Cal. Civ. Code § 36-96.1
Declaration of policy.
Operative Text
A. This chapter shall be known and referred to as the Virginia Fair Housing Law. B. It is the policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia to provide for fair housing throughout the Commonwealth, to all its citizens, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, source of funds, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, or disability, and to that end to prohibit discriminatory practices with respect to residential housing by any person or group of persons, in order that the peace, health, safety, prosperity, and general welfare of all the inhabitants of the Commonwealth may be protected and ensured. This law shall be deemed an exercise of the police power of the Commonwealth of Virginia for the protection of the people of the Commonwealth.
Va. Code § 36-96.1 establishes the foundational policy of the Virginia Fair Housing Law, declaring that all residents of the Commonwealth are entitled to equal access to housing regardless of characteristics such as race, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, source of funds, or familial status. The provision frames the prohibition of housing discrimination as a legitimate exercise of the state's authority to protect public health, safety, and welfare. It sets the tone and scope for the more specific anti-discrimination rules that follow in the chapter.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Va. Code § 36-96.1, the Virginia Fair Housing Law applies broadly to housing providers across the Commonwealth, covering a wide range of protected characteristics. Operators who understand this foundational policy statement are better positioned to recognize which categories of people are shielded from discriminatory treatment in rental, sale, and related housing transactions. Familiarity with the full list of protected classes named in this section helps property managers build consistent, non-discriminatory practices across their operations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Va. Code § 36-96.1 reflects Virginia's commitment to ensuring that all residents can access housing free from discrimination based on characteristics including race, disability, source of funds, sexual orientation, and several others. If a tenant believes they have experienced housing discrimination covered by this law, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with a fair housing agency or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with the Virginia Fair Housing Law. This provision serves as the policy backbone for the more specific protections detailed elsewhere in the chapter.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.