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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62652</law_id><section_number>55.1-1221</section_number><catch_line>Landlord to provide locks and peepholes</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="55.1">Property and Conveyances</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Rental Conveyances</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="12">Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">Landlord Obligations</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The governing body of any locality may require by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> that any <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> who <span class="dictionary">rents</span> five or more <span class="dictionary">dwelling units</span> in any one multifamily building shall install:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Dead-bolt locks that meet the requirements of the Uniform Statewide Building Code (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/36-97/">36-97</a> et seq.) for new multifamily construction and peepholes in any exterior swinging entrance door to any such unit; however, any door having a glass <span class="dictionary">panel</span> shall not require a peephole; <a id="paragraph-228431" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1221/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Manufacturer&#x2019;s locks that meet the requirements of the Uniform Statewide Building Code (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/36-97/">36-97</a> et seq.) and removable metal pins or charlie bars in accordance with the Uniform Statewide Building Code on exterior sliding glass doors located in a building at any level designated in the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>; and <a id="paragraph-228432" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1221/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Locking devices that meet the requirements of the Uniform Statewide Building Code (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/36-97/">36-97</a> et seq.) on all exterior windows.
			Any <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> adopted pursuant to this section shall further provide that any <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> subject to the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall have a reasonable time as determined by the governing body in which to comply with the requirements of the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>. <a id="paragraph-228433" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1221/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1977, c. 464, &#xA7; 55-248.13:1; 1988, c. 500; 2017, c. 730; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
