Louisa County is a fast-growing I-64 corridor county of approximately 40,000 residents positioned between Richmond and Charlottesville — drawing commuters from both metro areas who seek more affordable housing in a rural-suburban setting. The county is perhaps best known statewide for Lake Anna, one of Virginia’s largest freshwater lakes, built to cool the North Anna Nuclear Power Plant and now home to a substantial vacation and second-home recreational market. The county seat at Louisa is a small historic town with courthouse and commercial services along West Main Street. Louisa County has experienced steady growth as a bedroom community for RVA and Charlottesville professionals, and the Lake Anna area drives a parallel vacation-rental market with distinct seasonal characteristics.
Single-family home rents run $1,100–$1,600/month in residential areas, with Lake Anna waterfront rentals commanding higher seasonal rates. The GDC at 314 West Main Street (P.O. Box 524) has a notably efficient schedule: civil and criminal matters are both handled on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with civil first return docket call at 12:30 p.m. and contested cases at 1:00 p.m. — twice weekly. Continuances for traffic infractions and civil first returns both require written motion heard by a Judge, which is a more formal process than the clerk-granted continuances found in many Virginia courts.
📊 Quick Stats
GDC Location
Cunningham Bldg, 314 West Main St. (P.O. Box 524), Louisa, VA 23093
Population
~40,000 (2025 est.)
Region
I-64 Corridor — Between Richmond & Charlottesville
Key Communities
Louisa (seat), Mineral, Gordonsville, Lake Anna (recreational), Bumpass, Ferncliff
Major Employers
Dominion Energy (North Anna Nuclear), Louisa County gov. & schools, Zion Crossroads commercial cluster, Richmond/Charlottesville commuters
Typical SFH Rent
$1,100–$1,600/mo (year-round residential)
GDC Clerk
Brandy S. Alexander — (540) 967-5330
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
Every Tuesday & Thursday: Civil First Returns 12:30 p.m.; Contested 1:00 p.m.
Small Claims
12:15 p.m. Tues. & Thurs.
Continuances
Traffic infractions & civil first returns: written motion heard by Judge (no clerk-granted)
Eviction Timeline
3–5 weeks typical (twice-weekly civil)
Security Deposit Return
45 days after termination
Statute
Va. Code Ann. §§ 55.1-1200 et seq.
Louisa County Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Rental Licensing
No county-level rental registration required. Virginia has no statewide landlord licensing statute. Louisa County Building Official (540-967-3427) handles permits. Short-term vacation rentals at Lake Anna may require county zoning review — confirm with Louisa County Planning (540-967-3427) before listing.
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 within 45 days with itemization. At Louisa rents, deposits run $2,200–$3,200. Note: short-term vacation rentals at Lake Anna structured properly typically fall outside VRLTA — consult an attorney for hybrid-use properties.
Fee Disclosure (2024)
Va. Code § 55.1-1204.1 requires all charges on the first page of the lease.
Louisa GDC — 16th Judicial District
Address: Cunningham Bldg, 314 West Main Street (P.O. Box 524), Louisa, VA 23093. Clerk: Brandy S. Alexander. Phone: (540) 967-5330. Fax: (540) 859-1331. 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. Circuit Court: P.O. Box 37, 100 W. Main Street, Louisa — chief judge Hon. Claude V. Worrell II.
Civil UD Docket — Every Tuesday & Thursday, 12:30 p.m.
Civil First Returns are on every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30 p.m., followed by Contested Cases at 1:00 p.m. The morning schedule (8:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.) is criminal and traffic. Small Claims at 12:15 p.m. With twice-weekly civil hearings, Louisa GDC offers one of the more accessible UD dockets among rural Virginia courts. File promptly; contested trial scheduling requires contacting the Clerk.
Continuance Policy
Traffic infractions and civil first return continuance requests are heard by Judge on written motion. This is a stricter continuance process than the clerk-granted first continuance found in many Virginia courts. For civil UD continuances, you must file a written motion with the court — the Clerk alone cannot grant it. Contact the Clerk at (540) 967-5330 for the written motion procedure.
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 $1,300/month, maximum late fee is $130/month.
Legal Aid / Resources
Central Virginia Legal Aid Society (serving Louisa): (804) 649-8991. Virginia Lawyer Referral Service: (800) 552-7977. Louisa GDC Clerk: (540) 967-5330. Louisa County Admin: (540) 967-3401. 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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🏠 Communities & Screening Tips
Key communities: Louisa (county seat, West Main Street corridor), Mineral (southern county, I-64/US-33 junction, earthquake-resilient infrastructure area), Gordonsville (shared with Orange County), Lake Anna (sprawling recreational lake, private waterfront, substantial vacation-rental market), Bumpass (Lake Anna access area), Zion Crossroads (fastest-growing commercial node, US-15/I-64 interchange).
Commuter & recreational dual market: Year-round residential tenants (Dominion Energy workers, county employees, commuters) apply 3x monthly income. Lake Anna vacation rental guests — confirm whether VRLTA applies (typically doesn’t for properly structured short-term rentals under 90 days). Civil UD requires written motion for continuances — prepare your case and attend ready to proceed at the Tuesday or Thursday 12:30 p.m. docket call.
Louisa County Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law: Guide for Property Owners on the I-64 Corridor
Louisa County occupies a strategic middle position on Virginia’s I-64 corridor between Richmond and Charlottesville — close enough to both metro areas to serve as a bedroom community for either, while maintaining its own rural character and the unique economic draw of Lake Anna. With approximately 40,000 residents and steady growth concentrated around the Zion Crossroads interchange and the Lake Anna recreational corridor, Louisa has developed a two-speed economy: the I-64 commuter market on the county’s southern and eastern edge, and the Lake Anna recreational and nuclear-energy economy in the county’s interior. Dominion Energy’s North Anna Nuclear Power Plant, visible from many Lake Anna vantage points, is one of the county’s most stable and high-paying employers.
Louisa General District Court, 16th Judicial District, is in the Cunningham Building at 314 West Main Street (P.O. Box 524), Louisa, VA 23093. Clerk Brandy S. Alexander is at (540) 967-5330. Civil First Returns run every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. — a twice-weekly schedule that is more accessible than most rural Virginia courts. The notable local rule: continuances for both traffic infractions and civil first returns require a written motion heard by a Judge. There is no clerk-granted first continuance available for civil UD cases. File a written motion well before the hearing date if a continuance becomes necessary. All 2024 VRLTA updates apply. Central Virginia Legal Aid Society serves Louisa tenants at (804) 649-8991.
General informational purposes only — not legal advice. Louisa General District Court: P.O. Box 524, Louisa, VA 23093 — (540) 967-5330. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: General informational purposes only. Louisa General District Court: P.O. Box 524, Louisa, VA 23093 — (540) 967-5330. Central Virginia Legal Aid Society: (804) 649-8991. Last updated: March 2026.
