How to serve a notice on a tenant in Virginia: the place of service, the electronic option and the 14-day count

Where is a notice served?

Section 55.1-1202(B): "In the case of the tenant, notice is served at the tenant's last known place of residence, which may be the dwelling unit." For a notice to the landlord, it is the landlord's place of business where the rental agreement was made or any place held out for receipt of communications. If an organization receives a notice, it is effective from the time it reaches the person conducting that transaction, or would have if the organization used reasonable diligence (subsection C).

When can you serve electronically?

Subsection A: "If the rental agreement so provides, the landlord and tenant may send notices in electronic form; however, any tenant who so requests may elect to send and receive notices in paper form." When you use electronic delivery, "the sender shall retain sufficient proof of the electronic delivery, which may be an electronic receipt of delivery, a confirmation that the notice was sent by facsimile, or a certificate of service prepared by the sender confirming the electronic delivery." Check your lease before relying on e-mail: without that clause, send paper.

How do the common notices run?

• Nonpayment: 55.1-1245(F) gives 14 days after written notice is served, and the notice must state the nonpayment and the landlord's intention to terminate if rent is not paid in that period.
• Fixable breach: 55.1-1245(A) uses a termination date not less than 30 days after receipt if the breach is not remedied in 21 days.
• Unfixable breach: 55.1-1245(C) uses a termination date not less than 30 days after receipt.

Example a made-up Norfolk owner serves a nonpayment notice at the dwelling on Monday, May 3. Fourteen days later is Monday, May 17. If the rent is still unpaid after the 14-day period, the owner may proceed. For the 21-day cure notice served the same day, the cure deadline is Monday, May 24, and the termination date cannot be earlier than 30 days after receipt, Wednesday, June 2.

Note the wording "after receipt" for the breach notices, and the different wording for rent: the 14 days run from when the notice is served. If you mail, receipt is when the tenant gets it, so build in the mailing time and keep the delivery proof.

Any special rule for housing authorities?

Yes, but only for public housing authorities: under 55.1-1202(D) their termination notices are not effective unless the first page carries the name, address and telephone number of the legal aid program serving the area, if any. Private landlords are not covered. A separate version of 55.1-1202 takes effect July 1, 2027, so recheck the section then.

Keep a dated copy of the notice, proof of how it was sent or handed over, and a note of who received it. Those three items are what you show a court.

How DoorKeeping helps in Virginia

DoorKeeping keeps each lease's notices, dates and ledger together, so you can ask Claude or ChatGPT what notice a tenant has been given and when the clock ends. Any notice waits for your one-tap approval before it goes out. DoorKeeping never holds your money and sends a payment only when you approve it. This is general information, not legal advice: check the current statute and your own lease.

Sources

1. Code of Virginia 55.1-1202, Notice (Virginia Law), read Oct 30, 2026
2. Code of Virginia 55.1-1245, Noncompliance with rental agreement; monetary penalty (Virginia Law), read Oct 30, 2026

Questions

Can a Virginia landlord send notices by e-mail?

Only if the rental agreement provides for it, and a tenant may elect paper. The sender must keep proof of delivery (55.1-1202(A)).

Where must a Virginia notice to a tenant be served?

At the tenant's last known place of residence, which may be the dwelling unit (55.1-1202(B)).

How long is Virginia's nonpayment notice?

14 days after written notice is served, with a statement of the landlord's intention to terminate (55.1-1245(F)).