Home · Landlord-tenant rules · Virginia
Deposit, notice, and late-fee figures cited to the state statute.
| Rule | Rule text |
|---|---|
| Security deposit cap | No landlord may demand or receive a security deposit in an amount or value in excess of two months' periodic rent. Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A). As of 2026-10-09. |
| Deposit return deadline | The security deposit and any deductions, damages, and charges shall be itemized by the landlord in a written notice given to the tenant, together with any amount due the tenant, within 45 days after the termination date of the tenancy or the date the tenant vacates the dwelling unit, whichever occurs last. Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A). As of 2026-10-09. |
| Notice for a rent increase | A landlord who owns more than four rental dwelling units, or more than a 10 percent interest in more than four, in the Commonwealth shall give written notice of any rent increase during a subsequent renewal or automatic-renewal term, and written notice of nonrenewal, no less than 60 days before the rental agreement term ends. This does not apply to a periodic tenancy under subsection C of § 55.1-1253. This is the text effective until July 1, 2027. Va. Code § 55.1-1204. As of 2026-10-09. |
| Notice to end a tenancy | The landlord or the tenant may terminate a week-to-week tenancy by written notice served at least seven days before the next rent due date. Either may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by written notice served at least 30 days before the next rent due date, unless the rental agreement provides for a different notice period. Va. Code § 55.1-1253(A). As of 2026-10-09. |
| Notice before entry | Except in an emergency or if it is impractical to do so, the landlord shall give the tenant notice of the intent to enter and may enter only at reasonable times. Unless impractical to do so, the landlord shall give the tenant at least 72 hours' notice of routine maintenance that has not been requested by the tenant. Va. Code § 55.1-1229. As of 2026-10-09. |
| Late fee | A landlord shall not charge a tenant for late payment of rent unless the charge is in the written rental agreement. No late charge shall exceed the lesser of 10 percent of the periodic rent or 10 percent of the remaining balance due and owed by the tenant. This is the text effective until July 1, 2027. Va. Code § 55.1-1204. As of 2026-10-09. |
| Eviction notice | If rent is unpaid when due and the tenant fails to pay rent within 14 days after written notice of nonpayment and of the landlord's intention to terminate, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement. For a remediable breach, the landlord may state that the agreement will terminate on a date not less than 30 days after receipt of the notice if the breach is not remedied in 21 days. Va. Code § 55.1-1245. As of 2026-10-09. |
No landlord may demand or receive a security deposit in an amount or value in excess of two months' periodic rent.
The security deposit and any deductions, damages, and charges shall be itemized by the landlord in a written notice given to the tenant, together with any amount due the tenant, within 45 days after the termination date of the tenancy or the date the tenant vacates the dwelling unit, whichever occurs last.
A landlord shall not charge a tenant for late payment of rent unless the charge is in the written rental agreement. No late charge shall exceed the lesser of 10 percent of the periodic rent or 10 percent of the remaining balance due and owed by the tenant. This is the text effective until July 1, 2027.
Figures are from Virginia statutes, retrieved 2026-10-09. Primary sources: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter12/section55.1-1226/, https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter12/section55.1-1253/, https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter12/section55.1-1229/, https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter12/section55.1-1245/, https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter12/section55.1-1204/.
No landlord may demand or receive a security deposit in an amount or value in excess of two months' periodic rent. Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A), https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter12/section55.1-1226/, as of 2026-10-09.
The security deposit and any deductions, damages, and charges shall be itemized by the landlord in a written notice given to the tenant, together with any amount due the tenant, within 45 days after the termination date of the tenancy or the date the tenant vacates the dwelling unit, whichever occurs last. Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A), https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter12/section55.1-1226/, as of 2026-10-09.
A landlord who owns more than four rental dwelling units, or more than a 10 percent interest in more than four, in the Commonwealth shall give written notice of any rent increase during a subsequent renewal or automatic-renewal term, and written notice of nonrenewal, no less than 60 days before the rental agreement term ends. This does not apply to a periodic tenancy under subsection C of § 55.1-1253. This is the text effective until July 1, 2027. Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1204, https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter12/section55.1-1204/, as of 2026-10-09.
The landlord or the tenant may terminate a week-to-week tenancy by written notice served at least seven days before the next rent due date. Either may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by written notice served at least 30 days before the next rent due date, unless the rental agreement provides for a different notice period. Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1253(A), https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter12/section55.1-1253/, as of 2026-10-09.
Except in an emergency or if it is impractical to do so, the landlord shall give the tenant notice of the intent to enter and may enter only at reasonable times. Unless impractical to do so, the landlord shall give the tenant at least 72 hours' notice of routine maintenance that has not been requested by the tenant. Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1229, https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter12/section55.1-1229/, as of 2026-10-09.
A landlord shall not charge a tenant for late payment of rent unless the charge is in the written rental agreement. No late charge shall exceed the lesser of 10 percent of the periodic rent or 10 percent of the remaining balance due and owed by the tenant. This is the text effective until July 1, 2027. Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1204, https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter12/section55.1-1204/, as of 2026-10-09.
If rent is unpaid when due and the tenant fails to pay rent within 14 days after written notice of nonpayment and of the landlord's intention to terminate, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement. For a remediable breach, the landlord may state that the agreement will terminate on a date not less than 30 days after receipt of the notice if the breach is not remedied in 21 days. Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1245, https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter12/section55.1-1245/, as of 2026-10-09.
Estimates for planning; not tax/legal advice.