{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/44-209.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/44-209.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/44-209.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/44-209.html"}],"law_id":65129,"edition_id":1,"section_id":65129,"structure_id":13450,"section_number":"44-209","catch_line":"Closure of United States government; civil relief for furloughed employees and contractors","history":"2020, c. 1202; 2025, c. 520.","full_text":"A\n\nAs used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Closure of the United States government” means a closure of the United States federal government as a result of a lapse of appropriation that leads to (i) the curtailment of federal agency activities and services, (ii) a shutdown of nonessential operations, (iii) nonessential workers being furloughed, and (iv) only essential employees in departments covering the safety of human life or protection of property being retained.\n\t\t\t“Written proof” means (i) a paystub issued by a federal government agency showing zero dollars in earnings for a pay period within the period of any closure of the United States government, (ii) a copy of a furlough notification letter or essential employee status letter indicating the employee’s status as nonessential, or (iii) a letter from a company under contract with the United States government issued and signed by an officer or owner of the company or by the company’s human resources director stating that the employee’s not receiving payment from the contractor is directly attributable to a closure of the United States government.B\n\nNotwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any tenant as defined in § 55.1-1200 who is a defendant in an unlawful detainer for nonpayment of rent pursuant to § 55.1-1245 for rent due after the commencement of a closure of the United States government seeking a judgment for the payment of money or possession of the premises shall be granted a 60-day continuance of such unlawful detainer action from the initial court date if the tenant appears on such court date and provides written proof that he was furloughed or otherwise was or is not currently receiving wages or payments as a result of a closure of the United States government, and is (i) an employee of the United States government, (ii) an independent contractor for the United States government, or (iii) an employee of a company under contract with the United States government. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply if the landlord has filed a material noncompliance notice for a non-rent violation of the rental agreement or of the Code of Virginia.C\n\nNotwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any homeowner who, after the commencement of a closure of the United States government, defaults on a note that is secured by a one-family to four-family residential property located in the Commonwealth and is subject to a foreclosure proceeding on any mortgage or to the execution of or sale under any deed of trust shall be granted a 60-day stay of such proceeding if the homeowner, within 90 days of such closure or 90 days following the end of a closure of the United States government, whichever is later, requests a stay and provides written proof to his lender that he was furloughed or otherwise was or is not currently receiving wages or payments as a result of a closure of the United States government, and is (i) an employee of the United States government, (ii) an independent contractor for the United States government, or (iii) an employee of a company under contract with the United States government.D\n\nNotwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any owner who rents a one-family to four-family residential dwelling unit located in the Commonwealth to a tenant as defined in § 55.1-1200 and who, after the commencement of a closure of the United States government, defaults on a note that is secured by such dwelling unit and is subject to a foreclosure proceeding on any mortgage or to the execution of or sale under any deed of trust shall be granted a 60-day stay of such proceeding if the owner, within 90 days of such closure or 90 days following the end of a closure of the United States government, whichever is later, requests a stay and provides written proof to his lender that his tenant was furloughed or otherwise was or is not currently receiving wages or payments as a result of a closure of the United States government, and is (i) an employee of the United States government, (ii) an independent contractor for the United States government, or (iii) an employee of a company under contract with the United States government.E\n\nThe provisions of this section shall not (i) apply in an instance where a separate, signed legal agreement exists between a landlord and tenant or homeowner and mortgage holder to stay legal action or defer the filing of an unlawful detainer motion for nonpayment of rent or foreclosure proceeding on any mortgage or to the execution of or sale under any deed of trust for a term of 60 days or greater or (ii) affect any other terms of a valid rental agreement or note secured by a one-family to four-family residential property, mortgage, or deed of trust unrelated to nonpayment of rent or default of a mortgage caused by a closure of the United States government.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":236959,"text":"As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Closure of the United States government” means a closure of the United States federal government as a result of a lapse of appropriation that leads to (i) the curtailment of federal agency activities and services, (ii) a shutdown of nonessential operations, (iii) nonessential workers being furloughed, and (iv) only essential employees in departments covering the safety of human life or protection of property being retained.\n\t\t\t“Written proof” means (i) a paystub issued by a federal government agency showing zero dollars in earnings for a pay period within the period of any closure of the United States government, (ii) a copy of a furlough notification letter or essential employee status letter indicating the employee’s status as nonessential, or (iii) a letter from a company under contract with the United States government issued and signed by an officer or owner of the company or by the company’s human resources director stating that the employee’s not receiving payment from the contractor is directly attributable to a closure of the United States government.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":236960,"text":"Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any tenant as defined in § 55.1-1200 who is a defendant in an unlawful detainer for nonpayment of rent pursuant to § 55.1-1245 for rent due after the commencement of a closure of the United States government seeking a judgment for the payment of money or possession of the premises shall be granted a 60-day continuance of such unlawful detainer action from the initial court date if the tenant appears on such court date and provides written proof that he was furloughed or otherwise was or is not currently receiving wages or payments as a result of a closure of the United States government, and is (i) an employee of the United States government, (ii) an independent contractor for the United States government, or (iii) an employee of a company under contract with the United States government. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply if the landlord has filed a material noncompliance notice for a non-rent violation of the rental agreement or of the Code of Virginia.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":236961,"text":"Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any homeowner who, after the commencement of a closure of the United States government, defaults on a note that is secured by a one-family to four-family residential property located in the Commonwealth and is subject to a foreclosure proceeding on any mortgage or to the execution of or sale under any deed of trust shall be granted a 60-day stay of such proceeding if the homeowner, within 90 days of such closure or 90 days following the end of a closure of the United States government, whichever is later, requests a stay and provides written proof to his lender that he was furloughed or otherwise was or is not currently receiving wages or payments as a result of a closure of the United States government, and is (i) an employee of the United States government, (ii) an independent contractor for the United States government, or (iii) an employee of a company under contract with the United States government.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":236962,"text":"Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any owner who rents a one-family to four-family residential dwelling unit located in the Commonwealth to a tenant as defined in § 55.1-1200 and who, after the commencement of a closure of the United States government, defaults on a note that is secured by such dwelling unit and is subject to a foreclosure proceeding on any mortgage or to the execution of or sale under any deed of trust shall be granted a 60-day stay of such proceeding if the owner, within 90 days of such closure or 90 days following the end of a closure of the United States government, whichever is later, requests a stay and provides written proof to his lender that his tenant was furloughed or otherwise was or is not currently receiving wages or payments as a result of a closure of the United States government, and is (i) an employee of the United States government, (ii) an independent contractor for the United States government, or (iii) an employee of a company under contract with the United States government.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":236963,"text":"The provisions of this section shall not (i) apply in an instance where a separate, signed legal agreement exists between a landlord and tenant or homeowner and mortgage holder to stay legal action or defer the filing of an unlawful detainer motion for nonpayment of rent or foreclosure proceeding on any mortgage or to the execution of or sale under any deed of trust for a term of 60 days or greater or (ii) affect any other terms of a valid rental agreement or note secured by a one-family to four-family residential property, mortgage, or deed of trust unrelated to nonpayment of rent or default of a mortgage caused by a closure of the United States government.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13450,"edition_id":1,"name":"Miscellaneous Laws","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13446,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:54","permalink":{"id":222517,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13450,"identifier":"7","token":"44\/7","url":"\/44\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13446,"edition_id":1,"name":"Military and Emergency Laws","identifier":"44","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:54","permalink":{"id":221549,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13446,"identifier":"44","token":"44","url":"\/44\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":54710,"structure_id":13450,"section_number":"44-204","catch_line":"Leaves of absence for employees of Commonwealth or political subdivisions","url":"\/44-204\/","token":"44\/7\/44-204","metadata":false},{"id":54409,"structure_id":13450,"section_number":"44-205","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/44-205\/","token":"44\/7\/44-205","metadata":false},{"id":76225,"structure_id":13450,"section_number":"44-206","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/44-206\/","token":"44\/7\/44-206","metadata":false},{"id":71954,"structure_id":13450,"section_number":"44-208","catch_line":"Securing site of structural failure, fire, explosion, or industrial or transportation accident","url":"\/44-208\/","token":"44\/7\/44-208","metadata":false},{"id":65129,"structure_id":13450,"section_number":"44-209","catch_line":"Closure of United States government; civil relief for furloughed employees and contractors","url":"\/44-209\/","token":"44\/7\/44-209","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":71954,"structure_id":13450,"section_number":"44-208","catch_line":"Securing site of structural failure, fire, explosion, or industrial or transportation accident","url":"\/44-208\/","token":"44\/7\/44-208","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/44-209\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 1202<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2025, chapter 520<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":61413,"section_number":"55.1-1200","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-1200\/"},{"id":60662,"section_number":"55.1-1245","catch_line":"(Effective the later of July 1, 2028, or 7 years after the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency expires) Noncompliance with rental agreement; monetary penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-1245\/"}],"permalink":{"id":222535,"object_type":"law","relational_id":65129,"identifier":"44-209","token":"44\/7\/44-209","url":"\/44-209\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/44-209\/","token":"44\/7\/44-209","dublin_core":{"Title":"Closure of United States government; civil relief for furloughed employees and contractors","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 44-209","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Closure of the United States government<\/span>” means a closure of the United States federal government as a result of a lapse of appropriation that leads to (i) the curtailment of federal agency activities and services, (ii) a shutdown of nonessential operations, (iii) nonessential workers being furloughed, and (iv) only essential employees in departments covering the safety of human life or protection of property being retained.\n\t\t\t“Written proof<\/span>” means (i) a paystub issued by a federal government agency showing zero dollars in earnings for a pay period within the period of any closure of the United States government<\/span>, (ii) a copy of a furlough notification letter or essential employee status letter indicating the employee’s status as nonessential, or (iii) a letter from a company under contract<\/span> with the United States government issued and signed by an officer or owner of the company or by the company’s human resources director stating that the employee’s not receiving payment from the contractor is directly attributable to a closure of the United States government<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Notwithstanding any provision of law<\/span> to the contrary, any tenant as defined in § 55.1-1200<\/a> who is a defendant<\/span> in an unlawful detainer for nonpayment of rent pursuant to § 55.1-1245<\/a> for rent due after the commencement of a closure of the United States government<\/span> seeking a judgment<\/span> for the payment of money or possession<\/span> of the premises shall be granted a 60-day continuance<\/span> of such unlawful detainer action<\/span> from the initial court<\/span> date if the tenant appears on such court<\/span> date and provides written proof<\/span> that he was furloughed or otherwise was or is not currently receiving wages or payments as a result of a closure of the United States government<\/span>, and is (i) an employee of the United States government, (ii) an independent contractor for the United States government, or (iii) an employee of a company under contract<\/span> with the United States government. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply if the landlord has filed a material<\/span> noncompliance notice for a non-rent violation of the rental agreement or of the Code of Virginia. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Notwithstanding any provision of law<\/span> to the contrary, any homeowner who, after the commencement of a closure of the United States government<\/span>, defaults<\/span> on a note that is secured by a one-family to four-family residential property located in the Commonwealth and is subject to a foreclosure proceeding on any mortgage or to the execution of or sale under any deed of trust shall be granted a 60-day stay<\/span> of such proceeding if the homeowner, within 90 days of such closure or 90 days following the end of a closure of the United States government<\/span>, whichever is later, requests a stay<\/span> and provides written proof<\/span> to his lender that he was furloughed or otherwise was or is not currently receiving wages or payments as a result of a closure of the United States government<\/span>, and is (i) an employee of the United States government, (ii) an independent contractor for the United States government, or (iii) an employee of a company under contract<\/span> with the United States government. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Notwithstanding any provision of law<\/span> to the contrary, any owner who rents a one-family to four-family residential dwelling unit located in the Commonwealth to a tenant as defined in § 55.1-1200<\/a> and who, after the commencement of a closure of the United States government<\/span>, defaults<\/span> on a note that is secured by such dwelling unit and is subject to a foreclosure proceeding on any mortgage or to the execution of or sale under any deed of trust shall be granted a 60-day stay<\/span> of such proceeding if the owner, within 90 days of such closure or 90 days following the end of a closure of the United States government<\/span>, whichever is later, requests a stay<\/span> and provides written proof<\/span> to his lender that his tenant was furloughed or otherwise was or is not currently receiving wages or payments as a result of a closure of the United States government<\/span>, and is (i) an employee of the United States government, (ii) an independent contractor for the United States government, or (iii) an employee of a company under contract<\/span> with the United States government. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The provisions of this section shall not (i) apply in an instance where a separate, signed legal agreement exists between a landlord and tenant or homeowner and mortgage holder to stay<\/span> legal action or defer the filing of an unlawful detainer motion<\/span> for nonpayment of rent or foreclosure proceeding on any mortgage or to the execution of or sale under any deed of trust for a term of 60 days or greater or (ii) affect any other terms of a valid rental agreement or note secured by a one-family to four-family residential property, mortgage, or deed of trust unrelated to nonpayment of rent or default<\/span> of a mortgage caused by a closure of the United States government<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCLOSURE OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT; CIVIL RELIEF FOR FURLOUGHED EMPLOYEES AND\nCONTRACTORS (\u00a7 44-209)\n\nA. As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Closure of the United States government” means a closure of the\nUnited States federal government as a result of a lapse of appropriation that\nleads to (i) the curtailment of federal agency activities and services, (ii) a\nshutdown of nonessential operations, (iii) nonessential workers being\nfurloughed, and (iv) only essential employees in departments covering the safety\nof human life or protection of property being retained.\n\t\t\t“Written proof” means (i) a paystub issued by a federal\ngovernment agency showing zero dollars in earnings for a pay period within the\nperiod of any closure of the United States government, (ii) a copy of a furlough\nnotification letter or essential employee status letter indicating the\nemployee’s status as nonessential, or (iii) a letter from a company under\ncontract with the United States government issued and signed by an officer or\nowner of the company or by the company’s human resources director stating\nthat the employee’s not receiving payment from the contractor is directly\nattributable to a closure of the United States government.\n\nB. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any tenant as defined\nin § 55.1-1200 who is a defendant in an unlawful detainer for nonpayment of\nrent pursuant to § 55.1-1245 for rent due after the commencement of a\nclosure of the United States government seeking a judgment for the payment of\nmoney or possession of the premises shall be granted a 60-day continuance of\nsuch unlawful detainer action from the initial court date if the tenant appears\non such court date and provides written proof that he was furloughed or\notherwise was or is not currently receiving wages or payments as a result of a\nclosure of the United States government, and is (i) an employee of the United\nStates government, (ii) an independent contractor for the United States\ngovernment, or (iii) an employee of a company under contract with the United\nStates government. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply if the\nlandlord has filed a material noncompliance notice for a non-rent violation of\nthe rental agreement or of the Code of Virginia.\n\nC. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any homeowner who,\nafter the commencement of a closure of the United States government, defaults on\na note that is secured by a one-family to four-family residential property\nlocated in the Commonwealth and is subject to a foreclosure proceeding on any\nmortgage or to the execution of or sale under any deed of trust shall be granted\na 60-day stay of such proceeding if the homeowner, within 90 days of such\nclosure or 90 days following the end of a closure of the United States\ngovernment, whichever is later, requests a stay and provides written proof to\nhis lender that he was furloughed or otherwise was or is not currently receiving\nwages or payments as a result of a closure of the United States government, and\nis (i) an employee of the United States government, (ii) an independent\ncontractor for the United States government, or (iii) an employee of a company\nunder contract with the United States government.\n\nD. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any owner who rents a\none-family to four-family residential dwelling unit located in the Commonwealth\nto a tenant as defined in § 55.1-1200 and who, after the commencement of a\nclosure of the United States government, defaults on a note that is secured by\nsuch dwelling unit and is subject to a foreclosure proceeding on any mortgage or\nto the execution of or sale under any deed of trust shall be granted a 60-day\nstay of such proceeding if the owner, within 90 days of such closure or 90 days\nfollowing the end of a closure of the United States government, whichever is\nlater, requests a stay and provides written proof to his lender that his tenant\nwas furloughed or otherwise was or is not currently receiving wages or payments\nas a result of a closure of the United States government, and is (i) an employee\nof the United States government, (ii) an independent contractor for the United\nStates government, or (iii) an employee of a company under contract with the\nUnited States government.\n\nE. The provisions of this section shall not (i) apply in an instance where a\nseparate, signed legal agreement exists between a landlord and tenant or\nhomeowner and mortgage holder to stay legal action or defer the filing of an\nunlawful detainer motion for nonpayment of rent or foreclosure proceeding on any\nmortgage or to the execution of or sale under any deed of trust for a term of 60\ndays or greater or (ii) affect any other terms of a valid rental agreement or\nnote secured by a one-family to four-family residential property, mortgage, or\ndeed of trust unrelated to nonpayment of rent or default of a mortgage caused by\na closure of the United States government.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, c. 1202; 2025, c. 520.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}