Virginia landlord guide — county ordinances, courthouse info & local rules
📍 GDC: 109 West Main Street Suite 1022, Marion, VA 24354 👥 Pop. ~31,000 — Southwest Virginia / I-81 ⚖️ 28th Judicial District GDC 🏛 I-81 / Marion — Mount Rogers / New River Highlands
Smyth County is a Southwest Virginia county of approximately 31,000 residents centered on Marion, its county seat and principal town, situated at a key I-81 interchange that has historically made it a manufacturing and distribution hub for the southwestern Virginia highlands. The county is flanked by Mount Rogers — Virginia’s highest peak — to the west, making it a gateway to the Grayson Highlands and popular outdoor recreation. Marion is the county’s primary commercial center, home to Smyth County Community Hospital (now part of Ballad Health), county and school government, and light manufacturing. The incorporated towns of Chilhowie and Saltville add smaller residential submarkets.
Year-round residential rents run $650–$900/month. The GDC at 109 West Main Street Suite 1022 in Marion handles a detailed traffic and criminal docket Wednesday through Friday. No dedicated civil/UD docket is listed on the court’s published vacourts.gov schedule — always call Clerk Emily Bolt Yonts at (276) 782-4047 before filing to confirm current civil and UD scheduling. All continuances by Judge on motion. Office hours Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
📊 Quick Stats
GDC Location
109 West Main Street, Suite 1022, Marion, VA 24354
Population
~31,000 (2025 est.)
Region
Southwest Virginia — I-81 / Mt. Rogers / New River Highlands
Key Communities
Marion (seat & largest town), Chilhowie, Saltville, Sugar Grove, Atkins
Major Employers
Smyth County Community Hospital (Ballad Health), Smyth County gov. & schools, manufacturing, outdoor recreation/tourism (Mt. Rogers NRA)
Typical SFH Rent
$650–$900/mo
GDC Clerk
Emily Bolt Yonts — (276) 782-4047
Civil Docket
Not published — call (276) 782-4047 to confirm
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
5-Day Pay or Quit
Civil UD Schedule
Not published — call (276) 782-4047 to confirm
Published Traffic/Criminal
Wed/Thu/Fri (town & county dockets)
Continuances
Judge on motion only
Security Deposit Cap
2 months’ rent (Va. Code § 55.1-1226)
Entry Notice
72 hours minimum (2024 VRLTA)
Late Fee Cap
10% of monthly rent
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Smyth County Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Rental Licensing
No county-level rental registration required. Smyth County Building Official (276-783-3298) handles permits. Towns of Marion, Chilhowie, and Saltville have their own ordinances — confirm applicable regulations for properties within incorporated town limits.
Rent Control
None (Va. Code § 55.1-1322).
Security Deposit
Capped at 2 months’ rent (Va. Code § 55.1-1226). Return within 45 days with itemization.
Fee Disclosure (2024)
Va. Code § 55.1-1204.1 — all charges on the first page of the lease.
Smyth County GDC — 28th Judicial District
Address: 109 West Main Street, Suite 1022, Marion, VA 24354. Clerk: Emily Bolt Yonts. Phone: (276) 782-4047. FAX: (276) 782-4048. Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. GDC Judges: Hon. Travis B. Lee (Chief), Hon. Robert L. Hobbs, Hon. Suzan E. Moore. The 28th District covers Smyth County and the City of Galax.
Civil UD Docket — Confirm with Clerk
The Smyth County GDC’s published court schedule on vacourts.gov lists no dedicated civil/UD docket. The published schedule covers only traffic and criminal matters (Town of Marion, Chilhowie, Saltville, VSP, county officers). Civil cases are filed at the clerk’s office and assigned to available court dates. Always call Clerk Emily Bolt Yonts at (276) 782-4047 before filing to confirm the current UD scheduling date and procedure.
Continuance Policy
All continuances granted by Judge on motion only — no Clerk continuances. Contact the court at (276) 782-4047 in advance of any scheduled hearing to arrange a continuance through the Judge.
Entry Notice
Minimum 72 hours’ advance written notice (2024 VRLTA update).
Late Fees
Capped at 10% of monthly rent. At $775/month max late fee = $77.50.
Legal Aid
Legal Aid Society of Southwest Virginia (Abingdon): (276) 623-3021. Virginia Lawyer Referral: (800) 552-7977. Court: (276) 782-4047. County Admin: (276) 783-3298. DHCD: dhcd.virginia.gov.
Virginia requires 5-day written pay-or-quit notice (§55.1-1245(F)). No statutory grace period, but rent must be 5 days late before late fees apply (§55.1-1204.1). Tenant can redeem tenancy by paying all rent, late fees, attorney fees, and court costs on or before the court return date (§55.1-1250). Tenant may also present a "redemption tender" - a written commitment from a government or nonprofit entity to pay within 10 days of return date. Late fee cap: 10% of periodic rent. The Eviction Diversion Program was renewed and expanded in 2025, allowing qualifying lower-income tenants to be placed on court-ordered payment plans.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the General District Court. Pay the filing fee (~$58).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Virginia eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Virginia attorney or local legal aid organization.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
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🏠 Screening Tips
Smyth County tenants: Ballad Health/hospital staff (stable), county/school employees, manufacturing workers (verify W-2 employment stability). No published civil docket — call the clerk at (276) 782-4047 to confirm UD scheduling before filing. All continuances by Judge on motion only.
Smyth County Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law: Marion & the I-81 Southwest Highlands Guide
Smyth County sits at the geographic heart of the Southwest Virginia highlands, with Marion as its county seat and commercial hub along I-81. The county is bookended by Mount Rogers, Virginia’s highest peak at 5,729 feet in the western part of the county, and the New River valley to the east. This combination gives Smyth County strong outdoor recreation appeal (the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and Virginia Creeper Trail system draw significant visitors) alongside a traditional manufacturing and government economy centered in Marion and the Holston River valley towns of Chilhowie and Saltville.
Smyth County Community Hospital, now part of the Ballad Health system, is Marion’s largest employer. Smyth County Public Schools, county government, and a manufacturing sector round out the employment base. Rents in the $650–$900/month range are typical, putting Smyth among Southwest Virginia’s moderately priced markets. The Saltville community, site of a former salt and chemical industry now partly remediated, has a distinct character from the more commercial Marion area.
Smyth County General District Court, 28th Judicial District, at 109 West Main Street Suite 1022, Marion, VA 24354. Clerk Emily Bolt Yonts: (276) 782-4047, FAX (276) 782-4048. Office hours Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Important filing note: The court’s published schedule on vacourts.gov lists only traffic and criminal dockets. No dedicated civil or UD docket is published. Landlords must call the clerk at (276) 782-4047 before filing to confirm current civil and UD scheduling. All continuances are by Judge on motion — no Clerk-granted continuances. GDC Judges: Hon. Travis B. Lee (Chief), Hon. Robert L. Hobbs, Hon. Suzan E. Moore. All 2024 VRLTA updates apply. Legal Aid Society of Southwest Virginia: (276) 623-3021.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: General informational purposes only. No dedicated civil docket published — call (276) 782-4047 to confirm current UD scheduling before filing. All continuances by Judge on motion only. Smyth County GDC: 109 West Main Street Suite 1022, Marion, VA 24354. Legal Aid Society of Southwest Virginia: (276) 623-3021. Last updated: March 2026.
