Fredericksburg is one of Virginia’s most historically significant and fastest-growing independent cities, positioned along the I-95 corridor roughly halfway between Washington, D.C. and Richmond. With a population approaching 28,000, the city draws a diverse mix of residents — VRE commuters who work in the D.C. metro area, University of Mary Washington students and staff, federal workers, healthcare employees at Mary Washington Hospital, and a burgeoning downtown restaurant and arts scene that has revitalized the historic district. The rental market is active and competitive across price points, from budget-friendly units near the university to upscale apartments in the revitalized downtown and River Road corridors. Demand has climbed steadily as spillover from Northern Virginia pricing pushes renters southward along the I-95 corridor.
Typical rents range from $1,100–$2,000/month depending on location and unit type. The Fredericksburg GDC at 701 Princess Anne Street operates a split civil docket: general civil (attorney cases) and unlawful detainer returns run on the 1st & 3rd Mondays; UD-specific returns (attorney UDs and regular UDs) run on 2nd & 4th Mondays beginning at 8:30 a.m. Civil continuances require Judge approval on motion. All civil continuances are Judge-only.
Fredericksburg City requires a Landlord Business License for all rental properties (Code of Fredericksburg § 70-363). Contact the Real Estate office at (540) 372-1207. The annual fee is $25 plus a tax of $0.16 per $100 of gross rental receipts over $50,000. Landlords must also submit an annual tenant list by February 1st each year. Confirm current inspection and code enforcement requirements with City Hall before renting.
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 Fredericksburg rents, deposits of $2,200–$4,000 are typical. University-area rentals carry higher turnover risk — document move-in and move-out with photos and signed checklists.
Fee Disclosure (2024)
Va. Code § 55.1-1204.1 — all charges on first page of lease.
Fredericksburg GDC — 15th Judicial District
Address: 701 Princess Anne Street, Suite 200, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. Clerk: Laura Leanne Hatch. Civil: (540) 372-1044. Criminal/Traffic: (540) 372-1043. Courts Info Line: (540) 372-1042. Civil FAX: (540) 370-1729. Criminal/Traffic FAX: (540) 372-1228. Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. GDC Judges (15th District): Hon. Hugh S. Campbell (Chief Judge), Hon. Vincent S. Donoghue, Hon. Richard T. McGrath, Hon. Angela M. O’Connor, Hon. Jane M. Reynolds, Hon. Julia H. Sichol, Hon. Mayo J. Wilson.
Civil UD Docket
UD/Unlawful Detainer returns: 2nd & 4th Mondays — 8:30 a.m. attorney UDs; 9:00 a.m. regular UD plaintiffs; 9:30 a.m. special plaintiff interrogatories. General civil: 1st & 3rd Mondays — 8:30 a.m. attorney cases; 9:30 a.m. special plaintiff warrant returns; 10:00 a.m. regular filing plaintiffs; 11:00 a.m. small claims. Civil motions/trials: 1st & 4th Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. (motions) / 9:00 a.m. (trials); 3rd Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. (trials).
Continuance Policy
Civil Division: All continuances granted by Judge on motion. Criminal and Traffic: First continuance by Clerk; subsequent continuances by Judge on motion. Contact Civil Clerk at (540) 372-1044.
Entry Notice
Minimum 72 hours’ advance written notice (2024 VRLTA update).
Late Fees
Capped at 10% of monthly rent. At $1,400/month, max late fee = $140.
Legal Aid
Legal Aid Works: (540) 371-1105. Virginia Lawyer Referral: (800) 552-7977. Court Civil: (540) 372-1044. City Hall: (540) 372-1010. 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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VRE commuter applicants: verify employment letter and confirm DC-area employer; strong and reliable tenant profile. University applicants: verify enrollment and consider co-signer or guarantor; apply 3x monthly rent standard. Hospital/healthcare workers are among the most stable renters in this market. UD returns: 2nd & 4th Mondays. All civil continuances by Judge on motion only.
Fredericksburg City Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law: The Complete Guide for I-95 Corridor Landlords
Fredericksburg holds a genuinely unusual position in Virginia’s rental landscape. It’s a city that functions simultaneously as a historic destination, a college town, a commuter suburb, and a regional healthcare hub — all compressed into roughly 10.5 square miles on the fall line of the Rappahannock River. That layered identity creates a rental market with diverse demand and relatively low vacancy, particularly near the University of Mary Washington and in the revitalized historic core along Caroline and William Streets. Landlords who own property in Fredericksburg are generally operating in favorable conditions, though the city’s mandatory landlord licensing requirement adds an administrative step that new investors sometimes miss.
Every landlord renting real property in Fredericksburg is required to obtain a City Landlord Business License under Code of Fredericksburg § 70-363. The base fee is $25 annually, with an additional tax of $0.16 per $100 of gross rental receipts above $50,000. Landlords must also submit an annual tenant list to the city’s Real Estate office by February 1st each year. Failure to maintain a current license or submit the tenant list can create compliance exposure. Contact the Real Estate office at (540) 372-1207 to get licensed before placing a tenant.
Navigating the Split Civil Docket
Fredericksburg GDC runs a detailed civil docket across multiple days of the week, and landlords filing unlawful detainer actions need to understand the distinction between the 1st/3rd Monday general civil docket and the 2nd/4th Monday UD-specific docket. Unlawful detainer returns are scheduled specifically on the 2nd and 4th Mondays: attorney UD cases at 8:30 a.m. and regular UD plaintiffs at 9:00 a.m. General civil matters including warrant returns and small claims run on 1st and 3rd Mondays. Civil motions and trials have their own Wednesday schedule. The critical compliance point for landlords: all civil continuances in Fredericksburg require Judge approval on motion — there are no clerk-granted civil continuances. Plan scheduling accordingly. Contact the Civil Division at (540) 372-1044 to confirm current docket assignments before filing.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: General informational purposes only. UD returns: 2nd & 4th Mondays. All civil continuances by Judge on motion only. Landlord Business License required — contact (540) 372-1207. Fredericksburg GDC: 701 Princess Anne Street, Suite 200 — Civil (540) 372-1044. Legal Aid Works: (540) 371-1105. Last updated: March 2026.
