Cal. Civ. Code § 55.1-1209.1
Employees of the landlord; rental dwelling unit keys and electronic key codes; policies and procedures.
Operative Text
A. As used in this section, "key" means any physical or electronic mechanism used to gain access to a rental dwelling unit. B. Any landlord who owns more than 200 rental dwelling units that are attached to the same piece of real property in the Commonwealth shall establish: 1. A policy requiring any applicant for employment in any position that will have access to keys for each rental dwelling unit to be subject to a pre-employment criminal history records check; and 2. Written policies and procedures regarding the (i) storage, issuance and return, and security of; (ii) access to; and (iii) if applicable, usage and deactivation of rental dwelling unit keys and electronic key codes. C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) a financial institution, as defined in § 6.2-100 , or (ii) any person who is a real estate licensee pursuant to Chapter 21 (§ 54.1-2100 et seq.) of Title 54.1.
Virginia Code § 55.1-1209.1 establishes security-related requirements for larger residential rental properties. Specifically, landlords who own more than 200 attached rental dwelling units in Virginia must screen job applicants who would have access to unit keys through pre-employment criminal history checks, and must also maintain written policies governing how keys and electronic key codes are stored, issued, returned, secured, accessed, and deactivated. The rule defines 'key' broadly to include both physical and electronic access mechanisms, and it does not apply to financial institutions or licensed real estate professionals acting in that capacity.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Landlords covered by Va. Code § 55.1-1209.1 — those owning more than 200 attached rental units in Virginia — generally maintain documented, written procedures addressing every stage of key and electronic key code management, from storage and issuance through return and deactivation. Compliant operators also incorporate pre-employment criminal history screening into their hiring process for any role that involves access to unit keys. Keeping these policies current, consistently applied, and readily accessible to staff is a common practice among operators seeking to meet the standard this section establishes.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Va. Code § 55.1-1209.1 is designed to promote tenant security by requiring large landlords to vet employees who handle unit keys and to maintain formal written key-management procedures. Tenants living in communities covered by this provision — those with more than 200 attached units under common ownership — may have grounds to raise concerns if they believe their landlord lacks these required policies or failed to screen employees with key access. Tenants who suspect a violation can document their concerns, reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance, or consult with an attorney familiar with Virginia landlord-tenant law to understand what options may be available.
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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