Fair Housing: Virginia

This page is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute, and should not be construed as, legal advice. This page is not intended to provide a mandatory standard of care for the industry. Please consult with local counsel before taking any action based off of the information provided. 

On these pages, you will find information about 1) the protected classes in each state’s fair housing law, 2) protected classes in the cities and counties in the state’s three largest city or metropolitan areas, and 3) protected class information in additional jurisdictions of interest to NAA members. We highlight source of income protections, where applicable, that could substantially impact industry operations. Please see the footnotes. NAA also has resources on the federal fair housing protections that apply nationwide.

We are currently in the process of optimizing NAA’s Fair Housing Protected Class Resources. If you do not see a jurisdiction of interest, please reach out to the NAA Government Affairs Team at [email protected].

Information on this page is current as of September 2022.

Virginia Protected Classes

(State of Virginia Annotated Code Chapter 5.1 § 36-96.3)

  • Race
  • Color
  • National Origin
  • Religion
  • Sex
  • Familial Status
  • Disability
  • Age (55+)
  • Source of Funds1
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Gender Identity
  • Military Status

1"Source of Funds" means any source that lawfully provides funds to or on behalf of a renter or buyer of housing, including any assistance, benefit, or subsidy program, whether such program is administered by a governmental or nongovernmental entity.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Rockingham County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Harrisonburg Protected Classes

(Harrisonburg Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

(City of Lynchburg Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

(City of Charlottesville Municipal Code §§ 2-431(b); 2-432(a))

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected class:

  • Transgender Status

(City of Chesapeake Municipal Code)

This is an independent city, not located within any county            

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Newport News Protected Classes

(Newport News Municipal Code §§ 15.1-1 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected class:

  • Age

(City of Norfolk Municipal Code § 45.1-2)

This is an independent city, not located within any county            

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

(Roanoke Municipal Code § 94.01-.10)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected class:

  • Age

(Suffolk City Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

This is an independent city, not located within any county

(Virginia Beach Municipal Code)            

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Henrico County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Henrico Protected Classes

Henrico is an unincorporated community in Henrico County

(Petersburg Municipal Code §§ 66-46 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Marital Status

(City of Richmond Municipal Code §§ 17-2, et seq.; § 17-19)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Ancestry
  • Marital Status
  • Pregnancy/Childbirth/Related Medical Condition
  • Source of Funds2
  • Transgender Status

2Source of funds means any source that lawfully provides funds to or on behalf of a renter or buyer of housing, including any assistance, benefit, or subsidy program, whether such program is administered by a governmental or nongovernmental entity.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(James City County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Williamsburg Protected Classes

(Williamsburg Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

 

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(York County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Yorktown Protected Classes

Yorktown is a census-designated place of York County

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Arlington County Code § 31-3)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Marital Status

(Alexandia Municipal Code § 12-4-4)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Ancestry
  • Marital Status
  • Transgender Status

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Fairfax County Code §§ 2-1 - 2-5; 3-1; 3-4)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Marital Status
  • Pregnancy/childbirth/related medical condition

Centerville Protected Classes

Centerville is a census-designated place of Fairfax County

Fairfax City Protected Classes

(Fairfax City Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Falls Church Protected Classes

(Falls Church Municipal Code § 22-79)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Herndon Protected Classes

(Herndon Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

McLean Protected Classes

McLean is a census-designated place of Fairfax

Reston Protected Classes

Reston is a census-designated place of Fairfax

Tyson Protected Classes

Tyson is a census-designated place of Fairfax

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Loudoun County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Leesburg Protected Classes

(Leesburg Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Sterling Protected Classes

Sterling is a census-designated place Loudon County

(Manassas Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Montgomery County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Blacksburg Protected Classes

(Blacksburg Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Prince William County Code §§ 10.1-1 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Age
  • Marital Status
  • Pregnancy/Childbirth/Related Medical Conditions

Woodbridge Protected Classes

Woodbridge is a census-designated place in Prince William County