Virginia Beach, VA local landlord rules
State law also applies. See Virginia landlord-tenant law and the Virginia landlord FAQ. State rules: Security deposit limit · Deposit return deadline · Notice to enter · Late fees · Eviction notice (nonpayment) · Rent increase notice.
Quick facts
| Topic | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Rent control / stabilization | No local rent control. |
| Rental licensing / registration | Virginia Beach rental inspection rules apply only where City Council designates them. After a public hearing, Council may designate rental inspection districts where rentals are blighted, deteriorating or need inspection. It may also designate individual units outside a district that are blighted or deteriorating or have building code violations (§ 16-12.1). Violations of the article carry the penalties in § 16-11 (§ 16-12.9). |
| Just-cause eviction | No local just-cause eviction rule can apply. |
Details & sources
Rent control / stabilization
No local rent control. The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies statewide and supersedes all other local ordinances or regulations concerning landlord and tenant relations and the leasing of residential property. (Based on the state statute.)
Verified Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1201 · last checked 2026-10-19
Back to quick facts ↑Rental licensing / registration
Virginia Beach rental inspection rules apply only where City Council designates them. After a public hearing, Council may designate rental inspection districts where rentals are blighted, deteriorating or need inspection. It may also designate individual units outside a district that are blighted or deteriorating or have building code violations (§ 16-12.1). Violations of the article carry the penalties in § 16-11 (§ 16-12.9).
Verified Source: Virginia Beach City Code §§ 16-12.1, 16-12.9 (Browser transcription) · last checked 2026-10-16
Back to quick facts ↑Just-cause eviction
No local just-cause eviction rule can apply. The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act supersedes all other local ordinances or regulations concerning landlord and tenant relations and the leasing of residential property, so terminations follow the VRLTA. (Based on the state statute.)
Verified Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1201 · last checked 2026-10-19
Back to quick facts ↑Research coverage
1 of 13 topics checked at the local level (state law is covered on the state page). A topic counts as checked only when every subtopic in it is checked or no additional requirement was found after a recorded full read. How coverage works.
| Topic | Status | Subtopics done |
|---|---|---|
| Deposits | Not researched | 0 of 2 |
| Deposit return deadlines | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Rent increases and rent control | Checked: requirement found | 1 of 1 |
| Late fees | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Landlord entry | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Repairs and habitability | Not researched | 0 of 1 |
| Screening and application fees | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Fair housing and assistance animals | Not researched | 0 of 1 |
| Disclosures | Not researched | 0 of 2 |
| Renewal and termination | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Eviction | Partially researched | 1 of 3 |
| Registration and licensing | Partially researched | 1 of 3 |
| Short-term rentals | Not researched | 0 of 2 |
Also applies statewide
Virginia rules that also apply in Virginia Beach:
- Security deposit limit
- Under Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A), no landlord may demand or receive a security deposit, however denominated, in an amount or value in excess of two months' periodic rent. The same section also governs how a deposit may be applied, the 45-day itemized disposition, multi-tenant refunds, utility holdbacks, mid-tenancy deduction notices, recordkeeping, and move-out inspection rights; those rules are not fully restated here. Example: a landlord may not avoid the two-month cap by calling the payment something other than a security deposit, because subsection (A) applies to a security deposit however denominated. Verified Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A) · last checked 2026-11-12 · Full Virginia security deposit limit page
- Deposit return deadline
- Itemized written notice plus any amount owed within 45 days after the tenancy ends or the tenant moves out, whichever is later. Verified Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full Virginia deposit return deadline page
- Notice to enter
- Notice of intent to enter, and entry only at reasonable times, except in an emergency. At least 72 hours' notice for routine maintenance the tenant didn't request. Verified Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1229(A)(4) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full Virginia notice to enter page
- Late fees
- Late charge must be in the written lease and can't exceed the lesser of 10% of the periodic rent or 10% of the remaining balance owed. Verified Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1204(E) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full Virginia late fees page
Other Virginia cities
- Arlington County landlord rules
- Berryville landlord rules
- Cape Charles landlord rules
- Charlottesville landlord rules
- Chesapeake landlord rules
- Emporia landlord rules
- Franklin County landlord rules
- Halifax County landlord rules
- King George County landlord rules
- Norfolk landlord rules
- Prince Edward County landlord rules
- Richmond landlord rules
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