King George County is a rapidly growing exurban county on Virginia’s Northern Neck / Potomac River corridor, positioned between the Fredericksburg MSA to the west and the Dahlgren Naval Surface Warfare Center to the east. With approximately 28,000 residents, King George has experienced significant population growth driven by defense sector employment at NSWC Dahlgren — one of the Navy’s most important research and development installations with thousands of civilian and military positions — and commuter demand from households working in Fredericksburg, Quantico, or the Northern Virginia defense corridor. The county seat at King George sits along US-301, which connects to the Potomac Bridge and the Maryland side of the Potomac for commuters.
The rental market reflects this defense-commuter character. Single-family home rents run $1,400–$1,900 per month. The GDC at 10446 Government Center Blvd. features a civil docket exclusively on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. — one of the most restricted civil schedules in Virginia. Small Claims also runs the 1st Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. Traffic and criminal matters are on Wednesdays. Filing promptly after the notice period expires is critical to avoid waiting multiple months for a hearing.
📊 Quick Stats
GDC Location
10446 Government Center Blvd., Suite 105, King George
King George (seat), Dahlgren, Owens, Ninde, Caledon
Major Employers
NSWC Dahlgren (Navy / DOD), King George County gov. & schools, Fredericksburg commuters
Typical SFH Rent
$1,400–$1,900/mo
GDC Clerk
Rebecca L. Conner — (540) 775-2390
Rent Control
None
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
5-Day Pay or Quit
Lease Violation
30-Day Notice to Cure (21 days to fix)
Civil UD Docket
1st Tuesday ONLY — 9:00 a.m. (monthly)
Small Claims
1st Tuesday, 11:00 a.m.
Continuances (Traffic)
1st by Clerk; subsequent by Judge
Continuances (Criminal)
With Commonwealth’s Attorney agreement; subsequent by Judge
Eviction Timeline
6–10 weeks typical (monthly civil docket)
Security Deposit Return
45 days after termination
Statute
Va. Code Ann. §§ 55.1-1200 et seq.
King George 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. King George County Building & Zoning (540-775-9181) handles permits.
Rent Control
None. Virginia law prohibits local rent control (Va. Code § 55.1-1322).
Security Deposit
Capped at 2 months’ rent (Va. Code § 55.1-1226). Must be returned with written itemization within 45 days. At King George rents, deposits of $2,800–$3,800 are at stake.
Fee Disclosure (2024)
Va. Code § 55.1-1204.1 requires all charges on the first page of the lease.
King George GDC — 15th Judicial District
Address: 10446 Government Center Blvd., Suite 105, King George, VA 22485. Clerk: Rebecca L. Conner. Phone: (540) 775-2390. Fax: (540) 775-0813. Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. GDC Judges (15th District, shared with Hanover, Caroline, Essex, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond County, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Westmoreland): Hon. Hugh S. Campbell (Chief), Hon. Vincent S. Donoghue, Hon. Richard T. McGrath, Hon. Angela M. O’Connor (Presiding), Hon. Jane M. Reynolds, Hon. Julia H. Sichol, Hon. Mayo J. Wilson. Circuit Court Clerk: Hon. Jessica M. Mattingly, (540) 775-3322.
ALL civil cases in King George County, including Unlawful Detainers, are heard on the 1st Tuesday of each month ONLY at 9:00 a.m. Small Claims: 1st Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. Criminal and traffic matters are on Wednesdays. This monthly civil schedule is one of the most restrictive in Virginia. File the day your notice period expires. A missed date or continuance costs a full month. Verify the next 1st Tuesday with the Clerk at (540) 775-2390 before filing.
Continuance Policy
Traffic: first continuance by Clerk; subsequent by Judge. Criminal: with agreement of Commonwealth’s Attorney; subsequent by Judge. Continuances more than 60 days from offense date granted by Judge only. For civil UD continuances, contact the Clerk at (540) 775-2390 to confirm the procedure.
SCRA / Military Tenants
NSWC Dahlgren is King George County’s dominant employer, meaning a large share of tenants are active-duty military or civilian DOD employees. Federal SCRA protections apply. Verify active-duty status and BAH rate when screening military applicants.
Landlord Entry Notice
Minimum 72 hours’ advance written notice before non-emergency entry (2024 VRLTA update).
Late Fees
Capped at 10% of monthly rent. At $1,600/month, maximum late fee is $160/month.
Legal Aid / Resources
Rappahannock Legal Services (serving King George): (540) 371-1105. Virginia Lawyer Referral Service: (800) 552-7977. King George GDC Clerk: (540) 775-2390. King George County Admin: (540) 775-9181. 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.
Underground Landlord
🏠 Communities & Screening Tips
Key communities: King George (county seat, Government Center area, US-301 corridor), Dahlgren (NSWC campus community, most defense-related housing demand), Owens (US-301 corridor), Caledon (Potomac River area).
Defense-dominant economy: NSWC Dahlgren has thousands of civilian and military positions. Civilian GS-level employees are stable, well-compensated tenants — verify GS grade and base salary. Active-duty naval officers and enlisted: verify rank, BAH rate, and SCRA status. Apply 3x monthly income. With a monthly civil docket (1st Tuesday only), file the day the notice period expires without exception.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture.
King George County Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law: Guide for Property Owners Near NSWC Dahlgren
King George County’s identity is inseparable from Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren — one of the Navy’s most important research, development, testing, and evaluation facilities, employing thousands of civilian scientists, engineers, and support personnel along with active-duty naval and marine corps members. The county’s population of approximately 28,000 and its rents of $1,400–$1,900 per month reflect a market fundamentally shaped by this defense anchor, supplemented by Fredericksburg commuters and families priced out of Stafford and Spotsylvania counties to the west.
King George General District Court, 15th Judicial District, operates from 10446 Government Center Blvd., Suite 105, King George, VA 22485. Clerk Rebecca L. Conner is reachable at (540) 775-2390, fax (540) 775-0813, office hours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The critical operational fact: all civil cases — including Unlawful Detainers — are heard on the 1st Tuesday of each month ONLY at 9:00 a.m. This is one of the most restrictive civil dockets in Virginia. File the day your notice period expires. A missed date or continuance costs a full month. With a 5-day nonpayment notice, a one-week wait before filing, and a missed monthly docket, a landlord can easily find themselves two months into a nonpayment situation before a hearing. Precision matters here. All 2024 VRLTA updates apply. SCRA protections apply to military tenants. Rappahannock Legal Services serves King George tenants at (540) 371-1105.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. King George General District Court: 10446 Government Center Blvd., Suite 105, King George, VA 22485 — (540) 775-2390. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: General informational purposes only — not legal advice. King George General District Court: 10446 Government Center Blvd., Suite 105, King George, VA 22485 — (540) 775-2390. Rappahannock Legal Services: (540) 371-1105. Last updated: March 2026.
