Gloucester County occupies the northern Middle Peninsula, bordered by the York River to the south (across from Yorktown and James City County), the Mobjack Bay and Chesapeake Bay coastline to the east, and Mathews, King and Queen, and King William counties to the north and west. With approximately 40,000 residents as of 2025, Gloucester is one of the larger Middle Peninsula counties and has experienced steady growth driven by its position across the Coleman Bridge from the Hampton Roads employment base. US-17 is the county’s primary artery, connecting Gloucester Courthouse to the Coleman Bridge across the York River to Yorktown and from there to Newport News, Hampton, and the full Hampton Roads metropolitan area. The county seat and justice complex is at 7400 Justice Drive in Gloucester Courthouse, where the GDC and Circuit Court are co-located in a modern judicial facility.
Gloucester’s rental market reflects its commuter-county status. Single-family home rents run $1,400–$1,900 per month, with demand from military households at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and Naval Station Norfolk (accessible via US-17 and I-64), civilian government and defense contractor employees, healthcare workers at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital in the county, and general Hampton Roads commuters who want lower housing costs and a more rural character than James City or York counties provide. The county’s waterfront character — substantial Chesapeake Bay, York River, and Mobjack Bay frontage — adds a vacation and seasonal rental component to the market.
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat / Court
Gloucester Courthouse, 7400 Justice Drive, Rm 102
Population
~40,000 (2025 est.)
MSA
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News MSA (fringe)
Key Communities
Gloucester Courthouse (seat), Gloucester Point, Hayes, Saluda corridor, Ordinary, Bena
Major Employers
Riverside Walter Reed Hospital, NWS Yorktown (commuters), Gloucester County gov. & schools, VIMS (Virginia Institute of Marine Science), retail/agriculture
Typical SFH Rent
$1,400–$1,900/mo
GDC Clerk
Hannah Ruth Smith — (804) 693-4860
Rent Control
None
Just-Cause Eviction
Not required
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
5-Day Pay or Quit
Lease Violation
30-Day Notice to Cure (21 days to fix)
Month-to-Month Term.
30-Day Written Notice
UD Civil Docket
Every Friday: 9:30 a.m. First Callings; 10:30 a.m. UD; No court on 5th Friday
Contested Trials
Fridays 11:00 a.m. (set with Clerk); no 5th Friday
Filing Fee
~$50–$75 + sheriff service fee
Continuances
Civil: Judge approval required (all civil cases)
Eviction Timeline
4–7 weeks typical (weekly Friday civil)
Security Deposit Return
45 days after termination
Statute
Va. Code Ann. §§ 55.1-1200 et seq.
Gloucester County Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Rental Licensing
No county-level rental registration or landlord license required. Virginia has no statewide landlord licensing statute. Gloucester County Building, Permits & Inspections (804-693-1306) handles permits for new construction and major renovations. Proper dress is required to enter the Gloucester courthouse — the GDC posts a specific dress code (no hats/hoods, no shorts, shirts tucked in). Landlords and their representatives should plan accordingly.
Rent Control
None. Virginia law prohibits local rent control (Va. Code § 55.1-1322). Gloucester rents have grown with Hampton Roads suburban expansion and the county’s role as a military-commuter bedroom community.
Security Deposit
Capped at 2 months’ rent (Va. Code § 55.1-1226). Must be returned with written itemization within 45 days. At Gloucester rents, deposits of $2,800–$3,800 are at stake. Document property conditions thoroughly.
Fee Disclosure (2024)
Va. Code § 55.1-1204.1 requires all charges on the first page of the lease. For waterfront or dock-access properties, any water access or boat slip fees must be disclosed upfront.
Gloucester GDC — 9th Judicial District
Address: P.O. Box 873, 7400 Justice Drive, Room 102, Gloucester, VA 23061. Clerk: Hannah Ruth Smith. Phone: (804) 693-4860. Fax: (804) 693-6669. Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. GDC Judges: Hon. Wade A. Bowie (Chief Judge), Hon. Matthew D. Danielson, Hon. James Anderson Mullins, Hon. Stephanie M. Revere (Presiding). The 9th District covers Gloucester, Mathews, and Middlesex counties. Circuit Court Clerk: Hon. Gloria J. Owens, (804) 693-2502.
Civil UD Docket — Every Friday (No 5th Friday)
Civil matters are heard every Friday, with no court on the 5th Friday of any month. The Friday civil schedule: 9:30 a.m. First Callings (general civil returns, where UD returns appear); 10:30 a.m. Unlawful Detainers (dedicated UD slot); 11:00 a.m. Contested Civil Trials (set with Clerk). Small Claims runs on 2nd or 4th Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. With weekly Friday civil hearings (minus 5th Fridays), Gloucester offers accessible eviction scheduling — verify that your hearing date is not a 5th Friday before filing and counting on a specific date.
Continuance Policy
First motion to continue a traffic matter may be granted by the Clerk. For all other cases — including civil UD matters — continuances require Judge approval. There is no Clerk-granted first continuance for civil cases at Gloucester GDC. Come prepared on your assigned Friday. Dress code applies — no shorts, no hats or hoods.
Military Tenant SCRA Note
Gloucester County’s proximity to Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and the broader Hampton Roads military installations means a significant share of tenants are active-duty military. Federal SCRA protections apply: servicemembers who receive PCS orders or qualifying deployment orders may terminate leases with 30 days’ written notice plus a copy of orders, regardless of lease term. Consult SCRA provisions before proceeding with any adverse action against a military tenant.
Landlord Entry Notice
Minimum 72 hours’ advance written notice before non-emergency entry (2024 VRLTA update). Gloucester’s professional tenant base expects responsive maintenance.
Late Fees
Capped at 10% of monthly rent or 10% of balance due. Must be in the lease. At $1,600/month, maximum late fee is $160/month.
Legal Aid / Resources
Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia (serving Gloucester and surrounding counties): (757) 627-5423. Virginia Lawyer Referral Service: (800) 552-7977. Gloucester GDC Clerk: (804) 693-4860. Gloucester County Admin: (804) 693-4042. DHCD Handbook: 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.
Underground Landlord
🏠 Communities & Screening Tips
Key areas: Gloucester Courthouse (US-17 corridor, courthouse complex, most commercial services), Gloucester Point (Coleman Bridge approach, highest density, York River waterfront), Hayes (US-17 northern corridor toward Saluda), Ordinary (village along US-17), Bena (eastern county, Mobjack Bay area).
Military and federal tenant base: Naval Weapons Station Yorktown is directly across the Coleman Bridge from Gloucester Point. Many Gloucester tenants are active-duty or civilian DOD employees. Review SCRA obligations before renting to active-duty military; confirm BAH rates and verify orders. Apply 3x monthly income consistently. For dual-military households, document both incomes.
Dress code: Gloucester GDC enforces a formal dress code in the courtroom — no shorts, no hats/hoods, shirts tucked in. Landlords representing themselves should dress accordingly for Friday civil hearings.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Gloucester County Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law: A Complete Guide for Property Owners on the York River’s Northern Shore
Gloucester County’s position on the northern bank of the York River — connected to the Hampton Roads employment base by the Coleman Bridge at Gloucester Point — makes it one of Virginia’s most accessible rural-county alternatives to the higher-priced Peninsula and South Hampton Roads markets. With approximately 40,000 residents and rents running $1,400–$1,900 per month, Gloucester offers a compelling value proposition for military households, civilian government employees, and defense contractor workers who need access to Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Naval Station Norfolk, or Langley AFB but want more space and lower costs than James City or York County.
The county’s General District Court at 7400 Justice Drive in Gloucester Courthouse is a modern, well-run facility serving the 9th Judicial District. The civil UD docket runs every Friday at dedicated time slots — 9:30 a.m. First Callings and 10:30 a.m. Unlawful Detainers — with no court on the 5th Friday of any month. Verify that your hearing date is not a 5th Friday before filing. Continuances for civil matters require Judge approval; there is no Clerk-granted first continuance for civil cases. The court enforces a formal dress code in the courtroom: no shorts, no hats or hoods, shirts tucked in. Come prepared on your Friday date, dressed appropriately, with all documentation in order.
Gloucester County landlords with military tenants must understand federal SCRA protections. Servicemembers receiving qualifying PCS or deployment orders can terminate a lease with 30 days’ written notice and a copy of orders — the landlord cannot penalize this early termination regardless of the lease term remaining. Always verify active-duty status and current orders when screening military applicants, and confirm their BAH rate as part of income verification. The 2024 VRLTA updates apply in full: 72-hour entry notice, fee disclosure on the first lease page, late fees capped at 10% of monthly rent, security deposits capped at two months’ rent with 45-day return, and self-help eviction absolutely prohibited under Va. Code § 55.1-1245. Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia serves Gloucester County tenants at (757) 627-5423.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Virginia attorney or Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia at (757) 627-5423. Gloucester County General District Court: 7400 Justice Drive, Room 102, Gloucester, VA 23061 — (804) 693-4860. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Landlord-tenant law is subject to change. Consult a licensed Virginia attorney or contact Gloucester County General District Court at 7400 Justice Drive, Room 102, Gloucester, VA 23061 — (804) 693-4860. Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia: (757) 627-5423. Last updated: March 2026.
