Cal. Civ. Code § 36-96.15
Prompt judicial action.
Operative Text
If the Board concludes at any time following the filing of a complaint and after consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, that prompt judicial action is necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, the Board may authorize a civil action by the Attorney General for appropriate temporary or preliminary relief. Upon receipt of such authorization, the Attorney General shall promptly commence and maintain such action. Any temporary restraining order or other order granting preliminary or temporary relief shall be issued in accordance with the Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure. The commencement of a civil action under this section shall not affect the initiation or continuation of administrative proceedings by the Board under § 36-96.8 .
Virginia Code § 36-96.15 establishes a mechanism by which the Virginia Fair Housing Board can authorize the state Attorney General to seek emergency or preliminary court relief when swift judicial intervention is needed to fulfill the purposes of the Fair Housing chapter. Any temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction obtained through this process must follow the Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure. Importantly, the filing of such a civil action does not pause or prevent the Board from continuing its own separate administrative proceedings under § 36-96.8.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Va. Code § 36-96.15, if the Fair Housing Board determines that a situation warrants urgent court intervention, it can direct the Attorney General to seek temporary or preliminary judicial relief against a property owner or manager. Operators who maintain fair housing compliance practices—such as consistent, non-discriminatory application of rental policies—are less likely to be the subject of the kind of emergency action this provision contemplates. Being aware that administrative and civil court proceedings can run simultaneously under § 36-96.15 is an important part of understanding the full scope of fair housing enforcement in Virginia.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Va. Code § 36-96.15 provides an additional layer of protection for individuals who have filed fair housing complaints, as it allows the Board to pursue urgent court-ordered relief on their behalf when circumstances require it. This provision means that a complaint filed with the Virginia Fair Housing Board can potentially trigger both administrative action under § 36-96.8 and a civil court action by the Attorney General at the same time. Tenants who believe they have experienced housing discrimination may wish to contact a tenant-rights organization or the Virginia Fair Housing Board to understand the full range of remedies that may be available under this provision.
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.