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Virginia Landlord Entry Notice Law

Virginia landlords must give at least 72 hours' notice before entering a rented home.

Last verified: 2026-10-27 · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed

Virginia landlord entry notice rules at a glance

Notice before entry	72 hours' noticeVa. Code § 55.1-1229(A)(4)
Conditions	72 hours' notice for routine maintenance not requested by the tenant (work done within 14 days); otherwise notice of intent to enter and entry only at reasonable times; no notice in emergencies or for tenant-requested maintenanceVa. Code § 55.1-1229(A)(4)

What Virginia law says

How much notice must a Virginia landlord give before entering a rental?

Except in emergencies or where impractical, landlords must give notice of intent to enter and enter only at reasonable times, with at least 72 hours' notice for routine maintenance the tenant did not request (Va. Code § 55.1-1229(A)(4)).

How Virginia compares

No other verified jurisdiction uses 72 hours; none requires more.

None of Virginia's 6 neighbors follows the same rule.

Notice before entry	States
72 hours	Virginia
Set by local law only	Kentucky
24 hours	Maryland
No statewide rule	North Carolina, West Virginia
No fixed number of hours	Tennessee
48 hours	District of Columbia

Local rules in Virginia

The VRLTA applies statewide and supersedes local ordinances on landlord-tenant relations (Va. Code § 55.1-1201(E)); localities may run voluntary mediation commissions and enforce property-maintenance codes, but no Virginia locality has rent control.

Recent changes in Virginia

Routine maintenance: 14-day window in notice (effective 2024-07-01): A notice of routine maintenance the tenant did not request must state the last date the work may be performed, and the work must be done within 14 days of delivering the notice (the 72-hour advance notice rule still applies) (Va. Code § 55.1-1229(A)). Va. Code § 55.1-1229(A), 2024 Va. Acts ch. 46 (HB 701)

Other Virginia rules

Security deposit limit	2 months' rentVa. Code § 55.1-1226(A), Va. Code § 55.1-1206(A), (C), Va. Code § 55.1-1208(A)(7)
Deposit return deadline	45 days after the triggering eventVa. Code § 55.1-1226(A), Va. Code § 55.1-1226(E)
Late-fee cap	Lesser of 10% of the periodic rent or 10% of the remaining balance due and owed; only if the written lease provides for itVa. Code § 55.1-1204(E)
Rent-increase notice	30 days (Month-to-month/holdover: new rent takes effect on the next rent due date at least 30 days after written notice. Landlords with more than 4 units (or >10% interest in more than 4) must give 60 days' written notice before the lease term ends of any rent increase for a renewing or auto-renewing lease (90 days from July 1, 2027))Va. Code § 55.1-1253(D), Va. Code § 55.1-1204(K)
Notice for unpaid rent	14 days (14-day pay or quit notice (notice of nonpayment))Va. Code § 55.1-1245(F), 2026 Va. Acts chs. 353 (HB 15), 354 (SB 48)
Month-to-month termination	30 days (either side)Va. Code § 55.1-1253(A), (B)

Read the Virginia law

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