Eviction Laws in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is Virginia’s most populous city and one of the largest independent cities in the United States, with a population exceeding 460,000. Its rental market is shaped by a massive military presence — NAS Oceana, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, and thousands of active-duty and veteran renters — alongside a growing civilian population drawn to the coastal lifestyle and expanding tech and federal contracting sectors. Nonpayment of rent is the most common reason landlords file for eviction, particularly in areas with high military turnover and short-term rental activity near the oceanfront.
Virginia Beach landlords operate under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA), Va. Code Ann. §§ 55.1-1200 through 55.1-1259. For nonpayment, landlords must issue a written 5-Day Notice to Pay or Quit before filing. Curable lease violations require a 30-Day Notice to Cure (tenant has 21 days to fix, 9 to vacate). Non-curable violations require a 30-Day Unconditional Quit. Criminal or health-and-safety threats require no notice. Once the notice period expires, landlords file a Summons for Unlawful Detainer in Virginia Beach General District Court. Tenants may redeem by paying all amounts owed up to 2 business days before a scheduled eviction, but only once per 12-month period.
Virginia Beach — Local Rules That Affect Landlords
No rent control. Virginia state law prohibits local rent regulation, and Virginia Beach has enacted no additional tenant protection ordinances beyond the VRLTA.
SCRA Protections. With one of the highest concentrations of active-duty military in the country, Virginia Beach landlords must understand the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Military tenants may terminate leases with 30-day written notice upon deployment orders or permanent change of station. Attempting to evict a protected servicemember without court authorization is a federal violation.
Landlord Licensing. Virginia Beach does not currently require a general residential landlord license, but properties must meet all city property maintenance codes. Code violations can be raised as a defense in Unlawful Detainer proceedings.
Statement of Tenant Rights. Virginia law requires landlords to provide tenants with the DHCD Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities at lease signing. Failure to do so can complicate eviction proceedings.
Virginia Beach General District Court — Where Landlords File
Virginia Beach landlords file Unlawful Detainer actions at Virginia Beach General District Court, located at 2425 Nimmo Pkwy, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, phone (757) 385-4800, open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. File your Summons for Unlawful Detainer at the clerk’s window and pay the filing fee ($50–$100 depending on service method). The court schedules a hearing 10–20 days after filing. The tenant is served by the sheriff or a process server. If the tenant fails to appear, a default judgment is entered. After judgment, the tenant has a 10-day appeal window. After that, the landlord files for a Writ of Possession — the sheriff posts 72-hour notice and executes eviction within 30 days. Self-help eviction is illegal in Virginia.
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