Fairfax County follows Virginia law allowing no-fault lease nonrenewal with proper written notice. Most landlords can decline to renew without stating a reason, subject to limited just-cause protections added by Virginia HB 2541 (2024).
Under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, a landlord may end a month-to-month tenancy with 30 days written notice and decline to renew a fixed-term lease at expiration. No reason is required outside of fair housing protections. Virginia HB 2541 (2024) added limited just-cause termination requirements for certain tenants in qualifying properties. Fairfax County does not layer additional local no-fault restrictions because Dillon Rule limits local authority. Tenants displaced by no-fault termination may qualify for county and nonprofit relocation assistance.
An eviction filed in retaliation for protected tenant activity violates Virginia Code Section 55.1-1258 and is a defense to unlawful detainer in Fairfax County General District Court even where no-fault termination would otherwise be valid.
See how Fairfax's no-fault evictions rules stack up against other locations.
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