Greene County sits at the northern edge of the Charlottesville metro area, bordered by Albemarle County to the south, Madison to the north, Rappahannock to the northwest, and Albemarle to the west. It is a small, rapidly growing county of approximately 22,000 residents that serves primarily as a bedroom community for Charlottesville and the University of Virginia economy. US-33 is the primary arterial connecting Stanardsville to the Charlottesville area, though many residents commute via US-29 through adjacent Albemarle County. The county has grown substantially since 2000 as buyers and renters priced out of Charlottesville and Albemarle County move north into the Blue Ridge foothills.
The rental market in Greene County is primarily single-family residential, with rents of $1,300–$1,800 per month reflecting its suburban-rural character and Charlottesville commuter appeal. The tenant base includes University of Virginia employees, healthcare workers at UVA Medical Center (a commute south), Shenandoah Valley regional workers, and households seeking lower-cost alternatives to Albemarle County. The GDC in Stanardsville features weekly Wednesday civil hearings — a landlord-accessible schedule — with the 5th Wednesday designated as an administrative day (no court).
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat / Court
Stanardsville, 85 Stanard St. (Clerk) / 12 Ford Ave (Courtroom)
Population
~22,000 (2025 est.)
MSA
Charlottesville, VA MSA
Key Communities
Stanardsville (seat), Ruckersville (US-29/33 corridor, most rental activity), Standardsville, Quinque
Major Employers
UVA (commuters), Greene County gov. & schools, Elkton area employers, tourism/rural businesses
Typical SFH Rent
$1,300–$1,800/mo
GDC Clerk
Jennifer Rae Currier — (434) 985-5224
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
Civil UD Docket
Every Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. (no court 5th Wed.)
Contested Civil
Wednesday, 12:00 p.m. or as scheduled by Court
Continuances
1st by Clerk; subsequent by Judge
Eviction Timeline
4–7 weeks typical (weekly Wednesday civil)
Security Deposit Return
45 days after termination
Statute
Va. Code Ann. §§ 55.1-1200 et seq.
Greene 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. Greene County Building & Zoning (434-985-5200) handles permits for new construction and renovation. Note that courtroom and clerk’s office are at separate addresses: Clerk at 85 Stanard Street; Courtroom at 12 Ford Ave, Stanardsville.
Rent Control
None. Virginia law prohibits local rent control (Va. Code § 55.1-1322). Greene County rents have risen with Charlottesville MSA growth pressure and the county’s growing commuter population.
Security Deposit
Capped at 2 months’ rent (Va. Code § 55.1-1226). Must be returned with written itemization within 45 days. At Greene rents, deposits of $2,600–$3,600 are at stake. Document property condition at move-in and move-out.
Fee Disclosure (2024)
Va. Code § 55.1-1204.1 requires all charges on the first page of the lease. For rural properties with private water/sewer or well/septic, utility arrangements must be clearly disclosed.
Greene Combined Court — 16th Judicial District
Clerk Address: P.O. Box 245, 85 Stanard Street, Stanardsville, VA 22973. Courtroom: 12 Ford Ave. Clerk: Jennifer Rae Currier. Phone: (434) 985-5224. Fax: (434) 985-1448. Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. GDC Judges (16th District): Hon. Claiborne H. Stokes Jr. (Chief), Hon. Theresa W. Carter, Hon. Matthew J. Quatrara, Hon. Kenneth Andrew Sneathern (Presiding). Note: filings go to the Clerk’s office at 85 Stanard Street; hearings are held at 12 Ford Ave. Confirm with the Clerk before your first filing.
Civil Docket — Every Wednesday 11:30 a.m. (No 5th Wednesday)
Civil returns are heard every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Contested Civil begins at 12:00 p.m. (or as scheduled by the Court). Traffic is heard earlier on Wednesdays: 1st and 2nd Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.; criminal 3rd & 4th Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. The 5th Wednesday of any month is designated an Administrative Day — no court is held. Verify that your scheduled hearing date is not a 5th Wednesday before filing and relying on that date.
Continuance Policy
First continuance granted by Clerk; subsequently granted by the Judge. This is a landlord-accessible policy — the first continuance flexibility makes initial scheduling adjustments possible. With weekly Wednesday civil hearings, even a first continuance delays proceedings by about a week (or more if the next Wednesday falls on a 5th Wednesday).
Landlord Entry Notice
Minimum 72 hours’ advance written notice before non-emergency entry (2024 VRLTA update). Greene County’s UVA-adjacent professional tenant base expects timely and professional maintenance communication.
Late Fees
Capped at 10% of monthly rent or 10% of balance due. Must be in the lease. At $1,500/month, maximum late fee is $150/month.
Self-Help Eviction
Strictly prohibited under Va. Code § 55.1-1245. Use the Wednesday civil docket process.
Legal Aid / Resources
Legal Aid Justice Center (serving Greene and surrounding counties, Charlottesville area): (434) 977-0553. Virginia Lawyer Referral Service: (800) 552-7977. Greene Combined Court Clerk: (434) 985-5224. Greene County Admin: (434) 985-5200. 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: Ruckersville (US-29/33 junction, most rental volume, most commercial activity, closest to Charlottesville), Stanardsville (county seat, courthouse, quiet village), Quinque and Lydia (rural southern county), Elkton (adjacent Rockingham County, some cross-county commuters).
UVA commuter county: Apply 3x monthly income. UVA faculty and staff are typically reliable long-term tenants; UVA graduate students (especially those living with partners or families) can also be strong renters. Verify employment start and contract end dates for academic appointments — short-term academic contracts require lease terms aligned to the academic year. Healthcare workers at UVA Medical Center are particularly desirable — document their employment status carefully.
Two-address court: Clerk’s office (filings) at 85 Stanard St.; hearings at 12 Ford Ave. Know which address is which before your case date.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Greene County Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law: A Guide for Property Owners in the Charlottesville Northern Suburbs
Greene County is the Charlottesville metropolitan area’s quiet northern neighbor — a county of roughly 22,000 people at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the rolling foothills of Albemarle County give way to slightly steeper terrain and a noticeably more rural character. Its growth since 2000 has been driven almost entirely by the gravitational pull of the University of Virginia and the broader Charlottesville economy: households who want the region’s educational and employment advantages but find Albemarle County’s property values prohibitive often land in Greene County, particularly along the Ruckersville corridor at the US-29/33 junction.
Greene Combined General and JDR District Court, 16th Judicial District, is split between two Stanardsville addresses: filings go to the Clerk’s office at 85 Stanard Street (P.O. Box 245); hearings are held at the courtroom at 12 Ford Avenue. Clerk Jennifer Rae Currier can be reached at (434) 985-5224, fax (434) 985-1448. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Civil returns are heard every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., with contested civil beginning at 12:00 p.m. The 5th Wednesday of any month is an administrative day with no court — confirm your hearing date is not a 5th Wednesday before filing. The first continuance may be granted by the Clerk; all subsequent continuances require a Judge. The 2024 VRLTA updates apply throughout: 72-hour entry notice, all fees on the first lease page, late fees capped at 10%, deposits capped at two months’ rent with 45-day return, and self-help eviction prohibited. Legal Aid Justice Center serves Greene County tenants at (434) 977-0553.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Virginia attorney or Legal Aid Justice Center at (434) 977-0553. Greene Combined District Court Clerk: 85 Stanard Street, Stanardsville, VA 22973 — (434) 985-5224. Courtroom: 12 Ford Ave. 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 Greene County Combined District Court Clerk at 85 Stanard Street, Stanardsville, VA 22973 — (434) 985-5224 (Courtroom: 12 Ford Ave). Legal Aid Justice Center: (434) 977-0553. Last updated: March 2026.
