Submetering in Virginia
Last reviewed by NES Editorial · September 2026
Virginia allows submetering of water, gas, and electric when the lease provides for it. See the cities NES serves and what owners recover.
Submetering pays for itself at most Virginia properties. Residents are billed for what their unit uses, consumption drops, and the owner stops absorbing the master-meter bill. Water, gas, and electric can be submetered when the lease provides for it. NES has done the installs, daily reads, and resident billing in-house since 1968.
From an NES case study at a 337-unit apartment community once about half of residents were submetered. Results vary by property.
Local submetering guides in Virginia
NES serves communities across Virginia. These areas have a local guide to start with.
Properties NES submeters in Virginia
- Apartment communities
- Condominiums
- Townhomes
- Mobile home parks
- Student housing
Submetering laws and rules in Virginia
- 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.
Submetering in Virginia
See what your Virginia property 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.