Virginia · Evictions · Updated Oct 2026

Virginia eviction rules for tenants

The notices a landlord in Virginia must give, how long you have to respond in court, why a lockout is illegal and where to get free legal help fast.

Short answer

14-day written notice to pay or the lease ends.

Notice for unpaid rent
14 days
Time to respond in court
No written answer deadline.
Lockouts
Banned

If you get an eviction notice

  1. Read it closely: the kind of notice, the amount, the dates and how it was delivered. Use the timeline below.
  2. Don't move out or stop paying because of a notice alone. Only a court can order an eviction; the notice is the first step.
  3. Get free legal help now. Legal aid and the court's self-help center can check whether the notice is valid.
  4. If you are served with court papers, respond by the deadline and go to every hearing. Missing one can mean losing by default.
  5. Keep copies of the notice, your lease, rent receipts, texts and photos.

Eviction in Virginia

Notice for unpaid rent
14-day written notice to pay or the lease ends. Bounced check or rejected electronic payment: 14 days to pay by cash, cashier's check, certified check or a completed electronic transfer. You can still stop the eviction by paying everything you owe (rent, late fees, court costs, attorney fees and sheriff fees) at least 48 hours before the scheduled eviction, unless the landlord gave the required written 'acceptance with reservation' notice and other grounds exist (Va. Code 55.1-1250).
Notice for a lease violation
30-day notice; if the breach can be fixed and you fix it within 21 days, the lease does not end. A breach that can't be fixed: 30 days with no cure. A repeat breach of the same kind after a cured one: 30 days, no cure. Criminal or willful acts that threaten health or safety (including illegal drug activity): immediate termination. Va. Code 55.1-1245.
Ending a month-to-month tenancy
Either side: 30 days before the next rent due date (unless the lease sets a different period); week-to-week: 7 days. Owners of multifamily buildings who let 20 or more (or half of) month-to-month tenancies expire within 30 days must give 60 days' notice. Va. Code 55.1-1253.
Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit
No written answer deadline. The first court hearing is usually within 21 days after the landlord files (no later than 30), and you must be served at least 10 days before it. Go to that first hearing (the 'return date'); if you don't, the landlord can get a default judgment. Va. Code 8.01-126.
Lockouts and utility shutoffs
Yes. The landlord can't take possession by locking you out, cutting off essential services, or making the home unsafe. You can petition General District Court (hearing within 5 days) to get back in or restore service, and recover actual damages plus $5,000 or four months' rent (whichever is greater) and attorney fees. Va. Code 55.1-1252, 55.1-1243.1.
Court self-help
The court's eviction self-help page
Law
Va. Code 55.1-1243.1, 55.1-1245, 55.1-1250, 55.1-1252, 55.1-1253; 8.01-126

Eviction notice timeline for Virginia

Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.

This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.

Enter the date you got the noticeThe timeline appears when you pick a date.

Dates are estimates from the rule in our data. We skip weekends only where the rule counts business or court days, and we don't skip holidays.

Where to get free help in Virginia

Retaliation in Virginia

The landlord may not raise rent, cut services, or bring or threaten an eviction (or end a month-to-month tenancy) because you complained to a code agency, complained to or sued the landlord under the VRLTA, joined a tenant organization, or testified against the landlord. You can recover actual damages and use it as a defense; under the current law you must prove the landlord's intent. From January 1, 2027, protection expands (complaints to the media and fair housing complaints are covered; harassment and selective rule enforcement are banned). Va. Code 55.1-1258.

Rent increases and rent control in Virginia

Notice of a rent increase
Landlords owning more than 4 rental units must give written notice of a rent increase at least 60 days before a renewable lease ends (also 60 days' notice of non-renewal). From July 1, 2027, the rent-increase notice becomes 90 days and must give you at least 30 days to decide whether to renew. Month-to-month or holdover: a new rent takes effect on the next rent due date at least 30 days after written notice. Va. Code 55.1-1204(K), 55.1-1253(D).
Rent control
No statewide rent control. Ask your city or county whether any local rule applies.

Questions about eviction in Virginia

How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Virginia?

14-day written notice to pay or the lease ends. Bounced check or rejected electronic payment: 14 days to pay by cash, cashier's check, certified check or a completed electronic transfer. You can still stop the eviction by paying everything you owe (rent, late fees, court costs, attorney fees and sheriff fees) at least 48 hours before the scheduled eviction, unless the landlord gave the required written 'acceptance with reservation' notice and other grounds exist (Va. Code 55.1-1250).

How much notice for a lease violation in Virginia?

30-day notice; if the breach can be fixed and you fix it within 21 days, the lease does not end. A breach that can't be fixed: 30 days with no cure. A repeat breach of the same kind after a cured one: 30 days, no cure. Criminal or willful acts that threaten health or safety (including illegal drug activity): immediate termination. Va. Code 55.1-1245.

How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Virginia?

Either side: 30 days before the next rent due date (unless the lease sets a different period); week-to-week: 7 days. Owners of multifamily buildings who let 20 or more (or half of) month-to-month tenancies expire within 30 days must give 60 days' notice. Va. Code 55.1-1253.

How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in Virginia?

No written answer deadline. The first court hearing is usually within 21 days after the landlord files (no later than 30), and you must be served at least 10 days before it. Go to that first hearing (the 'return date'); if you don't, the landlord can get a default judgment. Va. Code 8.01-126.

Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in Virginia?

Yes. The landlord can't take possession by locking you out, cutting off essential services, or making the home unsafe. You can petition General District Court (hearing within 5 days) to get back in or restore service, and recover actual damages plus $5,000 or four months' rent (whichever is greater) and attorney fees. Va. Code 55.1-1252, 55.1-1243.1.

More for Virginia renters

Eviction in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.