Dilapidated Properties Program

About

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Dilapidated Properties Program (DLAP) provides vital financial and technical assistance to communities across the state to address abandoned and dilapidated structures. DLAP issues grant funding directly to municipalities and county commissions to offset the high costs of blight removal.

Once a grant is awarded, DLAP funds can pay invoices for activities such as title work, asbestos testing, asbestos abatement, demolition, and solid waste disposal. To ensure public funds are protected, grantees must secure legal right of entry and submit all of the required documentation highlighted in the Ready to Demo Checklist prior to receiving an Authorization to Proceed.

Dilapidated properties have far-reaching consequences, encompassing environmental hazards, crime, and economic decline. Furthermore, they significantly impact property values and tend to disproportionately burden low-income communities. By partnering with local governments, WVDEP is actively removing these hazards and “Turning liabilities into opportunities, one dilapidated property at a time.”

  • Reclaiming the Mountain State

    Want to see the real world impact of the program? View our interactive Storymap to learn more about how local communities are transforming their neighborhoods.

Resources

Note: Applications will be open from Sept 3rd to Nov 3rd.


Contact Us

General Contact Information:
601 57th St. SE
Charleston, WV 25304
Phone: (304) 926-0499
Email: DEP.DLAP@wv.gov


Applicant Resources & Mapping Tools

To assist municipalities and county commissions in preparing for the next funding cycle, WVDEP has developed a comprehensive online toolkit. Local officials, Regional Planning Councils, and community leaders can visit our dedicated resource site to access additional subgrantee resources and interactive planning maps.

The DLAP Resource Hub includes a variety of tools and resources to help local governments and community leaders prepare for the next funding cycle.

These resources include:

  • Access the Ready to Demo Checklist, which outlines the required documentation and steps needed to secure an Authorization to Proceed.

  • Use the DLAP Strategic Planning Dashboard to view statewide needs and track local subgrants.

  • Interact with the Web Map to pre-screen target properties for historic (SHPO) and environmental review requirements.

How to report a dilapidated property or seek local partnerships:

The WVDEP Dilapidated Properties Program provides grant funding directly to local governments; it is not a state code enforcement agency. The WVDEP does not have the legal authority to condemn buildings or force private property owners to demolish structures. If you are concerned about a vacant, unsafe, or blighted property in your neighborhood, please contact your local city code enforcement office or your county commission.

Environmental Hazards (Solid Waste, Asbestos, & Burning) While the WVDEP does not handle general building code violations, we do investigate specific environmental crimes that are sometimes associated with abandoned properties:

  • Report Solid Waste & Open Dumps

    If a dilapidated property has become an illegal open dump, please report it to WVDEP Environmental Enforcement (Division of Water and Waste Management).

  • Report Asbestos & Illegal Burning

    If you suspect illegal open burning of a structure or the improper, unlicensed removal of asbestos, please report it to the WVDEP Division of Air Quality. ​

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