Selling landlocked land in West Virginia

How West Virginia law handles land with no road access

West Virginia has no statute that lets a landlocked owner force a road across a neighbor. A way of necessity needs prior common ownership, a split, strict necessity at the split, and continuing necessity, proven clearly.

Common-law route: Way of necessity recognized: prior common ownership, severance, strict necessity at severance, and continuing necessity (Cobb v. Daugherty, 2010).

Court routes take time and cost money. Ask a local attorney.

Your options as a landlocked owner

• Ask a neighbor to sell or grant an access easement, in writing and recorded.
• Offer the land to the neighbor who borders it. They are often the most natural buyer.
• Use the West Virginia legal route above to create access, then sell.
• Sell as-is to a cash buyer who accepts land without access.

West Virginia land at a glance

• Average farm real estate value: $3,640 per acre (2026, USDA).
• Average property tax on farmland: about $10.16 per acre per year (2022 Census of Agriculture).
• Transfer tax: Excise tax of $1.10 per $500 of value (0.22%), plus a county tax of $0.55 to $1.65 per $500, so 0.33% to 0.55% in total. Each county commission sets its own rate in that range, so ask the county clerk. A $20 fee also applies on transfers for consideration. Since July 1, 2025 the county keeps the $1.10 part as well.

These are statewide averages, not an appraisal. See selling land in West Virginia for county values, or try the land value estimator.

How a cash sale handles this

Liberty Acres is a family-owned cash land buyer. We buy land anywhere in the US, in any condition, including land with back taxes, inherited land and land with no road access. We pay back taxes and all closing costs, use no agents and charge no commissions, and close through a title company, escrow company or real estate attorney who pays you by wire or check.

Common questions