Portsmouth City Landlord-Tenant Law

Virginia landlord guide — city ordinances, courthouse info & local rules

Portsmouth City Rental Market Overview

Portsmouth is a Hampton Roads independent city of about 98,000 residents on the Elizabeth River directly across from Norfolk, connected by the Downtown Tunnel and the High-Level Bridge. The city has one of the longest and most significant naval and maritime histories on the East Coast — the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (confusingly located entirely within Portsmouth city limits) has been operating continuously since 1767, making it the oldest and one of the largest naval shipyards in the United States. The shipyard employs roughly 10,000 civilian workers and is a cornerstone of the local economy alongside the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, the second-oldest naval hospital in the country. The Olde Towne Historic District, with its antebellum architecture and waterfront promenade, has attracted renovation investment and a growing arts and dining scene. The rental market serves a broad base: shipyard and naval civilian workers, military families stationed at nearby installations, healthcare workers, and families who prioritize affordability and access to the broader Hampton Roads metro.

Typical rents range from $1,000–$1,600/month. The Portsmouth GDC at 1345 Court Street has a detailed split civil docket: Pro Se (Monday): uncontested 9 a.m., high volume 10 a.m., contested UD 11 a.m., small claims 11 a.m. Attorney (Thursday): uncontested 9 a.m., high volume 10 a.m., contested 1 p.m. Civil continuances require written submission using the court’s MOTION and NOTICE OF HEARING form.

Portsmouth City Ordinances & Local Rules

Last verified: March 2026 · Source: Portsmouth GDC — 3rd Judicial District

Virginia State Law Framework

⚡ Quick Overview

5

Days Notice (Nonpayment)

21

Days Notice (Violation)

45-75

Avg Total Days

$58

Filing Fee (Approx)

💰 Nonpayment of Rent

Notice Type 5-Day Pay or Quit Notice

Notice Period 5 days

Tenant Can Cure? Yes

Days to Hearing 21-30 days

Days to Writ 10 days

Total Estimated Timeline 45-75 days

Total Estimated Cost $150-$400

⚠️ Watch Out

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.

📜 Eviction Laws Main 📊 Compare This State

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📝 Virginia Eviction Process (Overview)

1. Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
2. Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
3. File an eviction case with the General District Court. Pay the filing fee (~$58).
4. Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
5. Attend the court hearing and present your case.
6. If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
7. 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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🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease: Virginia landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding tenant screening in Virginia — including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need Virginia's eviction process, proper tenant screening can help you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.

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Portsmouth City Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law: America’s Oldest Naval Shipyard, a Waterfront Revival, and a Civil Docket That Requires the Right Form

Portsmouth sits across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk with a history as old as American naval power itself. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard — its name a perennial source of confusion since it sits entirely within Portsmouth city limits — has been building, repairing, and overhauling warships since 1767, making it one of the oldest industrial operations in the United States and one of the Navy’s most critical facilities. The shipyard employs roughly 10,000 civilian workers in skilled trades — shipbuilders, electricians, welders, pipefitters, nuclear engineers — who represent one of the most stable and well-paid blue-collar workforces in Hampton Roads. The Naval Medical Center Portsmouth adds another significant civilian and military employment anchor. These two institutions together underpin a rental market that, while more affordable than Norfolk or Virginia Beach, maintains consistent demand driven by workers who want to live close to their jobs.

The Olde Towne Historic District deserves special mention for landlords eyeing investment in Portsmouth’s urban core. Bordered by the Elizabeth River waterfront and featuring some of the finest antebellum architecture in Virginia, Olde Towne has seen meaningful reinvestment over the past decade — a waterfront amphitheater, restored commercial buildings, and a growing restaurant and arts scene that has attracted younger residents and remote workers. Rents in and near Olde Towne trend toward the top of Portsmouth’s range. Churchland and Cradock offer more affordable working-family inventory with strong occupancy driven by shipyard proximity.

The Written Continuance Requirement — Read This Before You File

Portsmouth GDC has one of the most procedurally specific continuance policies in Virginia, and landlords who ignore it get burned. All civil continuance requests must be submitted in writing using the court’s own MOTION and NOTICE OF HEARING form — you cannot simply call and ask for a new date, and you cannot pick your own continuance date. The Clerk’s office provides the new date. The full policy is published at vacourts.gov/static/courts/gd/Portsmouth/continuance.pdf — read it before your first case. The civil docket itself is well-organized: Monday handles pro se matters (uncontested 9 a.m., high volume 10 a.m., contested UD and small claims 11 a.m.), Tuesday handles interrogatories and garnishments plus contested civil cases, and Thursday handles attorney matters (uncontested 9 a.m., high volume 10 a.m., contested trials 1 p.m.). Wednesday and Friday, the civil judge hears criminal cases — there is no civil docket those days. Contact Civil at (757) 393-8624. Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia: (757) 627-5423.