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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75454</law_id><section_number>55.1-1400</section_number><catch_line>Applicability; right to terminate tenant</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-77</reference><reference>36-105.1:1</reference><reference>59.1-199</reference><reference>8.01-27.1</reference><reference>8.01-27.2</reference><reference>8.01-296</reference></referred_to_by><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="14">Nonresidential Tenancies</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">nonresidential tenancy</span>&#x201D; means the rental of any real estate for purposes other than residential use, including business, industrial, or agricultural purposes. <a id="paragraph-270834" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1400/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all nonresidential tenancies. The lease or rental agreement controls the landlord-tenant relationship unless such lease or rental agreement is silent, in which case the provisions of this chapter apply. The right to evict a tenant whose right of <span class="dictionary">possession</span> has been terminated in any commercial or other <span class="dictionary">nonresidential tenancy</span> under this chapter may be effectuated by self-help eviction without further legal process so long as such eviction does not incite a breach of the peace. However, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to preclude termination of any commercial or other <span class="dictionary">nonresidential tenancy</span> by the filing of an <span class="dictionary">unlawful detainer action</span>, entry of an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of <span class="dictionary">possession</span>, and eviction pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Authority of sheriffs to store and sell personal property removed from nonresidential premises; recovery of possession by owner; disposition or sale" href="/55.1-1416/">55.1-1416</a>. <a id="paragraph-270835" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1400/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 5512; Code 1950, &#xA7; 55-217; 2017, c. 730; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
