Orange County is a Piedmont Virginia county of approximately 37,000 residents, centered on the town of Orange at the US-15 and US-522 crossroads. Located about 25 miles north of Charlottesville and 30 miles south of Culpeper, Orange County is one of the Charlottesville metro exurbs attracting households seeking more affordable housing while maintaining reasonable commutes. The county is also a wine country destination in its own right — the James Madison Wine Trail and proximity to the Monticello and Rappahannock wine regions make it an agritourism and second-home market. James Madison’s Montpelier is Orange County’s most celebrated historic attraction and a significant employer through its museum and preservation operations.
Year-round residential rents run $1,000–$1,400/month. The GDC at 110 North Madison Road runs one of Virginia’s highest-frequency rural civil dockets: civil first calls and trials on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesday AND Friday of each month — eight civil days per month. Small claims run at 12:15 p.m., first calls at 12:30 p.m., and trials at 1:00 p.m. Civil continuances in criminal cases by Commonwealth’s Attorney or Judge; traffic by clerk’s office.
📊 Quick Stats
GDC Location
110 North Madison Road, Suite 100, Orange, VA 22960
Population
~37,000 (2025 est.)
Region
Piedmont Virginia — Charlottesville exurb / US-15 Corridor
Key Communities
Orange (seat/town), Gordonsville, Locust Grove, Lake of the Woods (large planned community), Unionville
Major Employers
Orange County gov. & schools, James Madison’s Montpelier, Dominion Energy (North Anna Nuclear), Charlottesville commuters, wineries/agritourism
Typical SFH Rent
$1,000–$1,400/mo
GDC Clerk
Sheila Alexander Lewis — (540) 672-6164
Rent Control
None
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
5-Day Pay or Quit
Civil First Calls
1st–4th Wed & Fri at 12:30 p.m. (8 civil days/month)
Small Claims
1st–4th Wed & Fri at 12:15 p.m.
Civil Trials
1st–4th Wed & Fri at 1:00 p.m.
Criminal Continuances
Commonwealth’s Attorney or Judge; traffic by clerk
No county-level rental registration required. Orange County Community Development (540-672-4574) handles permits. Lake of the Woods is a large private planned community with its own HOA rules — confirm short-term rental and lease restrictions with the Lake of the Woods HOA before renting. Town of Orange (540-672-3331) zoning applies within town limits.
Rent Control
None (Va. Code § 55.1-1322).
Security Deposit
Capped at 2 months’ rent (Va. Code § 55.1-1226). Return within 45 days with itemization. At Orange rents, deposits of $2,000–$2,800 are at stake.
Fee Disclosure (2024)
Va. Code § 55.1-1204.1 — all charges on the first page of the lease.
Orange GDC — 16th Judicial District
Address: 110 North Madison Road, Suite 100, Orange, VA 22960. Clerk: Sheila Alexander Lewis. Phone: (540) 672-6164. Fax: (540) 672-9438. Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. GDC Judges (16th District): Hon. Claiborne H. Stokes Jr. (Chief), Hon. Theresa W. Carter, Hon. Matthew J. Quatrara, Hon. Kenneth Andrew Sneathern. The 16th District also covers Albemarle/Charlottesville, Culpeper, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Louisa, and Madison.
Orange County GDC runs civil on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesday AND Friday of each month — a total of eight civil days per month. Small claims at 12:15 p.m., first calls at 12:30 p.m., trials at 1:00 p.m. OAR (Offender Aid and Restoration) runs 1st Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.; VASAP 2nd Friday at 9:00 a.m. Traffic/criminal runs those same Wed & Fri mornings at 9:30 a.m. With 8 civil days per month, Orange has one of the most accessible UD schedules of any rural Virginia county — nearly twice-weekly civil availability.
Continuance Policy
Criminal continuances: Commonwealth’s Attorney or Judge. Traffic continuances: clerk’s office. Note: no explicit civil continuance policy stated separately — contact the clerk at (540) 672-6164 for civil continuance procedures.
Landlord Entry Notice
Minimum 72 hours’ advance written notice (2024 VRLTA update).
Late Fees
Capped at 10% of monthly rent. At $1,200/month, maximum late fee is $120/month.
Legal Aid / Resources
Legal Aid Justice Center (Charlottesville, serving Orange): (434) 977-0553. Virginia Lawyer Referral Service: (800) 552-7977. Orange GDC Clerk: (540) 672-6164. Orange County Admin: (540) 672-4574. 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
🏠 Screening Tips
Orange County attracts Charlottesville commuters, Dominion Energy (North Anna) workers, Montpelier/agritourism employees, and Lake of the Woods retirees/second-home owners. Apply 3x monthly income from verifiable employment. Lake of the Woods HOA properties have their own community rules — include HOA rules addendum in leases. 8 civil days/month means fast UD scheduling; serve the 5-day notice immediately on nonpayment.
Orange County Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law: Piedmont Property Owner’s Guide
Orange County sits at the intersection of Virginia’s historic Piedmont and its growing exurban commuter belt, positioned equidistant between Charlottesville to the south and Culpeper to the north along US-15. The county’s 37,000 residents include a substantial commuter population accessing Charlottesville, Washington D.C. (via Culpeper), and the Dominion Energy North Anna nuclear complex, as well as wine industry workers, Montpelier employees, and a growing remote-work and retiree population drawn to the scenic Piedmont landscape. Lake of the Woods, a large private planned community of over 4,000 lots in Locust Grove, is a significant residential sub-market with its own HOA governance layer that landlords must navigate.
Orange General District Court, 16th Judicial District, is at 110 North Madison Road, Suite 100, Orange, VA 22960. Clerk Sheila Alexander Lewis: (540) 672-6164. Civil runs on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesday AND Friday of each month — eight civil days per month — one of Virginia’s most accessible rural UD schedules. Small claims at 12:15 p.m., first calls at 12:30 p.m., trials at 1:00 p.m. Criminal continuances by Commonwealth’s Attorney or Judge; traffic by clerk. All 2024 VRLTA updates apply. Legal Aid Justice Center in Charlottesville serves Orange County tenants at (434) 977-0553.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: General informational purposes only. Orange GDC: 110 North Madison Road Suite 100, Orange, VA 22960 — (540) 672-6164. Legal Aid Justice Center: (434) 977-0553. Last updated: March 2026.
