Virginia Landlord Entry Notice Rules

Va. Code § 55.1-1229 provides that "except in case of emergency or if it is impractical to do so, the landlord shall give the tenant notice of his intent to enter and may enter only at reasonable times." There is no fixed statewide hours figure for ordinary entry, but "unless impractical to do so, the landlord shall give the tenant at least 72 hours' notice of routine maintenance" that the tenant has not requested. Such maintenance must be performed within 14 days of delivery of the notice, which must state the last possible date. The landlord may enter without the tenant's consent in case of emergency. The tenant may not unreasonably withhold consent to lawful entry for inspections, repairs, services, or showings.

A tenant may obtain injunctive relief, recover actual damages, and terminate the lease for a landlord's unlawful entry or repeated demands for entry that harass; a landlord has parallel remedies if the tenant unreasonably refuses lawful access under § 55.1-1229.