Virginia Eviction Notice
Create a proper Virginia eviction notice — pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or termination — and download a print-ready PDF. Free, no signup. The preview updates as you type.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
What happens after the notice in Virginia
If the tenant does not comply, the eviction moves to court. These are Virginia’s own rules for that step, from the judiciary and the statute.
- What the case is called. In Virginia an eviction lawsuit is a(n) unlawful detainer action. — Va. Code § 8.01-126 (Article 13, Unlawful Entry and Detainer) ↗
- Where to file. If the tenant doesn’t comply with the notice, the landlord files in the General District Court. — Va. Code § 8.01-126(B) (version effective until July 1, 2027) ↗
- How to serve the notice. Notice is served at the tenant's last known place of residence (may be the dwelling unit); electronic notice allowed if the rental agreement provides, with proof of delivery retained. — Va. Code § 55.1-1202(A)-(B) (version effective until July 1, 2027) ↗
- No self-help. Va. Code § 55.1-1243.1 – tenant remedies where landlord willfully and without court authority excludes tenant or interrupts essential service (statutory damages $5,000 or four months' rent) — Va. Code § 55.1-1243.1(A) ↗
Each point links to the Virginia source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.
Virginia notice periods · as of 2026
- Non-payment of rent
- 14 days
- Lease violation (cure)
- 21 days
- End month-to-month
- 30 days
Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1245 (as amended eff. 7/1/2026); § 55.1-1253 · verify ↗. Using the wrong number can void the notice — confirm the current rule before you serve it.
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Types of eviction notice
- Pay or quit — for unpaid rent: pay by the deadline or move out.
- Cure or quit — for a lease violation: fix it by the deadline or move out.
- Unconditional / termination — to end a month-to-month tenancy or for serious violations.
Virginia notice period & service
The number of days and how you must deliver the notice are set by Virginia law — get both right, keep proof of service, and never lock out or remove a tenant yourself. Check the current Virginia eviction rules before serving.
If the tenant moves out still owing rent, the notice won’t collect it. Put the amount and a deadline in writing with a Virginia demand letter for payment; if it’s ignored, you can file in Virginia small claims court, where the limit is $5,000.
Frequently asked questions
How many days notice do I have to give in Virginia?
In Virginia, a non-payment (pay-or-quit) notice must give the tenant 14 days to pay or leave (as of 2026). Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1245 (as amended eff. 7/1/2026); § 55.1-1253. Notice periods for lease violations or ending a tenancy differ — see the box on this page and confirm current law before serving.
How do I serve the notice in Virginia?
States set rules for delivery — often personal delivery, leaving it with an adult at the home, and/or mailing a copy. Keep proof of how and when you served it. Improper service is a common reason eviction cases get dismissed, so follow Virginia’s method carefully.
Do I need a lawyer?
Not always for the notice itself, but eviction is technical and a small mistake can restart the clock. For contested cases, commercial properties, or if the tenant has an attorney, it’s worth consulting a landlord-tenant lawyer in Virginia.
Where does a landlord file an eviction case in Virginia?
If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord files in the General District Court (the case is called a(n) unlawful detainer action). Source: Va. Code § 8.01-126(B) (version effective until July 1, 2027).
How must an eviction notice be served in Virginia?
Notice is served at the tenant's last known place of residence (may be the dwelling unit); electronic notice allowed if the rental agreement provides, with proof of delivery retained. Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1202(A)-(B) (version effective until July 1, 2027).
How does Virginia compare? See the notice periods in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute. Not sure which notice applies? Try the 2-question wizard.
How Virginia compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Virginia: Va. Code § 55.1-1245 (as amended eff. 7/1/2026); § 55.1-1253 ↗.
- Notice to pay rent or quit
Notice to pay rent or quit: 14 days — about 3× the national median of 5 days across the 47 states with a statutory rule.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 6 other states.
Notice to pay rent or quit in neighboring states — District of Columbia (10 days), Kentucky (7 days), Maryland (10 days), North Carolina (10 days), Tennessee (14 days), West Virginia (no statutory rule).
- Notice to cure a lease violation
Notice to cure a lease violation: 21 days — above the national median of 14 days across the 38 states with a statutory rule.
Ranked #9 of 38 states — higher means more time to fix the violation.
No other state uses exactly this figure.
Notice to cure a lease violation in neighboring states — District of Columbia (30 days), Kentucky (14 days), Maryland (30 days), North Carolina (no statutory rule), Tennessee (14 days), West Virginia (no statutory rule).
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 36 other states.
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in neighboring states — District of Columbia (30 days), Kentucky (30 days), Maryland (60 days), North Carolina (7 days), Tennessee (30 days), West Virginia (30 days).
The rest of what Virginia requires
The figures below are Virginia's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Virginia page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- 2 months' rent Va. Code §55.1-1226 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 45 days after move-out Va. Code §55.1-1226 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Va. Code §55.1-1226 ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $5,000 Va. Code § 16.1-122.1 et seq. ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- Small Claims Division of the General District Court · filing fee Approximately $50-$75 total depending on locality, number of defendants, and service method (e.g., Prince William County GDC: $50 filing without sheriff service, $62 with service on one defendant); exact amount via the vacourts.gov GDC civil fee calculator. Va. Code § 16.1-122.1 et seq. ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- Capped at $50 ($32 in HUD/public housing) Virginia Law ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Virginia DMV (Form SUT-1, price certification) ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization recommended Va. Code §64.2-1603 ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules Va. Code Ann. § 13.1-1023 ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- Clerk of the Circuit Court of the county or city where the land lies (Va. Code § 55.1-600) · no witnesses Va. Code §§ 55.1-600, 55.1-612 ↗
Eviction notice in other states
More Virginia legal forms
Different state? See eviction notices by state →