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Virginia

Virginia Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security deposit limits, eviction notices, rent control, and more for Virginia.

How we research these summaries

Every rule on this page is drawn from state statutes and municipal codes and summarized with AI assistance. Each one cites the statute it's based on and links to a published text of that law so you can read it firsthand. Where a page says a city or county has no local rule on a topic, that means none was found for the topics covered here — not that none exists. Local governments also regulate rental housing in ways these pages don't track, including registration, licensing, inspections and habitability standards. These summaries may be incomplete or out of date, laws change often, and every property and tenancy has specifics a summary can't capture — so treat this as a starting point for your own research, not as legal advice, and check with the local jurisdiction and a qualified attorney before acting on your particular situation.

What to Know in Virginia

Sources last checked July 2026

Virginia extended its nonpayment eviction notice from 5 days to 14 days effective July 1, 2026: a landlord must let a tenant cure unpaid rent, or a dishonored payment, for the full 14 days before proceeding, under Virginia Code § 55.1-1245. Landlords who own more than four rental units face a longer runway on renewals, owing tenants with a renewal option 60 days' notice of non-renewal, versus the standard 30 days for month-to-month tenancies generally. Virginia's landlord-tenant act also bars any locality from modifying its terms, so no city or county may enact rent control of its own.

  • 14-day notice required before eviction for nonpayment of rent
  • 30-day move-out notice required for month-to-month tenancies
  • No rent control — no statutory cap on rent increases
  • Virginia requires landlords to give written notice before raising rent.
  • Security deposits capped at 2 months' rent
5 rules summarized · Each linked to the law it cites

Security Deposit Limits

Security Deposit Limits

What is the security deposit limit in Virginia?

Under Virginia Code § 55.1-1226, no landlord may demand or receive a security deposit exceeding two months' periodic rent. Upon move-out, the landlord must provide the tenant with a written itemized statement of any deductions and return any remaining balance within 45 days after the termination date of the tenancy or the date the tenant vacates, whichever is later. Effective July 1, 2025, leases must disclose the security deposit amount on the first page along with monthly rent and any one-time charges, with a prohibition statement that no unlisted charges may be added. Permissible deductions include unpaid rent, late fees, and damages beyond normal wear and tear. Failure to return the deposit with proper documentation within 45 days results in forfeiture of the right to claim any deductions.

Virginia Code § 55.1-1226

Eviction Notice Requirements

Eviction Notice Requirements

What are the eviction notice requirements in Virginia?

Under Virginia Code § 55.1-1245, as amended effective July 1, 2026, if rent is unpaid when due a landlord must serve a written 14-day notice (extended from the prior 5-day period) notifying the tenant of the nonpayment and of the landlord's intent to terminate if rent is not paid in full within the 14-day period. If the tenant pays in full within that period, the landlord may not proceed with eviction. The same 14-day cure period applies where a check is dishonored or an electronic payment is rejected. For no-fault termination of a month-to-month tenancy, 30 days' written notice is required prior to the next rent due date (§ 55.1-1253). Landlords with more than four units must give 60 days' written notice of non-renewal to tenants holding a renewal option (§ 55.1-1204(K)). All evictions require a court order; self-help eviction is prohibited.

Virginia Code §§ 55.1-1245, 55.1-1253, 55.1-1204(K)

Rent Increase Notice Periods

Rent Increase Notice Periods

How much notice is required for rent increases in Virginia?

Virginia requires landlords to give written notice before raising rent. For month-to-month tenancies, a minimum of 30 days' notice before the rent due date is required (Virginia Code § 55.1-1253). For week-to-week tenancies, 7 days' advance notice is required. For landlords who own more than four rental dwelling units (or hold more than a 10% interest in more than four units), Virginia Code § 55.1-1204(K) requires at least 60 days' written notice of any rent increase when the tenant has a renewal option or automatic renewal clause — this notice must come before the end of the rental agreement term. The 60-day requirement does not apply to periodic (month-to-month) tenancies. Rent may not be increased during a fixed-term lease unless the lease explicitly permits it. Retaliatory rent increases are prohibited.

Virginia Code §§ 55.1-1204(K), 55.1-1253

Rent Control / Rent Increase Caps

Rent Control / Rent Increase Caps

Is there rent control in Virginia?

Virginia has no statewide rent control or rent stabilization law, and no cap applies to the amount a landlord may raise rent. Virginia Code § 55.1-1201 provides that the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act "shall apply to all jurisdictions in the Commonwealth and may not be waived or otherwise modified, in whole or in part, by the governing body of any locality." Because the Act grants no rent-cap authority and forbids localities from modifying its terms, no Virginia city, county, or town may enact a rent-control ordinance. (Virginia is also a Dillon's Rule state, so localities hold no authority beyond what the General Assembly expressly grants.) Landlords may raise rent by any amount on renewal, or with the required advance notice for periodic tenancies. The only limits are that rent may not be raised mid-lease unless the lease permits it, and increases may not be retaliatory or discriminatory.

Virginia Code § 55.1-1201

Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice

Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice

What is the move-out notice requirement in Virginia?

Under Virginia Code § 55.1-1253, either a landlord or a tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by serving written notice at least 30 days before the next rent due date. For week-to-week tenancies, at least 7 days' advance written notice is required. Fixed-term leases expire on the date specified in the lease; no additional notice is required unless the lease itself imposes one. If a tenant remains in possession after lease expiration without the landlord's consent, the landlord may bring an unlawful detainer action and recover actual damages, reasonable attorney fees, and court costs. For large multifamily properties (where the landlord fails to renew 20 or more month-to-month tenancies, or 50% of month-to-month tenancies, in a 30-day period), at least 60 days' advance written notice per tenant is required.

Virginia Code § 55.1-1253

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