Arlington, VA
Arlington is an urban Virginia county directly across the Potomac from Washington, D.C., with Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act requirements supplemented by County tenant-landlord resources, Residential Permit Parking zones, weekly curbside waste and organics collection, County noise controls, and dog licensing.
Essential Relocation Checkpoints in Arlington
Key administrative tasks and local utility setup when moving to Arlington, Virginia:
Use Virginia VRLTA for Ordinary Residential Tenancies
Most ordinary residential rental relationships in Arlington are governed by the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA), Title 55.1, Chapter 12. County Housing staff provide information and referrals concerning Virginia landlord-tenant law but do not replace the state statutory framework.
Know the Virginia Security-Deposit Limit
Virginia law currently caps a residential security deposit at two months’ periodic rent. After the tenancy ends or the tenant vacates, whichever occurs later, the landlord generally must provide the deposit disposition and itemization within 45 days.
Check Arlington’s Local Tenant Resources
Arlington maintains a Housing Information Center and Tenant-Landlord Commission. These resources can provide information and referrals when a tenant or landlord has a dispute, while emergency property conditions should be reported promptly to the owner and appropriate County code-enforcement channel.
Check the Exact RPP Zone
Residential Permit Parking applies only to designated eligible blocks. Arlington’s RPP program uses zone-specific restrictions, and the County is transitioning to electronic permits during 2026. A general Arlington address does not automatically require or qualify for an RPP permit.
Visitor Permits Are Separate From Resident Permits
Eligible RPP households can manage visitor passes in the County system. Visitor permissions are tied to the RPP zone and household eligibility, so a visitor should not assume that ordinary two-hour parking rules are the same as RPP restrictions.
Use Weekly Curbside Trash, Recycling, and Organics
For eligible single-family homes, duplexes, and some townhomes, Arlington provides weekly curbside collection of trash, recycling, and organics. The green organics cart accepts both food scraps and yard waste.
Know the 2026 Waste-Contractor Change
Arlington selected American Disposal Services (ADS) as the new curbside collection contractor. ADS assumed full responsibility for trash, recycling, and organics collection beginning August 3, 2026, following a phased transition.
Food Scraps Belong in the Green Cart
Arlington’s year-round organics program accepts food scraps together with yard waste. Accepted food scraps include items such as fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy, bones, bread, coffee grounds, greasy pizza boxes, and soiled napkins.
Use Arlington’s Actual Construction Hours
County guidance states that construction activities and power equipment may exceed the normal noise decibel level from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Friday and from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekends and legal holidays, subject to applicable noise provisions and permits.
License Dogs as Lifetime Licenses
Arlington residents with dogs over 4 months old must obtain a dog license and maintain current rabies vaccination. Since July 1, 2019, newly issued Arlington dog licenses are lifetime licenses and do not need annual renewal as long as the dog’s rabies vaccination remains active.
Municipal Regulations at a Glance
Arlington County
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Title 55.1, Chapter 12)
2 months’ periodic rent
Generally within 45 days
Residential Permit Parking (RPP) in designated zones
Transitioning to electronic permits by zone renewal group
Weekly for eligible curbside residential properties
Weekly
Weekly; green cart for food scraps and yard waste
Over 4 months
Lifetime, while rabies vaccination remains active
Housing & Rental Regulations in Arlington
1. Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
The VRLTA in Title 55.1, Chapter 12 governs covered residential landlord-tenant relationships in Arlington. It addresses rental agreements, deposits, landlord and tenant duties, access, termination, remedies, and other tenancy matters.
2. Security Deposit Maximum
Under Virginia Code §55.1-1226, a landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit exceeding two months’ periodic rent. The rule applies to money or property serving as security under the statute.
3. Security Deposit Return
The landlord generally must provide written notice of the security-deposit disposition, including itemized deductions and any amount due the tenant, within 45 days after termination of the tenancy or the date the tenant vacates, whichever occurs later.
4. Application Fee Disclosure
Virginia law includes disclosure requirements concerning rental-application fees, deposits, and other charges. The current Code also contains a fee-disclosure provision requiring specified charges to be itemized in the written rental agreement.
5. Tenant-Landlord Commission
Arlington maintains a Tenant-Landlord Commission that provides a forum for tenants and landlords to raise concerns and receive information or referrals concerning rental housing issues. The County also operates a Housing Information Center.
6. Housing Repairs and Emergencies
Arlington County advises tenants to notify the landlord of maintenance problems promptly. County housing resources identify issues such as no heat in winter, flooding, water leaks, drain blockages, gas odors, and no hot water as emergencies requiring immediate attention.
7. Code Enforcement Is Distinct from VRLTA
County Code Enforcement handles local violations such as unsafe property conditions, junk vehicles, overgrown vegetation, and other property-maintenance issues. A code complaint and a private lease dispute can overlap, but they are not the same legal process.
8. Landlord Business License Threshold
Arlington County states that a landlord collecting $10,000 or more annually in rental income must obtain an Arlington County business license. This is a local business-tax requirement rather than a general rental inspection or rent-control program.
9. Housing Choice Voucher Inspections
Arlington’s Housing Choice Voucher Program has separate HUD Housing Quality Standards inspections. Participating units require inspection before assistance payments begin and annual inspections for continued program participation; these are program-specific and should not be mistaken for universal rental inspections.
10. Lead-Based Paint
For Housing Choice Voucher units constructed before 1978, Arlington’s inspection program applies additional lead-safety procedures when pregnant women or children under 6 will live in the unit. Federal and state lead rules can also apply independently of the voucher program.
Street Parking & Permit Rules in Arlington
1. Residential Permit Parking
Arlington’s RPP program establishes permit parking on designated residential blocks where the County’s eligibility and occupancy criteria are met. Residents generally apply for permits within their designated zone rather than receiving a countywide residential parking permit.
2. 2026 Electronic-Permit Transition
Starting in July 2026, Arlington began transitioning RPP customers to electronic permits through a new software system. The transition is organized by geographic renewal groups, so existing printed FY2026 permits remain valid through the applicable renewal period.
3. Establishing a New RPP Block
Residents seeking to establish or change RPP on an eligible block generally need a resident petition and an occupancy study. The County defines a block as the portion of a street between two intersections or between an intersection and the street end.
4. Visitor Passes
RPP households can obtain visitor passes through the County program. Visitor passes are associated with the eligible household and zone, and the current electronic system allows residents to assign visitor permissions through the County portal.
5. Two-Hour Visitor Restrictions
Posted RPP streets commonly limit non-permitted visitor parking to short periods such as two hours, but exact restrictions are zone- and sign-specific. A vehicle should always follow the restriction displayed at the parking location.
6. Permit Does Not Override Other Restrictions
An RPP permit does not authorize parking in a fire lane, prohibited area, bus stop, loading zone, disabled space, or any other location where separate traffic restrictions apply.
7. Moving Trucks and Right-of-Way Permits
Residents planning a move, construction project, trailer placement, or other temporary curb use can need a County right-of-way permit. An ordinary RPP permit does not reserve a curb lane for a moving truck.
8. Residential Disabled Parking
Arlington has a separate Residential Disabled Parking Program for qualifying residents. Disability placards or plates and the County’s specific neighborhood requirements can affect eligibility and parking authorization.
9. Parking Enforcement
The County enforces RPP, meter, time-limit, street, and other parking restrictions and provides separate channels for service requests and parking citations. Enforcement is based on the posted restriction and the vehicle’s permit status.
Trash, Recycling & Waste Collection
1. Weekly Trash Collection
Arlington County provides weekly curbside trash collection to single-family homes, duplexes, and some townhouses. Service eligibility can differ for multifamily and commercial properties.
2. Weekly Recycling
Eligible residential properties also receive weekly single-stream recycling pickup. Arlington uses blue recycling carts for qualifying curbside service, with accepted-material rules established by the County.
3. Weekly Organics
The green organics cart is collected weekly along with the regular residential service schedule. It accepts food scraps and yard waste, allowing residents to keep biodegradable material out of the trash stream.
4. Food Scraps
Arlington accepts a broad range of food scraps, including fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, bones, dairy, bread, pasta, coffee grounds, greasy pizza boxes, soiled napkins, natural corks, hair, and fingernail clippings. Plastic bags are not accepted in the green cart.
5. Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected year-round on the regular scheduled trash day. Small branches and limbs generally must be no longer than 4 feet and no thicker than 3 inches in diameter; larger brush can be scheduled for pickup.
6. Green Cart Setout
Food scraps should be stored in a lidded container and transferred to the green organics cart. Residents can use paper or other biodegradable bags to help control moisture and odor, but ordinary plastic bags are not accepted.
7. New Curbside Contractor
American Disposal Services became Arlington County’s new full-service curbside contractor beginning August 3, 2026. The transition followed earlier phased changes, including ADS collection of organics beginning May 11.
8. Multifamily Food-Scrap Drop-Off
Residents of participating multifamily corridors who do not have curbside organics can use Arlington’s on-street food-scrap collection bins. The County currently lists 24 participating locations and uses the Bigbelly Smart Compost app for access and accepted-item information.
9. Glass Recycling
Arlington provides five glass drop-off sites because the County routes glass separately from its blue-cart single-stream recycling. Residents should not assume every glass container follows the same curbside path as paper, cardboard, cans, and plastic containers.
10. Electronics and Batteries
Arlington offers dedicated disposal options for electronics and metal, while rechargeable and button-cell batteries require special disposal. Alkaline batteries can generally go in ordinary trash under the County’s current guidance.
Quiet Hours & Noise Ordinances
1. Arlington Noise Control
Arlington County regulates noise through its County Code and distinguishes ordinary neighborhood noise from construction and other regulated activities. Noise enforcement can depend on the source, time, location, and applicable decibel standard or exemption.
2. Construction Hours
County Code Enforcement currently states that construction activities, including power equipment, may exceed normal noise decibel levels from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Friday and from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekends and legal holidays.
3. Construction Does Not Mean Unlimited Noise
The published construction hours do not mean every construction sound is unrestricted. Applicable decibel limits, permits, work practices, protected uses, and other County requirements can still apply to the project.
4. Residential Noise Complaints
Noise from neighbors, equipment, parties, or other activities should be evaluated based on the County’s applicable ordinance and the character of the disturbance. Residents should provide the time, location, source, and recurring nature of the noise when filing a complaint.
5. Power Equipment
Power equipment used during construction or property maintenance can be subject to the County’s specified operating periods and noise standards. Lawn equipment and construction equipment should not automatically be treated as having identical hours.
6. Weekends and Holidays
Arlington’s published construction guidance is more restrictive on weekends and legal holidays, allowing construction activities that exceed normal noise levels from 10:00 AM rather than 7:00 AM.
7. Commercial and Event Noise
Commercial, event, transportation, and other nonresidential noise sources can be subject to separate standards and permits. The residential construction schedule should not be applied automatically to every commercial noise complaint.
Pet Licensing & Animal Ordinances
1. Dog License at Four Months
Virginia law requires Arlington residents with dogs over 4 months old to obtain a dog license. Arlington County explicitly confirms the four-month threshold.
2. Rabies Vaccination
A current rabies vaccination is required as part of Arlington dog licensing. Residents must maintain active rabies vaccination to keep the lifetime County license valid.
3. Lifetime Dog License
Since July 1, 2019, new and renewed Arlington dog licenses are valid for the life of the pet. The current County fee for the lifetime license is $30, and the license does not need to be renewed as long as the dog maintains an active rabies vaccination.
4. Service Dogs
Arlington County requires residents to license service dogs as well, but the current County program waives the licensing fee for service dogs.
5. License Application
Dog-license applications can be submitted through Arlington’s Customer Assessment and Payment Portal. The application requires an uploaded current rabies certificate, followed by payment of the applicable license fee.
6. Processing Time
Arlington currently advises applicants to allow approximately 3–5 business days to process a completed dog-license application.
7. Animal Welfare League of Arlington
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington sponsors rabies clinics and has managed animal-control services for Arlington County since 1983. The County Treasurer/Commissioner of Revenue process administers licensing while AWLA provides animal-control and community services.
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Relocation Navigation
Frequently Asked Relocation Questions
1. Does Arlington, Virginia have local rent control?
The ordinary residential rental relationship is governed by Virginia’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act rather than a general Arlington rent-control program. County housing resources provide tenant-landlord information and referrals, but they do not establish a general local rent cap.
2. How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Arlington, Virginia?
Virginia Code §55.1-1226 currently limits a residential security deposit to no more than two months’ periodic rent. The landlord generally must provide the itemized deposit disposition within 45 days after the tenancy ends or the tenant vacates, whichever occurs later.
3. Do I need a Residential Permit Parking permit in Arlington?
Only when parking on a designated RPP block during its posted restricted period and the vehicle does not otherwise qualify for an exception. Arlington’s RPP program is zone-specific, and the County is transitioning the program to electronic permits during 2026.
4. Does Arlington collect food scraps at the curb?
Yes. Eligible single-family homes, duplexes, and some townhomes receive weekly organics collection through the green cart. The cart can contain food scraps together with yard waste, and the County also provides food-scrap drop-off bins for some multifamily residents.
5. What are Arlington’s construction noise hours?
Arlington County currently states that construction activities and power equipment may exceed normal noise levels from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Friday and from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekends and legal holidays, subject to applicable permits and noise requirements.
6. Does Arlington require dogs to be licensed every year?
No. Dogs over 4 months must be licensed, but Arlington has used lifetime dog licenses since July 1, 2019. A new or renewed license remains valid for the life of the dog as long as the rabies vaccination stays active.