In Virginia, the earliest storage lien sale is about day 30: the tenant must be in default 10 days, then a notice by verified mail must give at least 20 days to pay. Virginia requires no newspaper ad and sets no late fee cap in its storage act.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Review your facility's notices and sale plan with your attorney before you act.
Virginia lien timeline at a glance
Virginia's Self-Service Storage Act is Va. Code §§ 55.1-2900 to 55.1-2905, formerly § 55-417. The key rules are in § 55.1-2901 and § 55.1-2902. Sections were amended in 2023, 2024 and 2026.
| Step | Earliest timing | What the law requires | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Rent due, default | Day 0 | Default is failure to perform any obligation in the lease or the act on time. | § 55.1-2900 |
| 2. Deny access (overlock) | Day 0 | You may deny access whenever the tenant is in default. | § 55.1-2902(B) |
| 3. First default notice | No day count stated | Regular mail to the last known address, or electronic means if the lease expressly allows it. | § 55.1-2902(A)(1) |
| 4. Cure period | 10 days | If the default is not cured within 10 days, you may go on to enforce the lien. | § 55.1-2902(A)(1) |
| 5. Lien notice | After 10 days of default | Verified mail, postage prepaid. Itemized claim, demand for payment in at least 20 days, and a statement of the public auction time and place. | § 55.1-2902(C) |
| 6. Notice to lienholders | At least 10 days before auction | Certified mail to lienholders of record on property worth over $1,000, and to the title lienholder on a watercraft. | § 55.1-2902(A)(2) |
| 7. Sale | About day 30 | Public auction for cash at the facility, the nearest suitable place or online. | § 55.1-2902(F) |
| 8. Surplus | On demand | Hold the balance for the tenant or other lienholder. | § 55.1-2902(D)-(G) |
Day 30 assumes the lien notice goes out on day 10 with the minimum 20-day demand. The statute does not say whether a sale may occur on the 20th or 21st day after the notice, so treat day 30 as a conservative minimum and confirm with your attorney.
Worked example
Say rent is due on September 1 and unpaid. You overlock on September 2. You mail the first default notice on September 3. On September 11, after 10 days of default, you mail the lien notice by verified mail. It demands payment by October 1, 20 days after the notice date, and names an auction on or after that date. For a unit with a lienholder of record on goods worth over $1,000, certified mail to that lienholder goes out at least 10 days before the auction.
Notice requirements
Virginia uses two kinds of notice.
- First notice of default: regular mail to the last known address, or electronic means if the rental agreement expressly allows it.
- Lien notice before sale: verified mail, postage prepaid, or electronic means if the lease expressly allows it and you keep proof of delivery (an electronic receipt, fax confirmation or certificate of service).
The lien notice must have an itemized claim with due dates, a demand for payment within a stated time not less than 20 days after the notice date, a statement that the contents are subject to your lien, a conspicuous statement that the contents will be sold at public auction at a stated time and place, and your contact name, street address and phone.
Delivery is presumed when you deposit the notice in the mail with postage paid, or send it electronically with retained proof. In a dispute, you carry the burden of proving it.
Alternate contact
The rental agreement may give the tenant the option to name an alternative contact to receive the notices. If the tenant does not name one, your rights and remedies are not affected. An alternative contact has no right to enter the space or take the property unless the lease says so (§ 55.1-2902(A)(1)).
Advertising the sale
Virginia's statute does not require you to advertise the sale. You still must hold a public auction, so many owners post the auction where bidders will see it. Ask your attorney whether a local rule or your lease adds an advertising duty.
Late fee limits
The Virginia Self-Service Storage Act has no late fee provision and no cap. Late fees are set by your rental agreement and general Virginia law. Keep the fee in the lease, state it clearly, and ask your attorney whether the amount is reasonable.
Sale rules, surplus and records
The sale is a public auction for cash. Hold it at the facility, at the nearest suitable place to where the property is held, or online. The tenant may redeem by paying the lien before the auction. A good faith purchaser takes free of the rights of persons against whom the lien was valid. If you follow the act, your liability is limited to the net proceeds.
Surplus: you may take your lien from the proceeds and must hold the balance for delivery on demand to the tenant or another lienholder named in the act. You need not hold funds for a lienholder of record, or other lien creditor, that fails to claim an interest within 30 days of the auction. The chapter states no escheat or unclaimed property period, so ask your attorney how long to hold the money. Keep your notices, proof of delivery and auction records.
Vehicles, boats and trailers
For a motor vehicle, the owner's lien follows Va. Code § 46.2-644.01 (§ 55.1-2901(E), § 55.1-2902(I)). A lien on a motor vehicle or watercraft that already has a recorded lien on its title is limited to $250 priority ($500 if climate-controlled). If a watercraft is in default more than 60 days, you may tow it instead of selling, with verified mail or email notice at least 10 days before the tow date naming the tow company (§ 55.1-2902(J)). A watercraft sale requires certified mail to the title lienholder 10 days before the auction. Vehicles not allowed at the facility may be towed under local private property towing rules.
Active-duty military (SCRA)
Research found no Virginia-specific military provision in the Virginia storage act. Federal law adds protections for servicemembers, and owners must check a tenant's military status before a sale. See 50 U.S.C. 3958 for the federal rule.
Common mistakes checklist
- Skipping the first default notice by regular mail.
- Sending the lien notice before 10 days of default.
- Giving fewer than 20 days to pay.
- Emailing a notice when the lease does not expressly allow it, or without proof of delivery.
- Holding a private sale instead of a public auction for cash.
- Forgetting certified mail to lienholders of record or the title lienholder on a watercraft.
- Assuming Virginia caps late fees or sets a grace period.
- Not checking active-duty status before the sale.
Tools and next steps
Plan your dates with the lien timeline calculator. Compare other states on the self storage lien laws hub. Read the self storage auction process guide for the full walk-through, and start from the lien notice template. If you want the dates tracked for you, see lien and auction management.
Sources and review
Statute text was read on the official or published sources listed in this page's source list. Last reviewed: October 19, 2026. Laws change, and courts read them differently. This is general information, not legal advice. Review every notice and sale with your attorney before you act.