Since 2020, the Virginia Fair Housing Law bars landlords from refusing applicants based on lawful source of income, including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. Virginia Beach landlords must accept vouchers as valid income.
VA Code §36-96.3 prohibits source-of-income discrimination in housing, covering Housing Choice Vouchers, veterans benefits, Social Security, and other lawful sources. Virginia Beach landlords cannot post no-Section-8 ads, refuse to consider voucher holders, or apply different screening criteria to voucher applicants. The Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority and Virginia Beach Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation administer regional voucher programs. Complaints go to the Virginia Fair Housing Office, which can pursue administrative or judicial remedies including damages.
Refusing voucher holders, posting source-restricted ads, or applying disparate screening can trigger Fair Housing Office investigations, civil penalties, and tenant damages.
Virginia Beach, VA
The Virginia Beach Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation administers Housing Choice Vouchers locally. Landlords accepting vouchers must pass Ho...
Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach requires rental property registration through its Rental Inspection Program in designated conservation areas. Not all rental properties citywi...
See how Virginia Beach's source-of-income discrimination rules stack up against other locations.
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