{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/36-96.15.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/36-96.15.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/36-96.15.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/36-96.15.html"}],"law_id":360846,"edition_id":2,"section_id":360846,"structure_id":51607,"section_number":"36-96.15","catch_line":"Prompt judicial action","history":"1991, c. 557.","full_text":"If the Board concludes at any time following the filing of a complaint and after consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, that prompt judicial action is necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, the Board may authorize a civil action by the Attorney General for appropriate temporary or preliminary relief. Upon receipt of such authorization, the Attorney General shall promptly commence and maintain such action. Any temporary restraining order or other order granting preliminary or temporary relief shall be issued in accordance with the Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure. The commencement of a civil action under this section shall not affect the initiation or continuation of administrative proceedings by the Board under \u00a7 36-96.8.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1342743,"text":"If the Board concludes at any time following the filing of a complaint and after consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, that prompt judicial action is necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, the Board may authorize a civil action by the Attorney General for appropriate temporary or preliminary relief. Upon receipt of such authorization, the Attorney General shall promptly commence and maintain such action. Any temporary restraining order or other order granting preliminary or temporary relief shall be issued in accordance with the Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure. The commencement of a civil action under this section shall not affect the initiation or continuation of administrative proceedings by the Board under \u00a7 36-96.8.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":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":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">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":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">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":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">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":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">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":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">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":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">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":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">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":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},"next_section":{"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":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">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":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},"metadata":{"court_decisions":""},"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/36-96.15\/","history_text":"<p>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":false,"refers_to":[{"id":360864,"section_number":"36-96.8","catch_line":"Powers of Real Estate Board and Fair Housing Board","order_by":null,"url":"\/36-96.8\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1436209,"object_type":"law","relational_id":360846,"identifier":"36-96.15","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.15","url":"\/36-96.15\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/36-96.15\/","token":"36\/5.1\/36-96.15","dublin_core":{"Title":"Prompt judicial action","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 36-96.15","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>If the Board concludes at any time following the filing of a complaint and after consultation with the Office of the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span>, that prompt judicial action is necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, the Board may authorize a <span class=\"dictionary\">civil action<\/span> by the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span> for appropriate temporary or preliminary relief. Upon receipt of such authorization, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span> shall promptly commence and maintain such action. Any <span class=\"dictionary\">temporary restraining order<\/span> or other order granting preliminary or temporary relief shall be issued in accordance with the Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure. The commencement of a <span class=\"dictionary\">civil action<\/span> under this section shall not affect the initiation or continuation of administrative proceedings by the Board under \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Powers of Real Estate Board and Fair Housing Board\" href=\"\/36-96.8\/\">36-96.8<\/a>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROMPT JUDICIAL ACTION (\u00a7 36-96.15)\n\nIf the Board concludes at any time following the filing of a complaint and after\nconsultation with the Office of the Attorney General, that prompt judicial\naction is necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, the Board may\nauthorize a civil action by the Attorney General for appropriate temporary or\npreliminary relief. Upon receipt of such authorization, the Attorney General\nshall promptly commence and maintain such action. Any temporary restraining\norder or other order granting preliminary or temporary relief shall be issued in\naccordance with the Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure. The commencement of a\ncivil action under this section shall not affect the initiation or continuation\nof administrative proceedings by the Board under \u00a7 36-96.8.\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"}}