Submetering Apartments in Virginia
Last reviewed by NES Editorial · September 2026
NES submeters apartment communities across Virginia, from the install to daily reads to resident billing, all in-house since 1968.
Submetering apartments is common across Virginia, and NES runs it end to end. We submeter apartment communities in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Alexandria, Chesapeake, and beyond. The rules here are clear and workable, and our compliance team tracks them so your billing stays compliant.
Is submetering apartments legal in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia allows submetering of electricity, natural gas, and water and sewer. SCC rules (20 VAC 5-305) govern electric and gas submetering, and Virginia Code 55.1-1212 covers residential buildings, including water and sewer. Residents are billed only for their unit's measured use at the utility's average cost per unit, and the owner may add a billing and administrative service charge that covers actual costs when it is in the lease (Virginia Code 55.1-1212). NES tracks every requirement so your property stays compliant.
Why apartment owners in Virginia submeter
- Residents pay for what their unit uses, so water consumption usually drops 15 to 30 percent.
- Leaks get caught fast instead of showing up on the next month's bill.
- Common-area water is measured and billed accurately, not absorbed by the owner.
- Most apartment installs pay for themselves within 12 to 18 months.
What submetering is
Submetering puts a meter on each apartment and bills residents for the water, gas, and electric they actually use. The idea has been around since the 1920s. Today’s meters read wirelessly every day, so usage is accurate and leaks show up fast instead of on the next bill.
Apartment submetering rules in Virginia
Virginia allows submetering of water and sewer, gas, and electricity (20 VAC 5-305 and Va. Code 55.1-1212). Residents pay the utility's average cost per unit with no markup, and the owner can add a billing or administrative fee that covers actual costs when the lease discloses it.
- Submetering of electricity, natural gas, and water and sewer is allowed in Virginia: SCC rules (20 VAC 5-305) cover electric and gas submetering, and Virginia Code 55.1-1212 covers residential buildings, including water and sewer
- For electricity and gas, residents are billed only for what their unit uses, at the utility's average cost per unit, with no markup on the utility itself (20 VAC 5-305-90), and water and sewer charges are passed through the same way
- The owner may add a service charge for billing and administration, such as a monthly billing fee or account setup or move-out fee, to cover actual costs when it is stated in the lease (Virginia Code 55.1-1212 and 56-245.3)
- Residents are billed for the same period as the utility serving the building, unless the lease expressly says otherwise (Virginia Code 55.1-1212)
- From July 1, 2027, owners must keep a written description of how utility billing fees are calculated and a per-resident history of fee payments, and give residents an itemized utility statement, including the allocation method, within 10 business days of a written request (2026 amendments to Virginia Code 55.1-1212 and 55.1-1209)
- Late fees on utility bills are capped at $5.00
- NES tracks the current Virginia SCC requirements so your property stays compliant
Local rules can vary by city and county, and some cities set their own requirements, which NES verifies for your exact address.
Official sources: Virginia SCC · 20 VAC 5-305-90 · Va. Code 55.1-1212 · Va. Code 56-245.3
General information only, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the Virginia SCC or a qualified attorney.
Cities NES submeters apartments in Virginia
- Richmond
- Virginia Beach
- Norfolk
- Alexandria
- Chesapeake
NES serves communities across Virginia. If your city is not listed, we very likely cover it.
Properties NES submeters
- Apartment communities
- Condominiums
- Townhomes
- Mobile home parks
- Student housing
- New construction and existing properties
NES specializes in multifamily properties with 80 or more units.
Submetering apartments in Virginia
See what your Virginia apartments can recover.
Send us your master-meter bills and unit count. We’ll run the numbers on your actual property and reply within one business day with a clear, no-obligation estimate.