Mathews County is Virginia’s most coastal Middle Peninsula county — a narrow peninsula of land almost entirely surrounded by water, with the Piankatank River to the north, Mobjack Bay to the south, and the Chesapeake Bay to the east. With approximately 9,000 residents and almost no population center of any size, Mathews is a genuinely small waterman’s county whose economy blends commercial fishing, recreational boating, marine trades, and a substantial vacation and second-home market along its extensive shoreline. The county seat at Mathews (an unincorporated courthouse village) is the primary service hub. The court operates from the Liberty Square complex on Buckley Hall Road, which also houses county government offices.
The rental market has two distinct tiers: year-round residential housing for local workers ($700–$1,000/month) and seasonal waterfront rental cottages that can command significantly higher rates. The GDC holds civil first-call hearings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m., with contested civil hearings on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. The dress code is formally spelled out on the court’s website, and the continuance policy gives the Clerk authority to grant the first motion; all subsequent motions go to the Judge.
📊 Quick Stats
GDC Location
10622 Buckley Hall Road, Liberty Square (P.O. Box 434), Mathews, VA 23109
Population
~9,000 (2025 est.)
Region
Middle Peninsula — Piankatank River / Mobjack Bay / Chesapeake Bay
Key Communities
Mathews (seat), Hudgins, Bohannon, Diggs, Hallieford, Gwynn’s Island
No county-level rental registration required. Virginia has no statewide landlord licensing statute. Mathews County Building Official (804-725-7172) handles permits. Seasonal waterfront rental hosts should confirm short-term rental zoning compliance with Mathews County Planning (804-725-7172).
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 Mathews year-round rents, deposits run $700–$1,000. Note: seasonal waterfront rental cottages structured as short-term rentals typically fall outside VRLTA; consult an attorney for properties used in dual residential/vacation modes.
Fee Disclosure (2024)
Va. Code § 55.1-1204.1 requires all charges on the first page of the lease.
Mathews GDC — 9th Judicial District
Address: 10622 Buckley Hall Road, Liberty Square, P.O. Box 434, Mathews, VA 23109. Clerk: Amy Sue Blake. Phone: (804) 725-2242. Fax: (804) 725-2263. Email: ablake@vacourts.gov. Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. GDC Judges (9th District): Hon. Wade A. Bowie (Chief), Hon. Matthew D. Danielson, Hon. James Anderson Mullins, Hon. Stephanie M. Revere (Presiding).
Civil First Callings (where UD first returns appear) are heard on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. (no 5th Tuesdays). Contested civil cases and Small Claims (at 1:30 p.m.) run on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. Traffic and criminal matters are also on Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The bi-weekly first-calling schedule means filing promptly after the notice period expires is important. Contact Clerk Amy Sue Blake at (804) 725-2242 or ablake@vacourts.gov to confirm the next available first-calling date.
Dress Code
The court enforces a formal dress code. Required: neat and tidy appearance, shirt tucked in, clothes covering underwear/stomach/cleavage. Prohibited: hats, hoods, sunglasses (unless religious/health reason), obscene or offensive clothing, shorts, ripped clothes, skirts that are too short. Plan accordingly for every Tuesday appearance.
Continuance Policy
First motion to continue may be granted by the Clerk. Subsequent motions to continue may be granted by the Judge. Contact Clerk Amy Sue Blake at (804) 725-2242 before your Tuesday first-calling date if a continuance is needed.
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 $850/month, maximum late fee is $85/month.
Legal Aid / Resources
Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia (serving Mathews): (757) 627-5423. Virginia Lawyer Referral Service: (800) 552-7977. Mathews GDC Clerk: (804) 725-2242. Mathews County Admin: (804) 725-7172. 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: Mathews (county seat, Buckley Hall Rd courthouse area), Hudgins (Mobjack Bay area), Bohannon (Piankatank River area), Gwynn’s Island (iconic waterfront island community, causeway access only), Diggs and Hallieford (interior and bay-area waterman communities).
Waterman & seasonal economy: Year-round tenants include watermen (commercial fishing, crabbing — seasonal income), county and school employees (stable), and marine tradespeople. Verify base year-round income for watermen, not peak-season earnings. Dress code is enforced at court — plan accordingly. Civil first callings 1st & 3rd Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m.; file promptly after notice expires.
Mathews County Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law: Guide for Property Owners on the Chesapeake Peninsula
Mathews County is Virginia’s most thoroughly maritime county — a low-lying Middle Peninsula peninsula where nearly every road eventually leads to water, and where the culture of watermen, sailboats, and coastal living is as embedded in the local identity as it gets anywhere in the Chesapeake region. With approximately 9,000 permanent residents and a significant population of seasonal and second-home visitors, Mathews operates two parallel economies: the year-round economy of county services, commercial fishing, marine trades, and small retail, and the vacation economy of Chesapeake Bay sailing, Mobjack Bay crabbing, and summer cottage rental. Gwynn’s Island — accessible by causeway — is one of the Chesapeake’s most iconic small-island communities.
Mathews General District Court, 9th Judicial District, is at 10622 Buckley Hall Road (P.O. Box 434), Mathews, VA 23109. Clerk Amy Sue Blake is at (804) 725-2242, email ablake@vacourts.gov. Civil first callings run on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. (no 5th Tuesdays); contested civil on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. The first continuance motion may be granted by the Clerk; subsequent motions go to the Judge. The court has a formal dress code — no hats, shorts, or offensive clothing. All 2024 VRLTA updates apply. Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia serves Mathews tenants at (757) 627-5423.
General informational purposes only — not legal advice. Mathews General District Court: P.O. Box 434, Mathews, VA 23109 — (804) 725-2242. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: General informational purposes only. Mathews GDC: P.O. Box 434, Mathews, VA 23109 — (804) 725-2242. Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia: (757) 627-5423. Last updated: March 2026.
