Newport News, VA Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

Unless a current certificate or temporary certificate of compliance is in force for a residential rental dwelling unit in accordance with the provisions of subsection 13-196(a)(1) of this article, and such certificate remains in effect, no owner of such unit shall permit any person to occupy such unit as a tenant or otherwise.(f)A building or structure meeting the definition of a residential rental dwelling unit but located outside of an inspection district shall nevertheless be subject to the terms of this article on the following basis: City council makes a separate finding for said individual residential rental dwelling unit that:(1)There is a need to protect the public health, welfare and safety of the occupants of that individual residential rental dwelling unit;(2)The individual residential rental dwelling unit is either:a.Blighted, orb.In the process of deteriorating; or(3)There is evidence of violations of the building code that affect the safe, decent and sanitary living conditions for occupants of such individual residential rental dwelling unit. Upon said finding by the city council, said residential rental dwelling unit shall be subject to this article, notwithstanding its location outside the inspection districts.