Cal. Civ. Code § 55.1-1202
(Effective until July 1, 2027) Notice.
Operative Text
A. If the rental agreement so provides, the landlord and tenant may send notices in electronic form; however, any tenant who so requests may elect to send and receive notices in paper form. If electronic delivery is used, the sender shall retain sufficient proof of the electronic delivery, which may be an electronic receipt of delivery, a confirmation that the notice was sent by facsimile, or a certificate of service prepared by the sender confirming the electronic delivery. B. In the case of the landlord, notice is served on the landlord at his place of business where the rental agreement was made or at any place held out by the landlord as the place for receipt of the communication. In the case of the tenant, notice is served at the tenant's last known place of residence, which may be the dwelling unit. C. Notice, knowledge, or a notice or notification received by an organization is effective for a particular transaction from the time it is brought to the attention of the person conducting that transaction, or from the time it would have been brought to his attention if the organization had exercised reasonable diligence. D. No notice of termination of tenancy served upon a tenant by a public housing authority organized under the Housing Authorities Law (§ 36-1 et seq.) shall be effective unless it contains on its first page, in type no smaller or less legible than that otherwise used in the body of the notice, the name, address, and telephone number of the legal aid program, if any, serving the jurisdiction in which the premises is located. No notice of termination of tenancy served upon a tenant receiving tenant-based rental assistance through (i) the Housing Choice Voucher Program, 42 U.S.C. § 1437f(o), or (ii) any other federal, state, or local program by a private landlord shall be effective unless it contains on its first page, in type no smaller or less legible than that otherwise used in the body of the notice, the statewide legal aid telephone number and website address. E. The landlord may, in accordance with a written agreement, delegate to a managing agent or other third party the responsibility of providing any written notice under this chapter. The landlord may also engage an attorney at law to prepare or provide any written notice under this chapter or legal process under Title 8.01. Nothing herein shall be construed to preclude use of an electronic signature as defined in § 59.1-480 , or an electronic notarization as defined in § 47.1-2 , in any written notice under this chapter or legal process under Title 8.01.
Va. Code § 55.1-1202 establishes the rules governing how notices are delivered and received between landlords and tenants in Virginia. It permits electronic notice when the rental agreement allows it, but guarantees any tenant the right to opt for paper notices instead, and requires the sender to retain proof of electronic delivery. The provision also sets specific requirements for termination notices issued to tenants in public housing or receiving federal or other rental assistance, mandating that those notices include legal aid contact information on the first page in legible type.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Va. Code § 55.1-1202, operators who use electronic notice must ensure their rental agreement authorizes it and must retain documented proof—such as an electronic receipt or fax confirmation—for every notice sent. A tenant's request to switch to paper notices must be honored regardless of what the rental agreement says about electronic delivery. Landlords issuing termination notices to public housing tenants or tenants receiving Housing Choice Voucher or other rental assistance must include the required legal aid program name, address, and phone number, or the statewide legal aid telephone number and website, on the first page in type no less legible than the rest of the notice, or the notice will not be effective. Landlords may also delegate notice responsibilities to a managing agent or attorney under a written agreement, as expressly permitted by this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Va. Code § 55.1-1202 gives tenants the right to request paper notices at any time, even if the rental agreement provides for electronic delivery, and the landlord must comply with that request. Tenants in public housing or receiving Housing Choice Voucher or other rental assistance are entitled to have legal aid contact information printed prominently on the first page of any termination notice; a notice lacking that information is not legally effective under this provision. Tenants who believe a termination notice fails to meet these requirements may raise the deficiency as a defense in any resulting proceeding, and tenant-rights organizations or legal aid programs can help evaluate whether a notice complies with § 55.1-1202.
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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