Cal. Civ. Code § 36-96.14
Issuance of a charge.
Operative Text
Upon failure to resolve a complaint by conciliation and after consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, the Board shall issue a charge on behalf of the aggrieved person or persons and shall immediately refer the charge to the Attorney General, who shall proceed with the charge as directed by § 36-96.16 . The Board may not issue a charge under this section regarding an alleged discriminatory housing practice after the beginning of a trial of a civil action commenced by the aggrieved party under an Act of Congress or a state law seeking relief with respect to that discriminatory housing practice. 1. Such charge: a. Shall consist of a short and plain statement of the facts upon which the Board has found reasonable cause to believe that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur; b. Shall be based on the final investigative report; and c. Need not be limited to the acts or grounds alleged in the complaint filed under § 36-96.9 . 2. After the Board issues a charge under this section, the Board shall cause a copy thereof to be served on each respondent named in such charge and on each aggrieved person on whose behalf the complaint was filed.
Virginia Code § 36-96.14 describes what happens when a fair housing complaint cannot be resolved through conciliation. If the Virginia Fair Housing Board finds reasonable cause to believe a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur, it issues a formal charge on behalf of the affected person and immediately refers that charge to the Attorney General for further action. The charge must be a clear statement of the supporting facts drawn from the final investigative report, and it may address issues beyond what was originally raised in the complaint. Importantly, the Board cannot issue a charge under this section once a civil trial on the same discriminatory housing practice has already begun in court.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Va. Code § 36-96.14, if a fair housing complaint against a property owner or manager is not resolved during conciliation, the Virginia Fair Housing Board may issue a formal charge and refer it to the Attorney General. Compliant operators generally maintain thorough documentation of their housing practices, respond cooperatively during the investigative phase, and engage seriously with conciliation efforts — since a charge issued under this section triggers formal legal proceedings. Respondents named in a charge are entitled to receive a copy of it, and the charge may encompass findings that go beyond the original complaint's stated grounds.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Va. Code § 36-96.14 establishes a formal protection for people who file fair housing complaints: if conciliation fails and the Virginia Fair Housing Board finds reasonable cause, it must issue a charge on the aggrieved person's behalf and refer it to the Attorney General at no cost to the complainant. Tenants and housing applicants who believe they have experienced discriminatory housing practices may contact the Virginia Fair Housing Board or a local tenant-rights organization to understand how the complaint and charge process works. It is also worth knowing that if a complainant has already begun a civil trial over the same discriminatory practice, the Board is barred from issuing a charge under this section, which may affect decisions about which legal path to pursue.
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.
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