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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-130.1 — Peeping or spying into dwelling or occupied building by electronic device or unmanned aircraft system; penalty

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. § 18.2-130.1

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.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-130.1Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
A. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly and intentionally cause an electronic device to enter the property of another to secretly or furtively peep or spy or attempt to peep or spy into or through a window, door, or other aperture of any building, structure, or other enclosure occupied or intended for occupancy as a dwelling, whether or not such building, structure, or enclosure is permanently situated or transportable and whether or not such occupancy is permanent or temporary, or to do the same, without just cause, upon property owned by him and leased or rented to another under circumstances that would violate the occupant's reasonable expectation of privacy. B. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly and intentionally cause an unmanned aircraft system to secretly or furtively peep or spy or attempt to peep or spy into or through a window, door, or other aperture of any building, structure, or other enclosure occupied or intended for occupancy as a dwelling, whether or not such building, structure, or enclosure is permanently situated or transportable and whether or not such occupancy is permanent or temporary, without just cause, under circumstances that would violate the occupant's reasonable expectation of privacy. C. A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a lawful criminal investigation.

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Questions this section answers

Is peeping or spying into dwelling or occupied building by electronic device or unmanned aircraft system a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

Peeping or spying into dwelling or occupied building by electronic device or unmanned aircraft system is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-130.1.

Which Virginia statute covers peeping or spying into dwelling or occupied building by electronic device or unmanned aircraft system?

Peeping or spying into dwelling or occupied building by electronic device or unmanned aircraft system is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-130.1 (Peeping or spying into dwelling or occupied building by electronic device or unmanned aircraft system; penalty).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.