How long does an eviction take in Virginia?
For unpaid rent, expect about 7.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in Virginia, and anywhere from 5 to 12.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Virginia eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 14 daysofficial source
14 days to pay after written notice (Va. Code § 55.1-1245(F)); older guides still say 5 days source · secondary source - File the case and get a judgment about 10-30 days (typical 21)official source
Initial hearing within 21 days of filing; summons served at least 10 days before source - Judgment to lockout 11-21 daysofficial source
No eviction during the 10-day appeal period; sheriff gives 72 hours' notice source - If the tenant appeals 10-day windowofficial source
10 days to appeal to circuit court source
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
Can the tenant pay and stay?
Tenant can redeem by paying everything owed until 2 business days before the scheduled eviction. official source source
Eviction costs in Virginia
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $36 | Statewide: $36 statutory clerk fee for unlawful detainer (local fees and service extra) official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $30-$77 | Not verified for Virginia; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $75-$180 | Not verified for Virginia; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $1,646/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$16) data file |
Tenant protections
| Statewide rent control | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Statewide just-cause rules | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Right to counsel for tenants | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Seasonal or weather limits | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Required mediation / pre-filing program | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
Eviction cost calculator for Virginia
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 60/100
Timeline 27.1/50 · right to cure 3/20 · statewide protections 30/30. How the score works.
Virginia eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Virginia?
A nonpayment eviction in Virginia typically takes about 7.5 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 5 to 12.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Virginia?
14 days to pay after written notice (Va. Code § 55.1-1245(F)); older guides still say 5 days.
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Virginia by paying the rent?
Tenant can redeem by paying everything owed until 2 business days before the scheduled eviction.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Virginia?
The court filing fee is $36 statewide. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
Is Virginia landlord-friendly for evictions?
Virginia scores 60 out of 100 on the EvictionMath landlord-friendliness score (timeline 27.1/50, right to cure 3/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | official source | law.lis.virginia.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Notice period (backup) | secondary source | www.nolo.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | official source | law.lis.virginia.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | official source | law.lis.virginia.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | official source | law.lis.virginia.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | law.justia.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Not yet verified for Virginia: service fee, lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are left blank, never guessed. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
Compare similar states
Oregon (60, 5 wk) · Virginia (60, 7.5 wk) · Maryland (59, 6.5 wk) · Vermont (56, 11 wk) · Colorado (69, 5.5 wk)