Eviction Laws in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is Virginia’s second-largest city with a population of approximately 238,000, and one of the most densely rented markets in the state. Home to Naval Station Norfolk — the world’s largest naval base — the city’s rental stock is driven heavily by military housing demand, students from Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University, and working-class residents in neighborhoods like Ocean View, Ghent, and Park Place. Nonpayment of rent and lease violations are the dominant reasons Norfolk landlords file Unlawful Detainers, with the city’s General District Court handling a high volume of cases year-round.
Norfolk landlords operate under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA), Va. Code Ann. §§ 55.1-1200 through 55.1-1259. Nonpayment requires a 5-Day Notice to Pay or Quit. Curable lease violations require a 30-Day Notice to Cure (21 days to fix, 9 to vacate). Non-curable breaches require a 30-Day Unconditional Quit. Criminal acts require no notice. Virginia also requires landlords owning more than four rental properties to offer tenants a repayment plan before proceeding to court. Tenants may redeem by paying all amounts owed up to 2 business days before the scheduled eviction, once per 12-month period.
Norfolk — Local Rules That Affect Landlords
No rent control. Virginia preempts local rent regulation statewide, and Norfolk has no additional tenant protection ordinances.
SCRA Protections. Naval Station Norfolk is the largest naval installation in the world. Norfolk landlords must be fully conversant with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Military tenants may terminate leases upon deployment or PCS orders with 30-day written notice. Eviction proceedings against active-duty servicemembers require court authorization.
Eviction Diversion Program. Norfolk participates in Virginia’s Eviction Diversion Program. Eligible tenants who appear at the first court date and pay 25% of the amount owed can enter a court-ordered payment plan. Landlords should be prepared for this possibility when filing.
Landlord Registration. Norfolk does not require a general landlord license but all rental units must pass city housing inspections and meet minimum maintenance standards. Active code violations can be raised as defenses in Unlawful Detainer proceedings.
Norfolk General District Court — Where Landlords File
Norfolk landlords file Unlawful Detainer actions at Norfolk General District Court, located at 811 E City Hall Ave, Norfolk, VA 23510, phone (757) 664-4380, open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pay the filing fee at the clerk’s window ($50–$100 depending on service method). The court schedules a hearing 10–20 days after filing. After a judgment in the landlord’s favor, the tenant has 10 days to appeal. After the appeal period, the landlord requests a Writ of Possession. The sheriff posts a 72-hour notice and executes the eviction within 30 days. Self-help eviction is illegal in Virginia.
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