{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/36-96.14.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/36-96.14.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/36-96.14.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/36-96.14.html"}],"law_id":360845,"edition_id":2,"section_id":360845,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.14","catch_line":"Issuance of a charge","history":"1991, c. 557.","full_text":"Upon failure to resolve a complaint by conciliation and after consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, the Board shall issue a charge on behalf of the aggrieved person or persons and shall immediately refer the charge to the Attorney General, who shall proceed with the charge as directed by \u00a7 36-96.16. The Board may not issue a charge under this section regarding an alleged discriminatory housing practice after the beginning of a trial of a civil action commenced by the aggrieved party under an Act of Congress or a state law seeking relief with respect to that discriminatory housing practice.\n\n1\n\nSuch charge:\n\t\t\ta. Shall consist of a short and plain statement of the facts upon which the Board has found reasonable cause to believe that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur;\n\n\t\t\tb. Shall be based on the final investigative report; and\n\n\t\t\tc. Need not be limited to the acts or grounds alleged in the complaint filed under § 36-96.9.\n\n2\n\nAfter the Board issues a charge under this section, the Board shall cause a copy thereof to be served on each respondent named in such charge and on each aggrieved person on whose behalf the complaint was filed.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1342740,"text":"Upon failure to resolve a complaint by conciliation and after consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, the Board shall issue a charge on behalf of the aggrieved person or persons and shall immediately refer the charge to the Attorney General, who shall proceed with the charge as directed by \u00a7 36-96.16. The Board may not issue a charge under this section regarding an alleged discriminatory housing practice after the beginning of a trial of a civil action commenced by the aggrieved party under an Act of Congress or a state law seeking relief with respect to that discriminatory housing practice.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":1342741,"text":"Such charge:\n\t\t\ta. Shall consist of a short and plain statement of the facts upon which the Board has found reasonable cause to believe that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur;\t\t\tb. Shall be based on the final investigative report; and\t\t\tc. Need not be limited to the acts or grounds alleged in the complaint filed under § 36-96.9.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":1342742,"text":"After the Board issues a charge under this section, the Board shall cause a copy thereof to be served on each respondent named in such charge and on each aggrieved person on whose behalf the complaint was filed.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1"}},"ancestry":[{"id":51607,"edition_id":2,"name":"Virginia Fair Housing Law","identifier":"5.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":5,"parent_id":51572,"metadata":{"child_laws":26,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:44:51","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:43","permalink":{"id":1436183,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51607,"identifier":"5.1","token":"36\/5.1","url":"\/36\/5.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51572,"edition_id":2,"name":"Housing","identifier":"36","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":83,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":336,"child_structures":35},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:44:20","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:40","permalink":{"id":1435259,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51572,"identifier":"36","token":"36","url":"\/36\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":360840,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.1","catch_line":"Declaration of policy","url":"\/36-96.1\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.1","metadata":false},{"id":360841,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.10","catch_line":"Procedures for investigation","url":"\/36-96.10\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.10","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":360842,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.11","catch_line":"Reasonable cause determination and effect","url":"\/36-96.11\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.11","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":360843,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.12","catch_line":"No reasonable cause determination and effect","url":"\/36-96.12\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.12","metadata":false},{"id":360844,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.13","catch_line":"Conciliation","url":"\/36-96.13\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.13","metadata":false},{"id":360845,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.14","catch_line":"Issuance of a charge","url":"\/36-96.14\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.14","metadata":false},{"id":360846,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.15","catch_line":"Prompt judicial action","url":"\/36-96.15\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.15","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":360847,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.16","catch_line":"Civil action by Attorney General upon referral of charge by the Real Estate Board","url":"\/36-96.16\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.16","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Fishel v. Windsor Plaza Condo. Ass'n","case_number":"131817","citation":null,"date":"2014-12-31","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2765875\/fishel-v-windsor-plaza-condo-assn\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"REVI, LLC v. Chicago Title Insurance Co.","case_number":"Record 141562.","citation":"776 S.E.2d 808","date":"2015-09-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2959680\/revi-llc-v-chicago-title-insurance-co\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Justice KELSEY, dissenting. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":360848,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.17","catch_line":"Civil action by Attorney General; matters involving the legality of any local zoning or other land use ordinance; pattern or practice cases; or referral of conciliation agreement for enforcement","url":"\/36-96.17\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.17","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Fishel v. Windsor Plaza Condo. Ass'n","case_number":"131817","citation":null,"date":"2014-12-31","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2765875\/fishel-v-windsor-plaza-condo-assn\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Michael W. Martin v. The City of Waynesboro, Virginia","case_number":"1310253","citation":null,"date":"2026-03-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10809718\/michael-w-martin-v-the-city-of-waynesboro-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"REVI, LLC v. Chicago Title Insurance Co.","case_number":"Record 141562.","citation":"776 S.E.2d 808","date":"2015-09-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2959680\/revi-llc-v-chicago-title-insurance-co\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Justice KELSEY, dissenting. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Matarese v. ARCHSTONE PENTAGON CITY","case_number":"1:09-mj-00857","citation":"795 F. Supp. 2d 402","date":"2011-05-31","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2116742\/matarese-v-archstone-pentagon-city\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 795 F.Supp.2d 402 (2011) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"}}}},{"id":360849,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.18","catch_line":"Civil action; enforcement by private parties","url":"\/36-96.18\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.18","metadata":false},{"id":360850,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.19","catch_line":"Witness fees","url":"\/36-96.19\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.19","metadata":false},{"id":360851,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.1:1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/36-96.1_1\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":360852,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.2","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/36-96.2\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.2","metadata":false},{"id":360853,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.20","catch_line":"Additional powers of the Real Estate Board; action on real estate licenses","url":"\/36-96.20\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.20","metadata":false},{"id":360854,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.21","catch_line":"Powers of counties, cities and towns","url":"\/36-96.21\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.21","metadata":false},{"id":360855,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.22","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/36-96.22\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.22","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":360856,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.23","catch_line":"Construction of law","url":"\/36-96.23\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.23","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Nationwide Mutual Insurance v. Housing Opportunities Made .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"Record No. 990733","citation":"259 Va. 8","date":"2000-01-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/6931119\/nationwide-mutual-insurance-v-housing-opportunities-made-equal-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. CHIEF JUSTICE CARRICO .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":360857,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.3","catch_line":"Unlawful discriminatory housing practices","url":"\/36-96.3\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.3","metadata":false},{"id":360858,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.3:1","catch_line":"Rights and responsibilities with respect to the use of an assistance animal in a dwelling","url":"\/36-96.3_1\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.3_1","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":360859,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.3:2","catch_line":"Reasonable accommodations; interactive process","url":"\/36-96.3_2\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.3_2","metadata":false},{"id":360860,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.4","catch_line":"Discrimination in residential real estate-related transactions; unlawful practices by lenders, insurers, appraisers, etc.; deposit of state funds in such institutions","url":"\/36-96.4\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.4","metadata":false},{"id":360861,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.5","catch_line":"Interference with enjoyment of rights of others under this chapter","url":"\/36-96.5\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.5","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Matarese v. Archstone Pentagon City","case_number":"1:09-mj-00857","citation":"761 F. Supp. 2d 346","date":"2011-01-05","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2472222\/matarese-v-archstone-pentagon-city\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 761 F.Supp.2d 346 (2011) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"1":{"name":"Matarese v. ARCHSTONE PENTAGON CITY","case_number":"1:09-mj-00857","citation":"795 F. Supp. 2d 402","date":"2011-05-31","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2116742\/matarese-v-archstone-pentagon-city\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 795 F.Supp.2d 402 (2011) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"2":{"name":"People Helpers Foundation, Inc. v. City of Richmond","case_number":"91-682","citation":"781 F. Supp. 1132","date":"1992-01-16","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1411390\/people-helpers-foundation-inc-v-city-of-richmond\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 781 F.Supp. 1132 (1992) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"3":{"name":"People Helpers, Inc. v. City of Richmond","case_number":"91-682","citation":"789 F. Supp. 725","date":"1992-04-13","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1641327\/people-helpers-inc-v-city-of-richmond\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 789 F.Supp. 725 (1992) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"4":{"name":" .\u202f.\u202f. Nationwide Mutual Insurance v. Housing Opportunities Made .\u202f.\u202f. ","case_number":"Record No. 990733","citation":"259 Va. 8","date":"2000-01-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/6931119\/nationwide-mutual-insurance-v-housing-opportunities-made-equal-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. JUSTICE HASSELL, .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":360862,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.6","catch_line":"Certain restrictive covenants void; instruments containing such covenants","url":"\/36-96.6\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.6","metadata":false},{"id":360863,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.7","catch_line":"Familial status protection not applicable to housing for older persons","url":"\/36-96.7\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.7","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":360864,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.8","catch_line":"Powers of Real Estate Board and Fair Housing Board","url":"\/36-96.8\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.8","metadata":false},{"id":360865,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.9","catch_line":"Procedures for receipt or initiation of complaint; notice to parties; filing of answer","url":"\/36-96.9\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.9","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}}],"previous_section":{"id":360844,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.13","catch_line":"Conciliation","url":"\/36-96.13\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.13","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":360846,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.15","catch_line":"Prompt judicial action","url":"\/36-96.15\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.15","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/36-96.14\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1991. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 557 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. Unfortunately, the 1991 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online.<\/p>","references":[{"id":360847,"section_number":"36-96.16","catch_line":"Civil action by Attorney General upon referral of charge by the Real Estate Board","order_by":null,"url":"\/36-96.16\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":360847,"section_number":"36-96.16","catch_line":"Civil action by Attorney General upon referral of charge by the Real Estate Board","order_by":null,"url":"\/36-96.16\/"},{"id":360865,"section_number":"36-96.9","catch_line":"Procedures for receipt or initiation of complaint; notice to parties; filing of answer","order_by":null,"url":"\/36-96.9\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1436205,"object_type":"law","relational_id":360845,"identifier":"36-96.14","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.14","url":"\/36-96.14\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/36-96.14\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.14","dublin_core":{"Title":"Issuance of a charge","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 36-96.14","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Upon failure to resolve a complaint by conciliation<\/span> and after consultation with the Office of the Attorney General<\/span>, the Board shall issue<\/span> a charge on behalf of the aggrieved person<\/span> or persons<\/span> and shall immediately refer the charge to the Attorney General<\/span>, who shall proceed with the charge as directed by \u00a7 36-96.16<\/a>. The Board may not issue<\/span> a charge under this section regarding an alleged discriminatory housing practice after the beginning of a trial<\/span> of a civil action<\/span> commenced by the aggrieved party<\/span> under an Act of Congress or a state law<\/span> seeking relief with respect to that discriminatory housing practice.<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Such charge:\n\t\t\ta. Shall consist of a short and plain statement of the facts<\/span> upon which the Board has found reasonable cause to believe that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur;

\t\t\tb. Shall be based on the final investigative report; and

\t\t\tc. Need not be limited to the acts or grounds alleged in the complaint filed under § 36-96.9<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> After the Board issues<\/span> a charge under this section, the Board shall cause a copy thereof to be served on each respondent<\/span> named in such charge and on each aggrieved person<\/span> on whose behalf the complaint was filed. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nISSUANCE OF A CHARGE (\u00a7 36-96.14)\n\nUpon failure to resolve a complaint by conciliation and after consultation with\nthe Office of the Attorney General, the Board shall issue a charge on behalf of\nthe aggrieved person or persons and shall immediately refer the charge to the\nAttorney General, who shall proceed with the charge as directed by \u00a7 36-96.16.\nThe Board may not issue a charge under this section regarding an alleged\ndiscriminatory housing practice after the beginning of a trial of a civil action\ncommenced by the aggrieved party under an Act of Congress or a state law seeking\nrelief with respect to that discriminatory housing practice.\n\n1. Such charge:\n\t\t\ta. Shall consist of a short and plain statement of the facts upon which the\nBoard has found reasonable cause to believe that a discriminatory housing\npractice has occurred or is about to occur;\t\t\tb. Shall be based on the final\ninvestigative report; and\t\t\tc. Need not be limited to the acts or grounds\nalleged in the complaint filed under § 36-96.9.\n\n2. After the Board issues a charge under this section, the Board shall cause a\ncopy thereof to be served on each respondent named in such charge and on each\naggrieved person on whose behalf the complaint was filed.\n\nHISTORY: 1991, c. 557.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}