Virginia Notice to Vacate: Notice Periods and Rules

In Virginia, tenants give at least 30 days written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and landlords give at least 30 days. For unpaid rent, the notice period is 14 days. The details, exceptions and statute citations are below.

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Virginia notice periods at a glance

Tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy30 days
Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1253(A)
Landlord ending a month-to-month tenancy30 days
Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1253(A)
Longer tenancies and special casesAn owner of a multifamily property who declines to renew 20 or more month-to-month tenancies, or 50% of them, within any 30-day period must give each affected tenant at least 60 days' written notice (except for nonpayment) (§ 55.1-1253(B)).
Notice for unpaid rent14 days
Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1245(F)
End of a fixed-term leaseVirginia's statute does not require notice to end a fixed-term lease on its end date unless the lease requires it, but many Virginia leases auto-renew month to month, and then the 30-day rule in § 55.1-1253 applies.
How notice can be deliveredWritten notice delivered to the tenant's last known residence (which may be the unit) or to the landlord's place of business or designated address; electronic notices are allowed if the rental agreement provides for them, with the sender keeping proof of delivery (Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1202).

The nonpayment notice is now 14 days (it was 5 days before the pandemic-era changes); a version taking effect July 1, 2027 will also require larger landlords (more than 4 units) to offer a payment plan in that notice for arrears of one month or less. The 30-day period applies 'unless the rental agreement provides for a different notice period', so check the lease.

What a Virginia notice to vacate should include

  • The names of every tenant on the lease and the full address, including unit number
  • The date you are giving the notice and the date the tenancy ends
  • A move-out date that gives at least the minimum notice above, counted from the day the notice is delivered
  • For unpaid rent: the exact amount owed and how to pay it
  • Your name, signature and contact details
  • A record of how and when you delivered it (keep a copy)

Many month-to-month notices must also end on the last day of a rental period, so if rent is due on the 1st, the safest move-out date is the end of a month. Giving more notice than the minimum is fine; giving less usually makes the notice invalid.

Virginia notice to vacate FAQ

How much notice does a tenant have to give in Virginia?

For a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days in writing (Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1253(A)). If you have a fixed-term lease, check the lease: it may require notice before the end date or renew automatically.

How much notice does a landlord have to give in Virginia?

To end a month-to-month tenancy without a specific reason, at least 30 days (Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1253(A)). An owner of a multifamily property who declines to renew 20 or more month-to-month tenancies, or 50% of them, within any 30-day period must give each affected tenant at least 60 days' written notice (except for nonpayment) (§ 55.1-1253(B)).

What is the notice period for unpaid rent in Virginia?

The tenant gets 14 days to pay or move out (Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1245(F)). If the tenant does neither, the landlord can file an eviction case; only a court can order the tenant out.

How do you deliver a notice to vacate in Virginia?

Written notice delivered to the tenant's last known residence (which may be the unit) or to the landlord's place of business or designated address; electronic notices are allowed if the rental agreement provides for them, with the sender keeping proof of delivery (Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1202).

Do I need to give notice at the end of a fixed-term lease in Virginia?

Virginia's statute does not require notice to end a fixed-term lease on its end date unless the lease requires it, but many Virginia leases auto-renew month to month, and then the 30-day rule in § 55.1-1253 applies.

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Sources

Checked October 2026. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules. This page is general information, not legal advice.

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