Virginia statute
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-119 — Trespass after having been forbidden to do so; penalties
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Article 5: Trespass to Realty, Code of Virginia.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-119
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.
If any person without authority of law goes upon or remains upon the lands, buildings or premises of another, or any portion or area thereof, after having been forbidden to do so, either orally or in writing, by the owner, lessee, custodian, or the agent of any such person, or other person lawfully in charge thereof, or after having been forbidden to do so by a sign or signs posted by or at the direction of such persons or the agent of any such person or by the holder of any easement or other right-of-way authorized by the instrument creating such interest to post such signs on such lands, structures, premises or portion or area thereof at a place or places where it or they may be reasonably seen, or if any person, whether he is the owner, tenant or otherwise entitled to the use of such land, building or premises, goes upon, or remains upon such land, building or premises after having been prohibited from doing so by a court of competent jurisdiction by an order issued pursuant to §§ 16.1-253 , 16.1-253.1 , 16.1-253.4 , 16.1-278.2 through 16.1-278.6 , 16.1-278.8 , 16.1-278.14 , 16.1-278.15 , 16.1-279.1 , 19.2-152.8 , 19.2-152.9 or § 19.2-152.10 or an ex parte order issued pursuant to § 20-103 , and after having been served with such order, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. This section shall not be construed to affect in any way the provisions of §§ 18.2-132 through 18.2-136 .
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is trespass after having been forbidden to do so a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
Trespass after having been forbidden to do so is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-119.
Which Virginia statute covers trespass after having been forbidden to do so?
Trespass after having been forbidden to do so is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-119 (Trespass after having been forbidden to do so; penalties).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.