Are Rental Application Fees Legal in Virginia?
What Virginia lets a landlord charge to apply — and how that compares to what screening actually costs.
$50 max — A landlord may charge an application fee of up to $50, separate from the actual out-of-pocket cost of a background/credit check and any refundable application deposit. If you're not approved, the fee (minus the landlord's actual costs and the $50) must be refunded.
A full tenant screen costs a landlord about $30. Landlords typically charge applicants $55 — so any fee well above ~$30 is mostly markup, and in Virginia that overage is refundable or unlawful.
| Cap type | Hard $ cap |
|---|---|
| The legal line | $50 max |
| Refund rights | If the applicant is rejected, the landlord must refund the fee within 20 days, less actual out-of-pocket costs. |
| Receipt required | Not specified |
| Reusable screening report | Not specified |
| Statute | Va. Code § 55.1-1203 |
Check your Virginia application fee
We'll compare it to the law and the real cost of screening.
How Virginia compares
See every state's cap, the real cost of screening, and the markup landlords add — the full picture in one place.
Informational only, not legal advice — verify Va. Code § 55.1-1203 and current screening costs before acting.