show a good faith and valid reason for making such application. No bond shall be required unless for good cause shown.
Section 2. Activities prohibited; penalties.
Any person who knowingly sends or causes to be sent or causes to be brought into the municipality of (name of municipality) for sale or public display, or prepares, sells or makes a public display, or in the municipality of (name of municipality) offers to prepare, sell or make a public display, or has in his possession with the intent to sell or make a public display of any obscene matter to any individual, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than thirty days or both fined and imprisoned. A person convicted of a second or subsequent offense under this ordinance is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than six months or both fined and imprisoned.
Section 3. Employees acting within scope of employment shall not be prosecuted.
No employee shall be guilty of a violation of this ordinance when such employee is a projectionist, ticket taker, usher, or when such employee prepares, sells or makes a public display of obscene matter while acting within the scope of his regular employment, unless such employee has a proprietary interest in such obscene matter or is a shareholder or officer of a corporation which has a proprietary interest in such obscene matter.
Section 4. Exceptions.
Nothing in this ordinance shall be construed so as to apply to any person exercising a right secured by the Constitution or laws of this state or of these United States.

Structure West Virginia Code

West Virginia Code

Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations

Article 12. General and Specific Powers, Duties and Allied Relations of Municipalities, Governing Bodies and Municipal Officers and Employees; Suits Against Municipalities

§8-12-1. General Corporate Powers of All Municipalities

§8-12-2. Home Rule Powers for All Cities

§8-12-3. Creation by Charter Provision of Certain Independent City Boards

§8-12-3a. Cities Authorized to Create Department of Development and Transfer Planning Functions of Certain Independent Agencies to Such Department; Authorizing Related Ordinances and Resolutions

§8-12-4. Power to Provide by Charter for Initiative, Referendum and Recall

§8-12-5. General Powers of Every Municipality and the Governing Body Thereof

§8-12-5a. Limitations Upon Municipalities Power to Restrict the Purchase, Possession, Transfer, Ownership, Carrying, Transport, Sale, and Storage of Certain Weapons and Ammunition

§8-12-5b. Municipal Authority to Enact Ordinance; Ordinance Provisions Defining Terms; Restricting Certain Activities in Relation to Obscene Matters and Establishing Penalties for Violations

§8-12-5c. Authority to Enact Ordinance Restricting the Location of Businesses Offering Exotic Entertainment

§8-12-5d. Regulation of Amateur Radio Antennas

§8-12-5e. Authority to Enter Into Energy-Savings Contracts

§8-12-5f. Regulation of Taxicabs and Taxi Stands

§8-12-5g. Authorizing Municipalities to Hold Motor Vehicle Racing Events on Public Roads, Municipal Streets or Runways

§8-12-6. Membership in Association or League

§8-12-7. Power and Authority to Purchase Insurance and to Indemnify Officers, Agents and Employees

§8-12-8. Group Insurance Programs Authorized

§8-12-9. Power and Authority to Enact Ordinance Prohibiting Discrimination With Respect to Housing Accommodations

§8-12-10. Purchasing; Competitive Bidding

§8-12-11. Lease Agreements for Equipment or Materials With Option to Cancel or Renew for One Year Authorized

§8-12-12. Power and Authority to Lease, Establish, Maintain and Operate Off-Street Parking Facility

§8-12-13. Building Regulation; General and Special Codes; State Building Code

§8-12-14. Permits for Construction and Alteration

§8-12-15. Municipal Inspection

§8-12-16. Ordinances Regulating the Repair, Alteration, Improvement, Closing, Demolition, etc., of Structures, Dwellings, or Buildings That Are Unsafe, Unsanitary, Dangerous, or Detrimental to the Public Safety or Welfare; Procedures

§8-12-16a. Registration of Uninhabitable Property

§8-12-16b. Special Litter Prevention Officers

§8-12-16c. Registration of Vacant Buildings; Registration Fees; Procedures for Administration and Enforcement

§8-12-16d. Additional Powers and Duties of Municipalities; Areas of Special or Unique Interest

§8-12-17. Sale or Lease of Municipal Public Utility

§8-12-18. Sale, Lease, or Disposition of Other Municipal Property

§8-12-19. Extraterritorial Exercise of Powers and Authority

§8-12-20. Authorizing Municipalities to Enact Adopt-a-Street Programs

§8-12-21. Restriction on the Regulation of Trades, Occupations, and Professions

§8-12-22. Foreclosure Actions Involving Abandoned Properties

§8-12-23. Limitations on Municipalities, Political Subdivisions, and Local Governing Bodies Authority Over Energy Usage and Development

§8-12-24. Dedication to or Naming Municipal Property for Office Holder Prohibited

§8-12-25. Authorizing Certain Municipalities to Create a Pension Funding Program