Virginia Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
Virginia rules on rent increases & late fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No statewide rent control or rent-increase cap, and no Virginia statute authorizes local rent control. Va. Code Title 55.1, Ch. 12 (no cap); 2026 HB 278 / SB 355
The rules in Virginia
| Rent control / increase limits | No statewide rent control or rent-increase cap, and no Virginia statute authorizes local rent control. 2026 bills to authorize local rent control did not pass: HB 278 was referred to the Virginia Housing Commission for study and SB 355 was continued to 2027 (VHC study plan, May 19, 2026). Localities' lack of authority rests on the Dillon Rule rather than an express preemption statute (not separately verified). |
|---|---|
| Late fees | Only if provided in the written rental agreement; capped at the lesser of 10% of the periodic rent or 10% of the remaining balance due. Where there is no written lease, rent is late if not paid by the 5th of the month. Payment-processing fees restricted unless a no-fee payment method is offered (55.1-1204(J)). Section amended 2025 cc. 554, 562, 627, 655 and 2026 cc. 722, 723. Source: Va. Code 55.1-1204(E), (C) |
Free calculators
- Late Fee Checker — Check a late fee against your state's cap and grace period.
- Rent Increase Calculator — In states with a statewide rent cap, see the most your rent can go up this year.
Related questions
- Can a landlord raise the rent in the middle of a lease?
- How much can a landlord charge for a late fee?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent?
- Can a landlord evict you for no reason?
Virginia vs. neighboring states
| State | Rent control / increase limits | Late fees |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | No statewide rent control or rent-increase cap, and no Virginia statute authorizes local rent control. Va. Code Title 55.1, Ch. 12 (no cap); 2026 HB 278 / SB 355 | Only if provided in the written rental agreement; capped at the lesser of 10% of the periodic rent or 10% of the remaining balance due. Where there is no written lease, rent is late if not paid by the 5th of the month. Va. Code 55.1-1204(E), (C) |
| Kentucky | Preempted: only the General Assembly may enact rent control on private property; local governments may not. No statewide cap. KRS 65.875 | No statutory cap or grace period. KRS Chapter 383 (no late-fee provision) |
| Maryland | No statewide rent control or statewide cap on rent increases. Local jurisdictions may adopt rent regulation (statewide preemption not found). Md. Office of the Attorney General, 'Landlords and Tenants: Tips on Avoiding Disputes' (Rev. Feb. 2025); DHCD Tenants' Bill of Rights (eff. Oct 1, 2026) | Capped at 5% of the amount of unpaid rent for the rental period. For weekly rent: no more than $3 per week, with a total of no more than $12 per month. No statutory grace period. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208(d)(3) |
| North Carolina | Statewide preemption: counties and cities may not regulate the amount of rent for privately owned residential or commercial rental property. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1 | May be charged only if rent is 5 or more calendar days late. Monthly rent: max of $15 or 5% of monthly rent, whichever is greater. Weekly rent: max of $4 or 5% of weekly rent, whichever is greater. Only one late fee per late payment. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-46(a)-(b) |
| Tennessee | Prohibited statewide: local governments may not enact, maintain or enforce any ordinance or resolution that would control the rent charged for private residential or commercial property. Local mandatory below-market (inclusionary) housing requirements are also barred, but voluntary incentive programs are allowed. T.C.A. 66-35-102 | URLTA counties: no late fee may be charged until after a 5-day grace period, counting the due date as day 1. If the last day falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, no fee may be charged if rent is paid the next business day. Late fees may not exceed 10% of the past-due rent. Non-URLTA counties: no statute caps late fees or sets a grace period; the lease governs. T.C.A. 66-28-201(d); ch. 66-7 (checked) |
| West Virginia | No state rent control law. No enacted statewide preemption of local rent control was found in the code. W. Va. Code § 37-6-9 (current text contains no rent-control provision) | No statutory cap W. Va. Code ch. 37, art. 6 |
| District of Columbia | Yes. DC's Rent Stabilization Program covers many older rental units. Annual increase cap for covered units: lesser of CPI + 2% or 10% (registered elderly/disabled tenants: lowest of CPI, Social Security COLA, or 5%), at most once per 12 months, and only if the landlord is licensed/registered and the unit substantially complies with the housing code. All tenants (rent controlled or not) get at least 60 days' written notice of any rent increase. D.C. Code §§ 42-3502.08, 42-3502.06(e), 42-3502.24, 42-3509.04(b) | No more than 5% of the full rent due, only if the written lease states the maximum fee and rent is not paid within 5 days after the due date (or a longer lease grace period). Only one late fee per late payment; no interest on late fees; cannot be deducted from later rent; no eviction for unpaid late fees; no late fee on a subsidy provider's share. D.C. Code § 42-3505.31 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Compare rent increases & late fees in all 50 states and DC →
Virginia Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws FAQ
Is there rent control or a limit on rent increases in Virginia?
No statewide rent control or rent-increase cap, and no Virginia statute authorizes local rent control. (Va. Code Title 55.1, Ch. 12 (no cap); 2026 HB 278 / SB 355)
Is there a limit on late fees in Virginia?
Only if provided in the written rental agreement; capped at the lesser of 10% of the periodic rent or 10% of the remaining balance due. Where there is no written lease, rent is late if not paid by the 5th of the month. (Va. Code 55.1-1204(E), (C))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.