Richmond County is a small Northern Neck county of approximately 9,000 residents with its county seat in Warsaw, situated at the Rappahannock River crossroads on US-360 and US-3. Not to be confused with the City of Richmond to the southwest, Richmond County is a rural Northern Neck jurisdiction whose economy revolves around county and school government, agriculture, healthcare (Riverside Tappahannock Hospital is immediately across the Rappahannock in Essex County), and a modest retail and services sector in Warsaw serving the surrounding Northern Neck region. The county’s population is geographically stable with modest growth driven by retirees and second-home owners attracted to the Northern Neck’s waterfront character.
Year-round residential rents run $750–$1,000/month. The Combined GDC/JDR at 201 Court Circle in Warsaw has a highly restricted civil schedule: civil is heard only on the 4th Friday at 10:00 a.m. — one of the most infrequent civil dockets in the 15th District. Traffic runs 1st–3rd Fridays at 9:00 a.m.; criminal at 11:00 a.m. A missed 4th Friday means a full month’s wait.
📊 Quick Stats
GDC Location
201 Court Circle (P.O. Box 1000), Warsaw, VA 22572
Richmond County gov. & schools, Riverside Tappahannock Hospital (Essex County adjacent), retail/services in Warsaw, agriculture, Rappahannock Community College
Typical SFH Rent
$750–$1,000/mo (year-round residential)
GDC Clerk
Sydonie S. Davis — (804) 333-4616
Rent Control
None
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
5-Day Pay or Quit
Civil UD
4th Friday ONLY at 10:00 a.m.
Traffic
1st, 2nd & 3rd Fridays at 9:00 a.m.
Criminal
1st, 2nd & 3rd Fridays at 11:00 a.m.
Continuances (Civil)
1st by Clerk with agreement of parties; subsequent by Judge
Continuances (Criminal)
Clerk with agreement of Commonwealth’s Attorney
Eviction Timeline
6–10 weeks typical (monthly 4th Friday civil)
Statute
Va. Code Ann. §§ 55.1-1200 et seq.
Richmond County Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Rental Licensing
No county-level rental registration required. Richmond County Building Official (804-333-3415) handles permits. Warsaw has a small commercial district but the county is otherwise entirely rural — no municipal zoning complications within the county.
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.
Fee Disclosure (2024)
Va. Code § 55.1-1204.1 — all charges on the first page of the lease.
Richmond County Combined GDC/JDR — 15th Judicial District
Address: 201 Court Circle (P.O. Box 1000), Warsaw, VA 22572. Clerk: Sydonie S. Davis. Phone: (804) 333-4616. Fax: (804) 333-3741. Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. GDC Judges (15th District): Hon. Hugh S. Campbell (Chief), Hon. Vincent S. Donoghue, Hon. Richard T. McGrath, Hon. Angela M. O’Connor, Hon. Jane M. Reynolds, Hon. Julia H. Sichol, Hon. Mayo J. Wilson. Same bench as Northumberland County. The 15th District is a large multi-county district covering much of the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, and Northern Virginia corridor.
Civil UD Docket — 4th Friday ONLY at 10:00 a.m.
Civil is heard ONLY on the 4th Friday of each month at 10:00 a.m. All Fridays have arraignments at 9:00 a.m. Traffic runs 1st, 2nd & 3rd Fridays at 9:00 a.m.; criminal at 11:00 a.m. JDR runs 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. The 4th-Friday-only civil schedule makes Richmond County one of the most restricted civil dockets in the 15th District. A missed 4th Friday costs a full calendar month. File promptly and track the 4th Friday of each month carefully.
Continuance Policy
Criminal: Clerk with agreement of Commonwealth’s Attorney. Civil: first continuance by Clerk with agreement of parties; all subsequent continuances by Judge. Contact the court at (804) 333-4616 before your 4th Friday civil date to arrange any continuance.
Landlord Entry Notice
Minimum 72 hours’ advance written notice (2024 VRLTA update).
Late Fees
Capped at 10% of monthly rent. At $875/month, maximum late fee is $87.50/month.
Legal Aid / Resources
Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia: (757) 627-5423. Virginia Lawyer Referral Service: (800) 552-7977. Richmond County Combined Court: (804) 333-4616. Richmond County Admin: (804) 333-3415. 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
Richmond County tenants: county/school employees (stable), hospital staff (Riverside Tappahannock, adjacent Essex), agricultural workers (verify year-round base). Civil court is 4th Friday ONLY — act immediately on nonpayment. File as soon as the 5-day notice expires so you hit the next 4th Friday rather than waiting a full month. Civil 1st continuance by Clerk if all parties agree.
Richmond County Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law: Northern Neck Property Owner’s Guide
Richmond County is a small Northern Neck county of approximately 9,000 residents, with its county seat in Warsaw at the US-360 and US-3 crossroads that serve as the commercial and governmental hub for the central Northern Neck region. Despite sharing a name with Virginia’s capital city, Richmond County is a quiet rural jurisdiction whose economy is rooted in county government, school employment, healthcare access (via Riverside Tappahannock Hospital just across the Rappahannock River in Essex County), and the retail and service sector that Warsaw provides for surrounding Northern Neck communities. Rappahannock Community College in Warsaw adds a modest educational presence.
Richmond County Combined District Courts, 15th Judicial District, are at 201 Court Circle (P.O. Box 1000), Warsaw, VA 22572. Clerk Sydonie S. Davis: (804) 333-4616. Civil is heard ONLY on the 4th Friday of each month at 10:00 a.m. Traffic runs 1st–3rd Fridays at 9:00 a.m.; criminal at 11:00 a.m. Civil first continuance by Clerk with agreement of parties; subsequent by Judge. Criminal continuances with agreement of Commonwealth’s Attorney. Given the monthly-only civil schedule, landlords must serve the 5-day notice immediately upon nonpayment and file promptly to catch the upcoming 4th Friday. All 2024 VRLTA updates apply. Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia serves Richmond County tenants at (757) 627-5423.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: General informational purposes only. Civil court meets only on the 4th Friday at 10:00 a.m. Richmond County Combined Courts: P.O. Box 1000, Warsaw, VA 22572 — (804) 333-4616. Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia: (757) 627-5423. Last updated: March 2026.
