Virginia Beach, Virginia Eviction Risk: Low

Virginia Beach eviction risk city County carries an average eviction-risk score of 3.8/10, placing it in the low tier and squarely in the middle third of Virginia's 132 counties and independent cities. Spanning a single incorporated city, the county offers landlords a fairly uniform operating environment, with scores ranging from 4.8 to 4.8 across its one city. That consistency matters to investors modeling portfolio risk: what you see at the county level is essentially what you get on the ground.

Among peer jurisdictions, Virginia Beach city County sits at the same score as Fairfax County (4.8), slightly below Prince William County (5.09) and Arlington County (5.0), and just above Loudoun County (4.51) and Chesapeake city (4.5). The county ranks 59th of 132 in Virginia eviction laws by risk, meaning 58 jurisdictions are riskier and 73 are less risky, a genuine midpoint position with no strong tilt toward landlord or tenant advantage.

The cities inside Virginia Beach city County

Virginia Beach city County is coextensive with the independent city of Virginia Beach, which carries the full county score of 3.8/10 and a population of 456,349. Because there is only one city in this jurisdiction, there is no intra-county spread to navigate: risk is uniform from the resort strip to the inland suburban neighborhoods. Investors considering multiple Hampton Roads markets should compare Virginia Beach directly against neighboring Chesapeake city (4.5) to gauge how modestly more favorable that adjacent market grades out.

The renter share here stands at 34.9% of occupied housing units, with an average rent of $1,714 per month. That rent level, combined with an average rent burden of 32.2%, signals a tenant population that is financially stretched but not severely so, a factor that keeps eviction risk at a moderate rather than elevated level for well-screened tenancies.

State-level laws that apply here

All landlords in Virginia Beach city County operate under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. For nonpayment of rent, Virginia state law requires a 5-day notice before filing. A material lease violation triggers a 21-day notice, while a material non-curable breach requires 30 days. Ending a month-to-month tenancy likewise requires a 30-day notice. The full Virginia eviction process, from notice through writ of possession, typically runs 21 to 45 days for uncontested cases and 45 to 120 days when contested.

Filing fees run $58 to $90, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $150, and attorney fees commonly range from $500 to $3,000, meaning a fully litigated eviction can carry total out-of-pocket costs well into four figures. Virginia eviction costs are a real line item in any pro-forma analysis. Virginia does not require just cause for non-renewal, and state law preempts any local rent control ordinance, so no Virginia Beach city ordinance can impose a rent cap. For more on tenant rights that affect the process, review the Virginia tenant protections guide. Landlords should also confirm entry-notice requirements: Virginia state law mandates at least 24 hours advance notice before entering an occupied unit.

With a poverty rate of 8.4% and renters making up 34.9% of households, Virginia Beach city County presents a moderate baseline of economic stress; the city grid above breaks down the single city's score so you can assess block-level conditions before committing capital.