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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>70010</law_id><section_number>36-96.18</section_number><catch_line>Civil action; enforcement by private parties</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>36-96.16</reference><reference>36-96.17</reference><reference>36-96.18</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="36">Housing</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5.1">Virginia Fair Housing Law</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> An <span class="dictionary">aggrieved person</span> may commence a <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> in an appropriate United States district <span class="dictionary">court</span> or state <span class="dictionary">court</span> not later than two years after the occurrence or the termination of an alleged discriminatory housing practice, or the breach of a <span class="dictionary">conciliation agreement</span> entered into under this chapter, whichever occurs last, to obtain appropriate relief with respect to such discriminatory housing practice or breach. <a id="paragraph-252950" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.18/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> An <span class="dictionary">aggrieved person</span> may commence a <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Civil action; enforcement by private parties" href="/36-96.18/">36-96.18</a> A no later than 180 days after the conclusion of the administrative process with respect to a complaint or charge, or not later than two years after the occurrence or the termination of an alleged discriminatory housing practice, whichever is later. This subsection shall not apply to actions arising from a breach of a <span class="dictionary">conciliation agreement</span>. An <span class="dictionary">aggrieved person</span> may commence a <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> under this section whether or not a complaint has been filed under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Procedures for receipt or initiation of complaint; notice to parties; filing of answer" href="/36-96.9/">36-96.9</a> and without regard to the status of any such complaint. If the Board or a federal agency has obtained a <span class="dictionary">conciliation agreement</span> with the consent of an <span class="dictionary">aggrieved person</span>, no action may be filed under this section by such <span class="dictionary">aggrieved person</span> with respect to the alleged discriminatory housing practice which forms the basis for such complaint except for the purpose of enforcing the terms of such an agreement. <a id="paragraph-252951" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.18/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> In a <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> under subsection A, if the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">jury</span> finds that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">jury</span> may award to the <span class="dictionary">plaintiff</span>, as the prevailing <span class="dictionary">party</span>, compensatory and punitive <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, without limitation otherwise imposed by state <span class="dictionary">law</span>, and the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may award reasonable attorney&#x2019;s fees and costs, and subject to subsection D, may grant as relief, any permanent or temporary <span class="dictionary">injunction</span>, <span class="dictionary">temporary restraining order</span>, or other order, including an order enjoining the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> from engaging in such practice or order such affirmative action as may be appropriate. <a id="paragraph-252952" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.18/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Relief granted under subsection C shall not affect any <span class="dictionary">contract</span>, sale, encumbrance, or lease consummated before the granting of such relief and involving bona fide purchasers, encumbrancer or tenant, without actual notice of the filing of a complaint with the Board or <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> under this chapter. <a id="paragraph-252953" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.18/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Upon timely application, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> may intervene in such <span class="dictionary">civil action</span>, if the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> certifies that the case is of general public importance. Upon intervention, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> may obtain such relief as would be available to the private <span class="dictionary">party</span> under subsection C. <a id="paragraph-252954" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/36-96.18/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1972, c. 591, &#xA7; 36-94; 1973, c. 372; 1975, c. 566; 1984, c. 271; 1987, c. 167; 1991, c. 557; 1994, c. 814.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
