Prince Edward County is a Southside Virginia county of approximately 22,000 residents centered on Farmville, one of Virginia’s most significant small college towns. Farmville is home to Longwood University, a public liberal arts institution with approximately 4,000 enrolled students, and sits just eight miles from Hampden-Sydney College, a small private men’s liberal arts college of about 900 students. These two institutions give Prince Edward County a distinctively college-town character for a rural Southside county, driving demand for student and faculty housing and anchoring the local economy.
Year-round rents run $850–$1,150/month; student housing near Longwood runs $700–$1,000/month. The GDC at 111 South Street runs civil on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. (Sheriff’s day). Traffic first continuances by Clerk; civil first continuances by Clerk with agreement of both parties; criminal by Commonwealth’s Attorney agreement. An unusual local note: Longwood University, Hampden-Sydney College, and Farmville PD all have separate officer dockets in the court schedule.
📊 Quick Stats
GDC Location
111 South Street (P.O. Box 41), Farmville, VA 23901
Population
~22,000 (2025 est.)
Region
Southside Virginia — US-460 College Corridor
Key Communities
Farmville (seat & largest town), Hampden Sydney (village)
Major Employers
Longwood University (~4,000 students), Hampden-Sydney College (~900), Centra Southside Community Hospital, Prince Edward County gov. & schools
Must be agreed by Commonwealth’s Attorney (434-392-1902)
Eviction Timeline
3–5 weeks typical (weekly Wednesday civil)
Security Deposit Return
45 days after termination
Statute
Va. Code Ann. §§ 55.1-1200 et seq.
Prince Edward County Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Rental Licensing
No county-level rental registration required. Prince Edward County Building Official (434-392-3782) handles permits. Town of Farmville has its own zoning ordinance — confirm rental compliance with the Town of Farmville (434-392-3961) for properties within town limits. Near-campus housing near Longwood University may be subject to Farmville town regulations.
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. For student leases, require a creditworthy co-signer; student loan disbursements are not verifiable income.
Fee Disclosure (2024)
Va. Code § 55.1-1204.1 — all charges on the first page of the lease.
Prince Edward GDC — 10th Judicial District
Address: 111 South Street (P.O. Box 41), Farmville, VA 23901. Clerk: Lindsey Alexander Green. Phone: (434) 392-4024. Fax: (434) 392-3800. Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:15 p.m. GDC Judges (10th District): Hon. Calvin S. Spencer Jr. (Chief), Hon. Jody H. Fariss (Presiding), Hon. Darrel W. Puckett. The 10th District also covers Nottoway (which has its own combined court), Brunswick, Mecklenburg, and Charlotte counties.
Civil UD Docket — Every Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.
Civil (including UD) runs every Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. — the Prince Edward County Sheriff’s day. The full Wednesday schedule: 8:30 a.m. advisements and pleas; 9:00 a.m. Prince Edward Sheriff; 11:00 a.m. Animal Control and ASAP show-cause; 1:00 p.m. Civil Docket. Tuesday is Farmville PD day (8:30 a.m. advisements, 9:00 a.m. Town of Farmville PD, 1:00 p.m. State Police, 2:00 p.m. Longwood and Hampden-Sydney police). Monday is usually criminal/arraignment days.
Continuance Policy
Traffic: first continuance by Clerk. Criminal: must be agreed to by the Commonwealth’s Attorney at (434) 392-1902; if not agreed, defendant may request a hearing. Civil: first continuance by Clerk with agreement of both parties. Subsequent continuances in all categories require Judge approval.
Student Tenant Note
Longwood University (~4,000 students) and Hampden-Sydney College (~900 students) create a significant student rental market in Farmville. Always require a creditworthy co-signer on student leases. Lease terms often run August–July to match the academic calendar. Verify employment income for graduate students and faculty, not loan disbursements.
Landlord Entry Notice
Minimum 72 hours’ advance written notice (2024 VRLTA update).
Late Fees
Capped at 10% of monthly rent. At $1,000/month, maximum late fee is $100/month.
Legal Aid / Resources
Central Virginia Legal Aid Society: (804) 649-8991. Virginia Lawyer Referral Service: (800) 552-7977. Prince Edward GDC Clerk: (434) 392-4024. Prince Edward County Admin: (434) 392-3782. 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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🏠 Screening Tips
Student leases: Require creditworthy co-signer; student loan disbursements are not income. Verify enrollment dates and note academic-year vs. calendar-year lease differences. Faculty/staff: Longwood and Hampden-Sydney employees are stable year-round tenants — apply 3x monthly rent. Civil every Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.; civil 1st continuance by Clerk if both parties agree.
Prince Edward County Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law: College Town Guide
Prince Edward County is defined by its colleges. Farmville, the county seat and only major town, is home to Longwood University, a public liberal arts institution of approximately 4,000 students that is the region’s largest employer and cultural anchor. Hampden-Sydney College, eight miles west of Farmville, adds another roughly 900 residential students. Together these institutions give Prince Edward County a college-town character unusual for a rural Southside county of just 22,000 residents — and they create a year-round rental market significantly influenced by student and faculty housing demand.
Prince Edward General District Court, 10th Judicial District, is at 111 South Street (P.O. Box 41), Farmville, VA 23901. Clerk Lindsey Alexander Green: (434) 392-4024. Civil runs every Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. Traffic first continuances by Clerk; civil first continuances by Clerk with agreement of both parties; criminal continuances must be agreed to by the Commonwealth’s Attorney at (434) 392-1902. All 2024 VRLTA updates apply. Central Virginia Legal Aid Society serves Prince Edward tenants at (804) 649-8991.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: General informational purposes only. Prince Edward GDC: P.O. Box 41, Farmville, VA 23901 — (434) 392-4024. Criminal continuances: Commonwealth’s Attorney (434) 392-1902. Central Virginia Legal Aid: (804) 649-8991. Last updated: March 2026.
