Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in Virginia?
No, not in most cases. In Virginia, it is unlawful to refuse to rent to anyone, or set different terms, because of source of funds, which the law defines to include any assistance, benefit or subsidy program. An owner of four or fewer rental units in the Commonwealth is exempt, unless they hold more than a 10% interest in more than four, and a landlord may refuse a source of funds that is not approved within 15 days of the request for tenancy approval. This is Va. Code §§ 36-96.2, 36-96.3.
| What | Virginia |
|---|---|
| Renting to a voucher holder | Protected, except owners of four or fewer units |
| What the state law does | Bars refusing a tenant because of a voucher |
Source
Read the statute in the Code of Virginia (Virginia General Assembly): law.lis.virginia.gov.
Checked against the statute on October 23, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
This page states whether the state protects renters who pay with a housing voucher, so a listing and its screening rules can be checked against it before they are published. Seayora’s rental search assistant never filters homes by how a renter will pay the rent.
Guides on this rule
- Renting to Section 8 Tenants: A Landlord’s Guide to Vouchers — How the Housing Choice Voucher program works for landlords: the HAP contract, inspections and the 2027 NSPIRE change, rent reasonableness, and who pays what.
- Tenant Screening: What Landlords Need to Know — How to screen rental applicants fairly and legally: credit and background checks, consistent criteria, the FCRA’s adverse action notice and fair housing.
- The Fair Housing Act: A Landlord’s Plain-English Guide — The seven protected classes, what the Fair Housing Act prohibits, the small-landlord exemptions, advertising rules, deadlines and penalties, with citations.
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The same question in other states
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