Virginia landlord guide — city ordinances, courthouse info & local rules
📍 GDC: 266 West Main Street, Covington, VA 24426 👥 Pop. ~6,200 — Alleghany Highlands independent city ⚖️ 25th Judicial District GDC (Alleghany Combined Court) 🏛 I-64 / US-60 — Alleghany Highlands — Jackson River — WV border region
Covington is a small independent city of approximately 6,200 residents tucked into the Alleghany Highlands along the Jackson River, geographically enclosed by Alleghany County and positioned along the I-64 corridor near the West Virginia border. The WestRock paper mill (formerly MeadWestvaco) has historically been the city’s dominant industrial employer, and the broader regional economy includes healthcare, government, and the outdoor recreation sector driven by the Highland area’s scenic resources. The city shares its GDC with Alleghany County and Clifton Forge as the Alleghany Combined Court at 266 West Main Street.
Year-round rents run $650–$950/month. The combined GDC holds civil every Monday afternoon from 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. (except 5th Mondays). Criminal and traffic dockets run Monday and Tuesday mornings (by representation status) and the 2nd and 4th Thursdays. Cell phone policy: no phones in the courthouse per the Portable Electronic Devices Policy — review the PDF before appearing. The court also enforces a dress code (no shorts, no vulgar clothing).
266 West Main Street, Covington, VA 24426 (P.O. Box 139)
Population
~6,200 (2025 est.) — Alleghany Highlands small independent city
Region
Alleghany Highlands — I-64 / Jackson River — WV border
Key Context
Surrounded by Alleghany County; shares GDC with Alleghany County & Clifton Forge; near Hot Springs & Bath County tourism
Major Employers
WestRock paper mill, Alleghany Highlands Community Hospital, city & county gov./schools, I-64 corridor businesses
Typical SFH Rent
$650–$950/mo
GDC Clerk
Felicia Nelson — (540) 965-1720
Key Court Policies
No cell phones in courthouse (electronic devices policy PDF); dress code enforced
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
5-Day Pay or Quit
Civil UD Court
Every Monday afternoon 1:00–4:00 p.m. (except 5th Monday)
No Civil On
5th Monday of any month — no civil court that day
Continuances
First by Judge or Clerk; subsequent by Judge on motion
Criminal Continuances
Must be approved by the Commonwealth Attorney
Electronics Policy
No cell phones in courthouse — review PDF before appearing
Security Deposit Return
45 days after termination
Statute
Va. Code Ann. §§ 55.1-1200 et seq.
Covington City Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Rental Licensing
Confirm current rental registration requirements with Covington City Hall before renting. Alleghany County (surrounding but separate) and Clifton Forge (another independent city) have their own ordinances — not applicable to Covington city properties.
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 written itemization. At Covington rents, deposits of $1,300–$1,900 at stake.
Fee Disclosure (2024)
Va. Code § 55.1-1204.1 — all charges on first page of lease.
Alleghany GDC (Covington) — 25th Judicial District
Address: P.O. Box 139 / 266 West Main Street, Covington, VA 24426. Clerk: Felicia Nelson. Phone: (540) 965-1720. FAX: (540) 965-1722. Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. GDC Judges (25th District): Hon. Christopher M. Billias (Chief Judge), Hon. Robin J. Mayer (Presiding Judge), Hon. Rupen R. Shah, Hon. David Browning Spigle. This is a combined GDC/JDR court covering Covington, Alleghany County, and Clifton Forge. The 25th District also includes Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Buena Vista, Craig, Highland, Lexington/Rockbridge, Staunton, and Waynesboro.
Civil UD Docket
Civil Court (including UD): Every Monday afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., except for any 5th Monday of the month — no civil court on 5th Mondays. Monday mornings: criminal/traffic arraignments at 8:30 a.m.; unrepresented defendants (Covington PD & Alleghany County Sheriff) at 9:00 a.m.; represented defendants at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday: State Police traffic/criminal; 2nd & 4th Thursdays: additional criminal dockets.
Continuance Policy
First continuance granted by Judge or Clerk; subsequent continuances granted by Judge on motion. Criminal case continuances must be approved by the Commonwealth Attorney. Contact Clerk Felicia Nelson at (540) 965-1720.
Electronics & Dress Code
Portable Electronic Devices Policy: no cell phones or electronic devices in the courthouse. Download and review the PDF from the court’s vacourts.gov page before appearing. Dress code enforced: no shorts, no clothing with rude/obscene/vulgar wording or images. Violations may result in removal.
Entry Notice
Minimum 72 hours’ advance written notice (2024 VRLTA update).
Late Fees
Capped at 10% of monthly rent. At $800/month, max late fee = $80.
Legal Aid
Blue Ridge Legal Services (Staunton): (540) 885-2360. Virginia Lawyer Referral: (800) 552-7977. Court: (540) 965-1720. 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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AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to Virginia requirements.
Select your state, eviction reason, and the date you plan to serve notice. We'll calculate your earliest filing date and key milestones.
⚠️ 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.
Underground Landlord
🏠 Screening Tips
WestRock/industrial employees: verify shift schedule and year-round employment status; apply 3x monthly rent. Healthcare workers (Alleghany Highlands hospital): stable W-2. I-64 commuters toward Staunton or Lexington: confirm commute arrangement. No cell phones in courthouse — leave devices in car. Civil: Monday afternoons 1–4 p.m. except 5th Mondays. First continuance by Judge or Clerk.
Covington City Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law: Alleghany Highlands Independent City & Jackson River Corridor Guide
Covington is one of Virginia’s most geographically isolated independent cities, wedged between the ridgelines of the Alleghany Highlands along the Jackson River and I-64 near the West Virginia border. With roughly 6,200 residents, it is compact and economically tied to the WestRock paper mill — one of the largest private employers in the region — alongside the Alleghany Highlands Community Hospital and regional government. The city is surrounded by Alleghany County but entirely independent from it, sharing only the courts and certain regional services.
Rental prices in Covington are among the most affordable in Virginia, reflecting the rural-industrial character of the economy. The tenant pool is relatively stable: mill workers, healthcare employees, and a small professional class. Turnover tends to track employment at WestRock and regional healthcare — industrial layoffs or expansions can shift vacancy rates quickly, so landlords should stay attentive to plant news.
No Phones, Dress Code, and Monday Civil Court
Covington’s GDC (the Alleghany Combined Court) enforces two policies that every landlord should know before walking in: no cell phones or electronic devices in the courthouse (a Portable Electronic Devices Policy PDF is on the vacourts.gov page), and a dress code prohibiting shorts and clothing with vulgar or offensive wording or imagery. Both can result in removal from the courthouse if violated. Come prepared with printed documents and appropriate attire. Civil UD matters are heard Monday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every week except the 5th Monday of any month, when no civil court is held. The first continuance can be granted by the Judge or Clerk; subsequent continuances require a motion to the Judge. Criminal continuances additionally require Commonwealth Attorney approval. Alleghany GDC: 266 West Main Street, Covington — Clerk Felicia Nelson (540) 965-1720. Blue Ridge Legal Services (Staunton): (540) 885-2360.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: General informational purposes only. No cell phones in courthouse. Dress code enforced. Civil UD: Monday afternoons 1–4 p.m. except 5th Mondays. First continuance by Judge or Clerk. Alleghany GDC (Covington): 266 West Main Street — (540) 965-1720. Blue Ridge Legal Services (Staunton): (540) 885-2360. Last updated: March 2026.
